Page 145 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“I think so!” I shout back.

She continues filtering in her power as the ark glows brighter and brighter. A flicker appears above it, like an apparition emerging from its depths. Though the image is faint, it becomes obvious that it’s Zerra. Fear floods the back of my throat as she stands with her arms out, glaring at Bronte. She bares her teeth, her mouth twisting into a snarl.

“Don’t stop!” I scream. Something tells me that if Bronte lets go, we’re all fucked.

Zerra’s back arches, her mouth opening like she’s screaming. Her head tips up, and then, in a flash of light, the ark explodes. I duck instinctively, but the barrier holds. After a few seconds, everyone releases their magic just as the sky fills with clouds and flashes of silver lightning streak across the horizon.

I listen closely and wonder if I hear a scream.

“Did you all see that?” I breathe. “She was there. Do you think she can get to us?”

Everyone shares a wary look across the plaza. No one was expecting that.

“Next one,” Nadir barks. “Let’s get this over with quickly. Cyan! You’re up.”

We repeat the process, and once again, the ark absorbs his magic until it must reach some kind of threshold and starts to glow blue. I hold my breath, hoping Cyan has enough power to see this task through. Again, Zerra appears in that barely there form, snarling and screaming without sound.

She spins around as if trying to see us. Can she tell who’s killing her? Her fingers curl into claws as she sneers and then begins clutching herself, curving in on the pain. I swallow against the dryness in my throat. While I know this is necessary, watching her suffer makes my chest hurt. She was once a young queen forced into this role, and then someone she trusted turned on her.

Again, the ark explodes before the sky turns dark, more flashes of silver-white lightning forking across in jagged streaks. When she’s gone again, I expel a short breath of relief. Cyan did it. And it seems like she can’t reach us in this form.

“Cedar!” Nadir barks as he rolls his neck. We’ve all been shaken by the sight of Zerra. Before long, the broken pieces of the three arks sit in the center of the rubble. We clamor down from our places and stare at them as silver lightning continues to crackle across the sky.

“What do you think it did to her?” Tristan asks as he peers up.

I also cast my gaze skyward.

“I don’t know,” I say.

“What do we do about the last one?” Amya asks.

“I don’t know that either,” I say. “I don’t think this works if we can’t destroy them all.”

“Does D’Arcy have a Primary?” Tristan asks.

“She does,” Bronte says. “But the Celestrian Primary is still a child, far from the full force of their magic.”

“So we’re fucked,” Mael says, and we all nod when I notice something falling from the sky.

Everyone’s attention slowly turns towards it. A star streaks through the air, glowing brighter and brighter before it drops into the courtyard and hovers a few feet off the ground. I look around at everyone, but most of them seem just as confused as I am.

I notice the ghost of a smile plays on Bronte’s face before the light dissolves, revealing the queen of Celestria standing at the end of the square, watching us.

“D’Arcy,” I say as she approaches us on smooth steps while I try not to get my hopes up.

“I saw everything,” she says, indicating the broken arks. “I still don’t agree with your bonding”—she pins us with a dark look—“but I do understand what it is to lose your mate.

“Last night someone convinced me that this isn’t about what I want. Celestria has always claimed neutrality in matters of Ouranos.” She exhales a sigh. “But perhaps that is not the most prudent course of action in this case. I have no desire to witness the final death of Heart either.”

Her gaze finds Bronte, and we all watch as they exchange a look. The queen of Tor dips her chin.

“I returned home to speak with the Diadem,” she continues. “It confirmed your story and the truth of your words.” She studies me with her hands folded in front of her stomach.

“Does that mean you’ll do it?” I ask.

She presses her lips together and stares me up and down. “I will do it.”

Relief collapses in my chest. I exhale a sigh. “Thank you,” I say, walking up and throwing my arms around her. “Thank you.”