Page 194 of A Courage of the Chosen

My family.

The husband, who will no doubt be at the forefront of the fighting, leading our people into battle.

Our bond hums in my chest, and I grasp it before it touches his side. He can’t know I’m on my way. Not until the time is right.

The wind whips around us as Grandpa and I pitch forward so Mabel can run. The magnificent horse charges on with no direction from me whatsoever, like the thing tugging at my insides is guiding her, too.

Grandpa and I are quiet, and Elfayne’s forest blurs by us. We’re still too far, and the sense we’re running out of time bands around my chest with icy fingers.

While Mabel canters hard, her breath whooshing out of her in cadence to the thundering of her hooves, I tunnel down into my magic.

That spirit did something to those dangerous and terrifying parts of my soul, sucking out all the poison and corruption. It’s still fathomless, still capable of destruction, but more tempered. Cold and strong, and singing the same tune that harmonizes with my light. There’s a rightness to it that wasn’t there before, and it’s no longer something I fear.

The further I delve into who I am, the more potent my magic becomes.

“You are more powerful than you know.” That’s what the spirit said, and for once, I stop doubting what I’m capable of.

I let all of my magic rise to the surface. Mist and shadow curl their way around my hands where I grip Mabel’s reins. Light crackles over the silver armor on my shoulders, its force fed from an endless supply within, ready to end lives if necessary.

And darkness drips from the ends of my fingers.

Grandpa’s quiet exhale stirs against my ear as he sees my Dorche power for the first time. All of it.

Swathes of the deepest night respond to my every command without objection, and the beast I once shoved to the furthest reaches of my mind prowls forward, fangs sharp and intent deadly. She’s ready.

I’m ready.

I am Elspeth Aitken, and this is my power. It does not control or define me, and there is no reason to be afraid.

I know what I need to do, and no matter what today brings, my life will never be the same.

My magic swells, building in a bubble of light and dark around us. Mabel doesn’t falter in the wake of it. She storms forward, her head low and body loose.

“An taghadh.”

The forest answers Dhia’s whispered phrase with an awareness that sweeps along as mother nature wakens her domain, answering the call to protect their home.

A moment of peace, where the only sound is Mabel pounding on the stone, then . . . an uproar of movement.

Thousands of paws tear through the undergrowth behind us. Wings flap in the sky and follow our path. The once-still waters on our left become turbulent, the waves keeping pace as countless sets of misty eyes peer through the surf.

And before I can even think about what I’m doing, the Dorche magic that belongs to me seeps out in all directions. There’s no end to it as I encase everything that follows us to war in rippling darkness, and I shadow-walk them all to a place where, one way or another, this all ends.

Grandpa grips onto me tightly as one thought follows us through . . .

All that is, belongs to me.

As we disappear into the void, like only one other in this world can, I finally understand what that means. What the spirits gifted me. I thought I did before, but feeling the power of it running through my veins as I race to save my people, I know what is mine to wield and defend, mine to command.

Elfayne herself.

Chapter 58

Tavish

Thousands of Brollachan howl gutturally at the same time, bringing the royal army to a grinding halt as they finally witness the full extent of our power, and what they’re up against.

Callahan is at their head, flanked by the one who claims my father’s death as his, and they’re the only two that don’t break in the face of my might.