Chapter Twenty-Six
I stepped out of the gateway and onto a familiar landscape. A long rectangular green stretched out before me, the grass colored in a checkerboard pattern of red and blue. Tall arches lined the space for as far as the eye could see, all of them glowing with a faint purple light.
The Meadow of Many Gateways.
Angling up my gaze, I scanned the skies, hoping that Rowan had somehow made an error. But there was no mistake. The Martyr’s Comet hung low by the horizon line. It was almost ready to burst with light and power before it disappeared.
By any measure, I might only have a few minutes left to live.
I’d better make them count.
Suddenly, all the gateways glowed with pale purple light. Figures stepped out from the arches and onto the meadow. The Sire of Souls marched out first, followed by his massive army of knights in black armor. Next, the Lady of Creation emerged, along wither her company of warriors in battle leathers. Each of her fighters was ethereally beautiful and accompanied by an animal familiar such as a massive lion, eagle, or serpent.
I fought back the urge to gasp. Such a formidable army, and they are all focused on one death. Mine.
Next, battalions of battle mages paraded out onto the field. My stomach lurched with recognition. All of these were Necromancers who had skull markings on their faces.
No question who their leader would be.
Sure enough, my one-time Mother Superior Petra strode in front of her Necromancer force. Since I’d last seen her, the lines in Petra’s face had deepened, but the gleam in the elderly woman’s eyes had only intensified. No doubt about it. Petra thought this was her great chance to serve the Sire and Lady. Her mind had been rotted out with ambition. She’d do nothing to help me.
Across the meadow, Rowan’s Caster army strode through another gateway, taking their place beside the mortal Necromancer army. They all wore battle leathers and grim looks on their faces. I glanced over my shoulder at Rowan; he was eyeing his troops carefully.
“They look marvelous,” I said in a low voice. “Kade has done well with them.” About a month ago, Kade launched a new training program for their field fighters. The changes showed.
A muscle flicked by Rowan’s jaw. “How would you know anything about that?”
“When Kade fell in love with my best friend, it changed him. He no longer thought it was glorious to lose your life in battle, especially when you consider the pain inflicted on the loved ones left behind. As a result, he’s training them harder. You can even see it in the precision of their march. And the palace mages fight alongside them now as well. That’s rather smart. I’m proud of Kade. This is sure to decrease casualties.”
“Don’t cast your—”
“I know, I know. I should keep my witchy powers to myself and not cast spells to see into your personal life.”
“Right.”
“I swear, you and your brothers have egos the size of Nyumbani. Do you really think the minutiae of Kade’s love life is that interesting?”
For a moment, I saw the hint of a smile curl across Rowan’s lips. It was gone too soon to be sure, though.
One last gateway was still spewing forth warriors. This time, it was Viktor who strode onto the field. Behind him, there came his army of Changed Ones. They were all in their mostly-human forms now, meaning they had only an arm or leg replaced with an animal part. That said, I had no doubt that Viktor would transform them into fully merged human-animal shapes when it suited them. A telltale glow emanated from all of their skin.
I pointed at the Changed Ones. This wasn’t easy to do with your hands bound, but I managed. “Do you see the glow on those Changed Ones?”
“I do.”
“Then do you know what it means?”
“Viktor is controlling them with a possession spell.”
“The Changed Ones are still Casters. You can’t let Viktor lead your people this way.”
Rowan’s gaze locked with mine. Hurt and hope swirled in his eyes, both in equal measure. “Why do you care?”
“You know why.” I gestured again to the Changed Ones with my bound wrists. “I’m your mate and we need to free those Casters.”
“What a courageous soul you have.” Rowan ran his finger along my jawline. “Whoever you are, I’ll miss you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” This was pure bravado talking, but if I were about to die today, I might as well do it without cowering.
Across the meadow, the Lady and Sire stood side by side. They could be a painting, they two of them looked so perfect. The Lady stared at me and snapped her fingers. That part wasn’t as lovely.
“I suppose that’s her way of asking me over for a chat.” In truth, I called to farm animals with more gentleness. “What a sweet mother I have.”
“Shall we cross the meadow and speak with her?”
“Not yet.” I dug in my heels and examined the Caster ranks. There were some faces missing. “Where are Nan, Mrefu, and Jicho?”
