Page 18 of Destined

“Come here,” Dirk demanded, lifting a hand to Tara. “Heal me, or I will bleed to death.” When she didn’t move he tried to grab her leg, and she stepped back. “Tara, come to me, now. Don’t let me die like this.”

“You won’t,” an ugly voice said.

Jarek Blackstone appeared over his son with a battle-axe. He brought it down before Ryan or Tara could react. He decapitated Dirk with one single, horrific stroke.

“For you, berserker,” Jarek said, as he kicked the head toward him.

But then he pivoted, flinging the blade hidden in his other hand directly at Ryan—as Tara stepped in the way. Though Ryan grabbed for her, it was too late. The dagger thudded into her chest, all the way up to its quivering hilt. She staggered backward into Ryan’s arms.

“No!” Kayla screamed.

“Tara!” Jannon yelled.

His horrified shout cut through the din of the fighting, as he rushed to her. Kayla’s legs gave out, as she sprawled in the mud. But she crawled the remaining distance, as Jannon and Ryan lowered Tara to the ground.

Tara glanced down at the enormous hilt, but then looked at Jannon.

“Be brave,” she said to the Fae warrior, his face a stricken mask. Then she smiled at the Blackstone clan leader. “You lose.”

Jarek snarled, but when Ryan jumped to his feet the Dark Fae darted away.

“Kayla,” Jannon said.

“I know,” she said.

Without thinking, she snatched the blade out of Tara’s chest. As the wound gushed, she pressed her hand down over it.

“Come on,” she muttered. “Come on.”

The blue light appeared, and the flow of blood stopped, but Kayla could feel the slowing beats of the badly damaged heart.

“No, no, no,” Kayla gasped. “God, please, no. Tara.”

“Can’t heal me,” her sister whispered from dry and pallid lips. “Too much Dark Fae blood.” Tara looked up at her with an expression so peaceful it made Kayla sob. “Don’t…cry.” Her thin hand came up to wipe a tear from Kayla’s cheek. “Gives you clown…nose.”

The hand fell, and Tara went still.

As Jannon uttered a torn sound, Kayla furiously shook her head.

“No,” she ground out through clenched teeth. “I won’t have it.”

She closed her eyes and, unbidden, the words of the resurrection song flooded into her mind.

No blood stains love’s blade.

No valiant heart shall be ended.

That which was made is unmade.

That which was broken is mended.

Nothing happened. Even though Kayla waited, there was no explosion. She opened her tear-blurred eyes to see Jannon staring at her.

“Can you not–”

“I tried,” Kayla cried. “It didn’t work. I tried!” The tears streamed down her face. “I don’t understand.”

Jannon’s mouth twisted as he tenderly cradled Tara’s limp form to his chest. He gently stroked her hair, and choked back a sob.