“GIVE ME MY BOOK!”
Xavier’s gaze was locked on mine as I clawed my way through the mud, agonizing pain rippling through me as I fought against her commands to stay put. I had to get to him, had to save him. Her nails continued to dig into his skull, and I felt a vial appear in my hand. I was almost there, one more pull and I would be able to touch him, to give him the antidote.
A flash of blue light exploded in my vision, and I sucked in a breath as an ancient voice boomed in my skull, my vision going black.
This is the only way.
The voice was old and young, and I winced as a tidal wave of power that wasn’t my own flooded me. My vision returned, but it wasn’t only me looking out through my eyes. I was standing, and a snarl left Morgana as she rose, Xavier now forgotten at her feet.
Something appeared in my hands, heavy andwrong.
Morgana's face contorted in shock as a massive blue light erupted from me, her body flipping through the air, and landing twenty paces away. The blast somehow knocked out everyone nearby, leaving Gormick and the others unconscious on the hilltop. Everyone except Jaxon, who was now running to Xavier's side, screaming his brother's name.
Xavier was coughing, his emerald eyes clashing with mine as fear spread through me, through him.
It’s time we fixed that twisted soul of yours, Morgana.
The ancient thing occupying my body spoke, but it echoed in my mind, in all our minds. I knew because Jaxon had flinched upon hearing that ancient voice too. His eyes wide as he fell to his brother's side, hands going to his stomach.
Xavier was going to be okay, he had to be okay. But what was happening? Why was Caelan in my body?
Morgana was already on her feet, fear and loathing etched on her features as the Fate reached into my pocket. The book blew open on a phantom wind, turning to a page that had my insides recoiling. It fell to the earth, and Morgana snarled as she charged at us.
The Fate knelt and slammed my fist onto it, the other striking forward in her direction.
This might hurt.Caelan whispered in my mind, and I felt ancient claws rip through my chest. But it wasn't my chest; it was Morgana's. His power surged through every vein, every muscle, tearing and searching its way through her body. Morgana screamed, the sensation rippling through our connection. I felt Caelan grasp something, his fingers moving as if he were untethering it, and I felt as he made precise cuts slicing through something I couldn’t see. I felt relief wash over Caelan, as his fist pulled toward his chest. I screamed as something inside me snapped.
Jaxon and Xavier screamed too, but I couldn't see why.
That thing that had been a constant presence in my chest, uncoiled and a dark, thick, inky mist shot from my body and slammed into Morgana’s.
The next breath I took felt like a first, like freedom.
An icy chill raced through my veins, followed by a burning sensation, but I barely registered it. The pressure in my chest had lifted… she was gone. My mind felt clear, unburdened for the first time in as long as I could remember.
Gratitude spread through me, and I hoped he felt it.
Xavier was still screaming, and I tried to reach him through our bond, but I couldn't feel him. I couldn't find that connection, not with Caelan in control.
Caelan’s attention was solely on Morgana, and me as he held us both in his grasp.
Xavier sounded like he was in pain, like something was wrong, and I wished he would look his way so I could see what was happening, why he sounded so broken.
“What did you do?! Zara!” Xavier bellowed, and I almost didn’t understand him through his pained cry. What was happening? Why was he so upset? Didn’t he know I was free? Couldn’t he feel it?
Look at him,I begged and felt Caelan’s annoyance at my command.
No.
The words were strained, and I couldn’t do anything but watch as my fist, the Fates fist, slammed next to the other on the book, the black smooth pendant biting into my palm. Magic, a power unlike any I'd ever known, coursed through me, and I gasped. Caelan pushed it, like a key, deeper into me, and a spell in an unfamiliar language formed in my mind. Dark, thick liquid poured from the book, lifting Morgana into the air. She hovered inches above the ground, her arms falling back and her chest arching forward. The black liquid surged upwards, spearing into her chest, and a smile spread across Morgana's lips. All those souls, all the power she had stolen over the centuries, were finally being reunited with her.
What are you doing?!I shouted, but Caelan only ignored me, continuing his spell.
Xavier's shouts sounded again, and the Fate finally looked his way. Jaxon was holding him, begging him to stop. Blood, so much blood surrounded him as he tried to crawl toward me.
What was he doing? He was going to hurt himself further. I was fine. I was right here. Tell him I’m okay.
Caelan remained silent.