Rowan’s eyes gentled. “They are with my army and still being transported on stretchers. Once this is all done, I’ll cast healing spells to bring them back.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“You act so strangely for one of Viktor’s kind.”
“Because I’m not.” My voice cracked with grief. “I keep telling you. I’m your mate. You have to know it’s true.”
For a moment, our gazes locked. The mate bond pulsed between us. A unique kind of energy filled the air. Somehow, I could sense Rowan’s desire to kiss me once more.
I licked my lips slowly. “I want that as well, you know.”
Rowan’s brows drew together with confusion. “How could you know what I—”
The earth roiled beneath our feet. Great fissures opened in the checkerboard grasses. I’d seen all this before with Kila Kitu. The gateways were almost out of energy and world would soon tear be torn apart. Every muscle in my body seemed to constrict with worry.
Across the meadow, the Lady raised her arms. It seemed that she’d given up on snapping and was moving up to larger gestures. “Come to us, dear daughter. Let us speak a while.”
“Are those really your parents?” asked Rowan.
“It’s true.” My mind reeled with a thousand thoughts at once. I could try to escape, but that wasn’t looking likely. I still couldn’t cast a spell and Rowan, who could wield magick, didn’t know who I was. The world was splitting apart and evidently, I might be the only person who could save it.
The Sire spoke next, his voice a deep rumble. “Come here, sweet daughter.”
How many times had I craved to hear these words form my true parents? Only, I never imagined they would be spoken across a meadow lined with warriors who were ready to kill me. Life is strange when it gives you what you wish for.
I turned my attention to Rowan. “Let’s go.”
Without another word, Rowan and I began marching across the checkerboard ground. Our every footstep was in sync, as if our bodies remembered our mate connection, even if both our minds couldn’t. As we closed in on the Lady and Sire, it took all my focus not to weep at their beauty. My mother was a vision with her sun-kissed skin, fair hair, and dancing green eyes. My father was all things austere, pale, and magnificent. The two of them looked so godlike, I could almost forget their betrayals.
Almost.
I paused before them. “Mother. Father.”
“Dearest daughter,” began the Lady. The lovely bell-like tones in her voice had me aching with sadness. How could someone who speaks so sweetly do such horrible things to her own blood? “Viktor told you who we really are.”
“He did.”
“I trust you’re pleased,” boomed the Sire.
“I’m not. All things being equal, I’d rather be back on Braddock Farm with Rosie.”
“My child,” said the Lady. “You must understand how horrible this is for us. If there were any way to save all this worlds from ruin without harming a hair on your head, then we would do it. But this is the only solution. And if you take the Sword willingly, it will be a much gentler passing.”
Petra stepped forward from the crowd. “You’re surrounded. It’s hopeless. You must do what needs to be done. You should have taken on the Necromancer rule—and thereby accepted this fate—a long time ago. Your hesitance reflects poorly on all Necromancers.”
I glared at Petra. “Ever since you figured out that I was the child of the gods, the only Necromancer you’ve cared about is yourself. You see me as your way into history. The Divine Petra, Mouthpiece of the Gods, Savior of the World, and whatever other nonsense titles you’ve dreamed up. Don’t pretend this is about anything else but your own ambition. You’re as greedy and selfish as my parents. I’m surprised your skin hasn’t bubbled over like tar as well.”
The Sire’s eyes widened a fraction. It was the smallest movement, but still enough for me to notice. I switched my focus to him. “That’s right. I know all about how you used hybrid magick to create these gateways. But then, you became drunk with power and the hybrid energy turned against you. Now you have to use this comet and your own children to maintain your empire. You disgust me.”
Viktor stepped forward. This was a regular family reunion, if your family were made of corrupted gods and one adopted maternal figure who’d turned homicidal. “My cherished sister, you must listen to our parents. You were mishandled by Tristan and never taught how to properly live as a Necromancer.” He turned to the Sire and Lady. “Kindest parents, you do her no favors by forestalling the inevitable. End this now.”
“You’re quite right, my son.” The Lady waved toward the Caster army. “Bring forth the executioner.”
