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“I doubt she knew either,” Moira says.
“Destiny is not easily denied,” Dugald says.
“Great,” I mutter. The enormity of what my mom did looms large in my thoughts.
She sacrificed herself. For me. Am I worth it?
All my dreams of children of my own, of a family with Duncan are on the line, but I have to wonder, would I do it? Sacrifice everything for the life of my child? To give her a chance? A strange emptiness low in my belly aches and I realize the simple truth.
I would.
ChapterSeven
No one speaksfor what feels like a long time. I know it’s not, but the story of my mother hangs heavy between us, and no one seems inclined to break the moment. No matter how many times I think I’m over it, the loss of my mom remains an emptiness in my heart. She’s been gone longer now than she was with me, but what measure is there that could contain the presence and love of your mother?
But knowing she sacrificed herself for me brings with it a certainty that does more to assuage the loss than anything in my life ever has. It’s a testament of her love. For me. She gave everything to save me.
I nod and take a deep breath, holding it a moment then exhaling in a rush. As I do I square my shoulders and set aside all thoughts of my mom, for no other reason than there is literally nothing I can do about it right now.
“What now, then?” I look at each of them in turn. “How do I save Duncan?”
“The Queen has a plan,” Dugald says.
“And what is it?” I ask.
Dugald shakes his head. “I don’t know.”
“Great, par for the course, right?” I snap. No one bothers to counter because we all know it’s true. I stare at each of them in turn, turning all the events over in my mind. “Why does it feel like no matter my decisions, everything leads to this point?”
“Probably does,” Siobhan says with an indifferent shrug. “Destiny.”
“Destiny,” I say. “Since this began all I’ve been told, over and over, is that my decisions matter. I am the Destroyer and what lives and what dies will be decided by what I decide. And still there is ‘destiny’ looming large. Casting a dark shadow over everything. You can’t have it both ways!”
Anger explodes. I slash my hand through the air and turn my back on them. I can’t stand looking at Dugald right now. Right or wrong he embodies everything that’s gone wrong. Losing my mom, losing Duncan, the darkness breaking free, all of it.
Rising blood pressure creates a thunderstorm in my thoughts, and along with them the dark whispers swarm. Swamping my mind and filling my head with swirling visions of all the things I could do, but to do any of them I have to take in power. Drink deeply of the magical energy that even now flows around me like the warm waters of an inviting bath.
I could fix this. I am powerful. Stronger than the dark itself. If I pull in enough power, I can cage it. Destroy it even.
The hairs on my arms rise as my skin tingles in anticipation. Magic, like a rising tide of static electricity, crackles in the air.
“Quinn, don’t,” Moira says.
I spin back and the crackling sound is louder.
“Why not?” I ask. Power is right there, ready for me to take it. Enough power to fix everything. “Why not be powerful? Isn’t this me embracing my destiny?”
Moira takes a step back and there is no mistaking the fear on her face as she blanches and purses her lips.
“This isn’t you, Quinn,” she says.
“How do you know?” I ball my hands into fists and purple sparks dance across my knuckles. “What if this is what I am meant to be? What if this is my destiny. I must save Duncan. Save them all!”
I swing my hand between us, and as I do purple lightning trails behind, crackling loudly. The three of them drop back into defensive positions. We stare at each other. My heart is pounding loud, my breath coming fast, and I know, with absolutely no doubt, that I can take them. I can take all of them and then I’ll storm the dark dimension that is trapping Duncan and I’ll save him too.
No, more. I can remake the entire world. Make it in an image of what I want it to be. The MacGregors will be safe. They feared a witch? Let them fear me, a terrible and mighty Queen. My love for them will fill their hearts with awe.
And fear. They will fear me.
