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Chapter Thirty
The Last Mark
Danny cleared his throat, but the other men continued to stare in awe at Lana and me, still lying on the forest floor. “How is that possible?” He looked at Ales. “I thought you said Valkyries were dying out. Only the Fates determined when a Valkyrie is awoken.”
Ales nodded as he picked at the burnt leaves around us. “I don’t know. All I know is what I feel, and she is definitely a Valkyrie. Tell me you don’t feel it, too?” Ales looked to Danny, who stood a few feet from Lana.
Danny and Talon bobbed their heads in unison without looking away from Lana. The power radiating from her was undeniable. She was like me, only different. We both cautiously stood up and looked around the forest. It was like autumn had come early, sprinkling itself over the island.
Talon jerked free of Ales’ grip and ran to Lana. Hugging her, he whispered the words I’d learned last night: love, sister, friend, always. Lana muttered their return back to him, before reaching for Danny’s hand.
He gripped her tiny fingers. I watched their joined palms glow her aether. Neither took their eyes off each other as they turned and slipped back to the village.
Hmmm… he makes you glow, huh?
Talon turned to look back at me before bowing his head. “Thank you, Commander.”
He didn’t understand that I might’ve just damned Lana and I both to this life, and I wasn’t sure what it meant—a foot in both mortality and immortality. It was a difficult place where lines blurred and the right thing was not what it was supposed to be. The Valkyries had lied—things were not as the old ways dictated it should be, and now we were both in the middle of it.
“It won’t be easy for her. This has changed her more than you might think.”
Talon glanced over his shoulder to where Lana had disappeared with Danny. “She will find her own way.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Talon lifted his head, then disappeared to follow Danny and Lana back to the village.
I bent down to feel the charred forest floor. A circle of burned leaves was all that remained of what happened. Honestly, I wouldn’t have believed it if the flames had not licked at my skin.
This entire world was so foreign to me. Even my own energy coursing through my veins was confusing, and enticing, and then exhausting to control.
I silently walked back home, checking the status of each home as I passed. The huts seemed to be in good condition. The piles of ash hadn’t made it deep in the village. Danny and Talon had done their jobs well, killing the Raiders before they could get into the heart of the village.
And yet everyone seemed very cautious. Not a soul would come near me. Even Ales and Logan kept their distance a few feet back until I made it to the Lana’s home and realized I couldn’t go in. It was Danny and Lana’s place now.
Well… that’s unfortunate. I’d kill for a bath or sleep right about now.
A swim in the springs was not how I wanted to clean the dark aether from my skin.
“Want to tell me why you lied to me?” Logan asked, standing beside Ales.
They both watched me carefully. I met Logan’s stare.
How could I need both of them? How could I ache so badly for something I could never have?
“I promised I would go to Ales. I was supposed to find him. I wasn’t meant to fall in love with you, Logan, and I shouldn’t have.” I let the aether loose, crackling it down my fingers so he could see the Valkyrie’s, strength, not the mortal falling apart underneath. “I hoped it would be easier if you thought Charlie was gone. But it seems that part of me is hard to hide.”
“That’s your decision? All of you wants him?”
No. I need you. I need your warmth. The peace I feel with your touch.
“Promise me all of you wants Ales, and I will walk away.”
I had to say it. It was the lie that needed to be said. Ales was the key to end this war. I wasn’t sure how yet, but I knew I couldn’t choose Logan.
“I promise all of me wants Ales.” I couldn’t stare into Logan’s eyes any longer. “It’s always been Ales.”
I waited until his footsteps disappeared before I looked up.