Amelia stepped out from the line of warriors. She still wore the long bronze robes and grasped the Sword of Theodora in her fists. The hood was now pulled back, though, so I could see her large blue eyes and long red hair. Usually, her tresses were styled in neat ringlets. Now, they fell wildly over her shoulders. More blue light glowed on her skin, just as it did back in the Temple of Theodora. My heart sank. That brightness meant magick. Rowan hadn’t defeated the totem spell on the Sword, only weakened it. I felt no need to kneel anymore, but Amelia was still under a compulsion spell to kill me.
Considering the ugly nature of this particular family reunion, it seemed fitting to add in a best friend who was also my executioner. Amelia marched stiffly across the green, pausing a few feet before me.
The moment didn’t seem real. I was standing on a checkerboard meadow. My best friend wore bronze robes and wielded the Sword of Theodora. My parents and brother all watched on. My mate stood nearby, only he had absolutely no idea who I really was. With all my focus, I tried to picture some way out of this.
There was nothing.
The Sire pointed at me. “Kneel.”
I didn’t have any plan yet, but I knew I wasn’t going to simply bow down to this death. “I refuse.”
“Please kneel down, my daughter,” said the Lady. “Trust us. Believe in our love for you. We wouldn’t do this if there were any other way.”
Her words echoed in my mind.
Trust.
Love.
My gaze locked on Rowan. Here stood my mate. If I believed in nothing else, I had to rely on the bond of love between us.
A plan appeared.
When I next spoke, I switched my focus between my parents. “I will do as you say, but I must die on my own terms. Rowan will wield the Sword.”
“Let us consider this,” said the Lady. My parents and Viktor then stepped aside to whisper quietly amongst themselves. All the while, my pulse beat with such force, I could feel its thud in my throat. The Lady’s words kept ricocheting through my mind.
Love.
Trust.
My blood relations never truly understood these terms, or I wouldn’t be standing here with a death sentence hanging over me. I had to rely on the fact that they couldn’t imagine the true force of a mate bond. They had to agree to make Rowan my executioner.
Finally, the three of them ceased their whispering and returned to their place before the armies. My father was first to speak. “We agree to your terms,” he said solemnly.
And with those five words, I had my first real hope that I might live.
The Lady gestured to Amelia. “Give this Caster mortal your Sword, child of the House of Theodora.”
With wooden movements, Amelia lurched over to Rowan and handed him the Sword. My mate gripped the hilt and turned to face me. If he felt any hesitation to murder me, Rowan didn’t show it in his face.
“Caster mortal,” said the Sire. “Our daughter has requested that you kill her. This is a great honor. Since Elea does this willingly, all you need do is touch the Sword to her skin anywhere. She will pass on peacefully.”
“That’s right.” Raising my bound arms, I turned my palms toward Rowan. This is a motion I’d done many times before as I’d begged Rowan to share hybrid power. “All I need is a touch.”
Rowan stalked closer, lifting the Sword high above his head. I kept my gaze locked with his and my arms outstretched. If my mate was going to kill me, let it be this way.
Rowan paused before me. One emotion after another washed over his face. Rage. Confusion. Love.
Which one would win out?
With a great swoop, Rowan brought the Sword down. I held my breath, my body tensing for the blow. It never came. At the last second, Rowan dropped the Sword and gripped my hands in his. Instantly, I felt his energy and magick pour though our connected palms.
“We are mates,” whispered Rowan. “My heart knew it all along.”
With those words, everything started happening at once. Viktor, Petra, and my parents all called for their armies to attack. I leaned over, desperate to grab the Sword of Theodora, regain my knowledge of how to cast, and restore Rowan’s full memories.
A thousand voices rang out in battle calls.
The ground rumbled with countless footfalls.
The skies darkened with flying birds of prey, all of them mounted with more fighters.
My fingertips brushed the Sword’s hilt and then, it happened.
The totem ring on my finger lit up with orange light. This was the band that had been given to me by Mlinzi and Walinzi, three days and a hundred years ago. I had just enough time to look over to Rowan. Mlinzi and Walinzi had transformed his mating band into an orange totem ring as well. And it was also lighting up with magick.
A haze of orange fog instantly surrounded us both. My body felt torn in a thousand directions at once as the totem rings launched their spells and transported me and Rowan away. Even so, I stayed focused on one thing.
The Sword of Theodora was in my grasp at last.
I wasn’t letting go.