Wincing as a bolt of agony shot through her side, Ava drew the symbols in the dirt with her finger, scraping deep to ensure they’d last. Luna appeared at her side, Quinn’s dagger in her mouth.
Lomos continued his protests, but Ava tuned him out as she cut her palm. Slamming her hand atop the symbols, she closed her eyes and pushed. She was so weak from whatever he had done to her, it took all of her energy to focus on her magic. Her earth magic was comforting and warm—like a loving embrace, or a cup of tea on a cold winter’s day. Pleasant. Reassuring.
But the portal magic was wild. Hot. She searched within, found that searing thread and pulled, feeding it out through her palm, visualizing the white-hot light pouring into the ground.
She gasped as it surged through her, more powerful than any portal she’d ever generated. The magic seemed to speak. As if it was alive.
More, more, more,it said.More.
She obliged, giving it as much as she could withstand. Tremors racked her body. Sweat drenched her tunic, the fabric sticking to her skin beneath her armor.
The air around her changed. Energy crackled. The ground quaked. The wind swirled. Opening her eyes, she gasped.
There it was. The portal.
A violent swirling mass of blues and greens and blacks. Like nothing she’d ever seen before. Flashes of light brightened the edges, leaves on the ground swirled into the air before they were pulled inside.
Ava pushed herself up, swaying as she stood, and took a step back. Lomos was in an utter panic. Screaming, begging. He looked wild. Insane. His black hair flung around as he moved his head from side to side. His face changed, morphing into his various disguises.
Ava watched, trembling.
There was Henry, the small-town blond handyman. Andras, the sensual black-haired daemon. Eros, the icy blue-eyed white-haired hateful king. Then, a face she didn’t recognize but one that caused her to stumble away in horror. Haunting all-white eyes stared straight at her. Black hair made from shadow. Skin so pale it was almost translucent.
Then, he was back to Andras again.
Phantom hands emerged from the portal. Dozens and dozens of ghostly fingers, like wisps of white smoke, reached for him.
“No! I’m not going back!” he bellowed.
But the hands surrounded him, grasping his arms, his legs, his head and shoulders. Ava’s own hands shook, her heart raced. She backed away another step, watching as Lomos was pulled into the realm.
And then, he was gone. Only a spot of blackened grass remained where he had stood.
Ava couldn’t take her eyes off the portal, in awe of what had just happened. He was truly gone. She could hardly believe it. Andras was gone. Lomos…was gone.
Someone stepped through. A woman made of white smoke, a golden light shining around her. Familiar. She looked so familiar. Ava had seen depictions of her all throughout Monterre.
She sucked in a breath, her hand on her heart. The Earth Mother. Their goddess.
Stepping forward, the goddess reached out and tenderly touched Ava’s face. “Close the portal now, princess. We will ensure Lomos never returns. Your task is almost complete.”
“Why?” Ava’s voice broke. “Why didn’t you help? Why did you let this happen?”
The goddess gave her a warm smile. “We helped the first time, because he was one of us. But we were not the ones who woke him again. Those who sought too much power became blind to their greed and unleashed him. It was up to the fae to make it right.”
Ava had so many more questions. “But?—”
The goddess backed away. “I cannot stay.” Her body wavered, fading and disappearing back into the realm. “Close the portal…” her ethereal voice said one last time. “Now, princess.”
With a deep breath, Ava knelt on the ground again and repeated the process she’d used to open it. This time the pain was almost too great. Her entire body burned as she fed even more magic into the earth. Slowly, ever so slowly, the portal started to shrink.
Something nudged her arm. Luna. There to encourage her. With tears in her eyes, she continued. Her body rebelled in agony. Like sharp pins and needles all over her skin. She cried out as she pushed harder, feeding the last dregs of magic into the portal. It was almost closed.
A wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision blurred.
More,Luna said, rubbing Ava’s knee.It’s almost done.
Ava gasped. She was so tired…so weary. Barely able to stay upright. She knew keeping a portal open for Caelestia would drain her magic dangerously low; knew how great of a risk it was having to banish Lomos on top of it. But it had been worth it to save her loved ones.
