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“Let me show you.”
Lio’s eyes were sealed shut with the force of his power. The battle faded to a distant noise. In his mind’s eye, he raced through the ruins of Pakhne’s mind.
How are you enjoying this little exercise? The Collector’s voice echoed through her head.
I am not here to play, Lio shot back.
You shouldn’t take mortal lives so seriously, Deukalion.
You shouldn’t underestimate them.
Such effort you expend, the Collector scoffed, and for what? To extend their fleeting existences by a few moments? A few decades? What matter, when centuries are the blink of our immortal eyes?
You forget I have the power to make them live forever.
Immortality has always been wasted on Hesperines, the Collector said. You should learn to enjoy the game.
They are not my playing pieces. They are my allies, and we will not let you win.
Do not pretend that you fight among the pawns. You knew what you did when you stole my queen. I will take her back, Deukalion.
Never. Cassia is bound to me in ways you cannot break.
I can break anything.
Pakhne’s recent memories blasted apart. Little pieces of the birth flew past Lio and blew away like dust. But the Collector gathered other pieces to him. Solia’s fighting moves disappeared into his presence. The void he left behind in Pakhne’s thoughts collapsed.
Lio raced to shore up her mind. He tossed up thelemantic wards everywhere the Collector turned, pane after pane of crystalline defenses around memories of Kella’s words, Tilili’s traits, the flavors of the magic she and Solia carried.
You can try to guard your secrets, the Collector said, but I know Cassia is near.
But you don’t know where she is, Lio replied with a grim smile.
I don’t need to find her. It is only a matter of time before she comes to me. I have known her much longer than you have, Deukalion. Do not imagine she is bound to you more deeply than she is to me.
Lio had no time to contemplate the implications of that threat. The Collector’s every word shredded precious reserves of Pakhne’s life force.
Lio pulled forth all the magic Hespera had given him, mind and light and blood, and let it flow from his immortal veins.
The Collector clung to Pakhne, digging deeper into her bones. You cannot save anyone from me. Least of all Cassia.
Cassia and I will not rest until we save every one of your pawns from you.
Very well. The Collector’s amused laughter echoed through Pakhne. You may have this piece. But I doubt you will find my castoffs of any value.
He released his grasp so suddenly that Lio’s magic went tumbling into the reaches of Pakhne’s mind. Her unbound thoughts whirled into chaos around him.
Lio wrenched his power back to him and gentled his touch. He snatched at her wild memories and thoughts and emotions before they spun into nothingness.
Piece by piece, he gathered the remnants of who she was and ordered them into the proper places in her mind. He became lost in the precise work, in the impressions of her life. Her sister’s fierce embrace. The laughter of her temple friends. The joy of casting her first successful spell.
But that memory led only into scoured paths. Lio stumbled through emptiness.
Where healing magic had once run through her, there was nothing now but decay.
Lio let out a silent cry of denial, but the Collector was no longer there to hear him. The Old Master was gone, and he had taken Pakhne’s magic with him.
An impact against his body brought him back to physical awareness. Lio opened his eyes in time to catch Pakhne as she collapsed against him. He caught her in his arms, but staggered.
