The shield is gone; I felt it fall. Cora sits up, eyes wild and gaze bouncing around the beach. I reach for Yggdrasil but I find nothing. Dread settles over me. Pushing to my feet, I hold my hand out, and she slips hers into it. I'm just tightening my hold on it when Nestor appears.

“He's killed her.” His breathing is harsh, and his eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Odin has killed her.” Cora screams, and I pull her to my chest, even as denial roars in my head. “The others are preparing the assault on his allies. They wait at Danu’s.”

I nod, still in shock, heart pounding and rage burning like molten lava through my veins. I sift to the Vanishing Isle. When we arrive, we are greeted by the sounds of grief, wailing and sobbing mixed with angry shouts, calls for Odin's demise.

Danu is frozen in disbelief and outrage. Asger stands away from the others, muscles tense and jaw clenched, as silent tears streak down his face. Ever since she held him in her roots, healing him, saving him, they have had a special bond. Both the man and the dragon grieve at her loss. He nods at me, agreeing with what he sees in my eyes. If I had not made my decision before, it would be made now.

There is nothing left of my brother. It is not he who looks out from his sapphire eyes. I must admit, it has been that way for a thousand years. The beast, the power has lain in wait until this moment. What I don't understand is what has changed, why it attacks now.

Aislin approaches with Emma at her side until they draw near. Emma moves to Cora’s side, drawing her away from me and into her own arms. Cora goes without a word and is ushered away. Raven, The Druids, Jason, and Kai are grouped together and they circle around the two women. I slowly drag my eyes from them and look down at the woman who waits at my side.

“Can we talk?” Her voice says she doesn't really want to, that whatever she has to say is a message she'd rather not deliver. Nodding slowly, I bend my arm, and she places her hand in the crook of my elbow. The others watch silently as I lead her into the garden. We walk slowly, for we both need as much time to prepare as we can get. I take her to the bench by the fountain where I first met Yggdrasil’s first chosen, Asger. I tell her about that first meeting, how defiant Asger was, even facing Odin, how she had chosen him as her first champion.

“Really, he was her first?” I study her face as she lowers herself to the bench before I nod. “Silly, silly God. He was not her first. You were her first and you are her last.” Tears well in her dark blue eyes and she rolls them up, shaking rapidly. When she looks back at me, a single one slides down her cheek.

“I don't understand.”

“She came to me…” She blinks slowly, her throat bobbing as she swallows hard. “She came to me as he killed her. As he chopped and hacked at her, she came so that I could warn you. She talked of you, how you fought and how and what you must do to save us.” Her knuckles are white where she clenches her fingers together, breath harsh as she stares at me through her tears. She blows out a deep breath, swiping at the tears on her cheeks before wiping at her nose. I manifest a handkerchief and hold it out to her. She purses her lips, nodding as she takes it from me and buries her face in it.

While I wait for her to recover some, I stare at the water, considering her words. Chosen first and chosen last, and I chose to ignore her. Even as she was being killed, she called to me, and I didn’t answer.

“Someone pointed out to me that I am grieving the loss of my second source of motherly love. After they did that, I realized that was it exactly -- she loved us all like a mom. But you, you brave man, you were her favorite. The mischievous boy who stole our hearts.” She smiles at me, and I am shocked into silence. “She told me today that she was glad I had found my way to my destiny. Do you know why?”

She waits as I open and close my mouth a few times. “Kai?” Her head shakes.

“No. Because from the moment I met you, I saw you. Not the Trickster, not the God, hell not even the face of the man you show the world. Nope, I saw you. I saw you sneak glances at Cora. I see you protect those you love fiercely and I see your heart breaking at your losses. And now I see your resignation and despair at what you must do.” My gaze jerks up at the last of her words, and she is watching me, sadness leaking from every pore on her body. Nodding, she leans close to me, looking toward the house over my shoulder. “She told me what will happen.” Her whisper is so low I can barely hear it, but the words sink in as she places her palm on my cheek and looks into my eyes. “I will do everything in my power to either save you or save her.”

It is a pledge, a promise, and I nod my head a tiny bit. “You must not tell her. Not yet. I want…” I look back at the house.

“I know. Happiness for however long you have it. I feel the same way.” When I turn back, her eyes are on her mate, who has moved to stand at the door, watching us closely. She grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly as she stands. “If you need anything…” Leaving the rest unsaid, she starts to pull away. I stand quickly and pull her back to me, hugging her tightly. I smile as she stiffens, shocked for a moment, and then melts against me. Her arms wrap around me, squeezing me, and I feel the damp heat of the tears she was fighting.

“Thank you,” I murmur against her hair before letting her go. Nodding, she wipes at her face with the cloth once more before turning to leave. I nod once to the man lucky enough to call her his.