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What flew out of him she couldn’t say, but as it emptied him, it burned in the air like sulfur. Whirlwinds of flame, of smoke burned over the sea. Then so did he burn, Odran the god, with a gale that blew against her, through her, had Keegan grip her to hold her steady.
“Finish it,mo bandia. End it.”
Alit without and within, she lifted her voice over the wind and thunder.
“You are Odran the Damned, and by blood of your blood, I fulfill my destiny. I am the Daughter, here I stand, and by blood of your blood the worlds are free. Demon long trapped, come into the light, and help me end his long, dark night.”
She saw it come, a glimmer, a shadow, a spark.
“Sister, the light awaits, the door is open. The dark abates as these words are spoken. Ended here your long captivity. As I will, so mote it be.”
The spark burned bright, and brighter. It shot toward the sky, a single spark becoming a thousand, erupting, fountaining against the sky.
What was Odran went to bones. What were bones blackened into ash. And even what was ash vanished from all worlds, for all time.
Breen stepped back, handed the staff to Keegan.
He slammed it against the rock so the sound carried.
“So it is done.”
He took her hand, gripped it hard. “I won’t kiss you in this place.”
Still flooded with powers, she gave a breathless laugh. “I’ve heard that before, so I’ll repeat. Let’s go home. Oh my God, Keegan, let’s go home.”
He lifted her onto Cróga, waited for Bollocks to jump up. He flew, then swung around.
“Those held inside are freed. We raze this evil place, you and I, here and now. Children of the Fey,” he shouted. “You fought, you bled, you stood in the light and for it. You’ve seen Odran’s end, nowwitness his walls crumble and burn. This world will be purified, and the portals to it sealed. No life will come here, light or dark.”
He held out his arms. “Your hands with mine, Breen Siobhan. Your power with mine.”
She joined with him, and watched the black castle fall.
EPILOGUE
The longest day rang. Bells sounded across Talamh, from the Capital to the Far West. She heard them even as Keegan flew through the portal.
Word had traveled.
Keegan set her down in the green wood. “I would be with you, but—”
“Duties yet. In there.”
“It must be purified and sealed. Once done, I’ll find you. I have much to say to you.”
“Good, I’ve got a lot to say, too. Let me say here, before you go back, thanks for the catch.”
“It stopped my heart when you fell. Just stepped off the cliff as if… I thought I wouldn’t get to you in time.” He shook his head. “Well, that’s done. It’s done, and I’ll find you. Call your dragon now. He fought as brave as any. And here’s Marco coming through now, and the same can be said.”
“Marco.” Struck with relief, with gratitude, she nearly went to her knees, then all but flew toward him.
Jumping off the horse, he met her, yanked her up, spun and spun.
“So scared, so freaking awed. You were lit up like, hell, the solstice.” He pulled her back. “You put me out!”
“I had to, I thought—” She laid a hand on his side. “Let me see.”
“Nothing to see, not even a little scar. Dagmare said it’ll be sore off and on for a while. He said it was bad, and you saved my life.”
