by G. Bailey
I swallow the lump in my throat. I’m still not sure about trusting her, but she’s the only ally we have right now.
“Why did you decide to have me?” I ask quietly. “You must have known a child with Ulric would have never been yours alone.”
“I acquired a mirror that told me of a prophecy,” she whispers and speaks into my mind, probably too weak to say it out loud:
I don’t say anything as I remember Ivywood saying something similar about me being the light in the ever long night. I hate riddles, especially when they suggest I am somehow going to pull a rabbit out of my butt and save the Forest from frigging Titans. Looking back at Narah, who is my flesh and blood despite her mistakes, I know I don’t have a choice but to trust her. I need help. There is zero chance I can do this on my own. If all three kingdoms have fallen, Narah is the only person who is powerful enough to help me stop the Titans.
“I always did love the colour blue,” I say lamely, and she just laughs and reaches for my hand.
I let her hold me as we try to put together the cracked mirror of our relationship, just long enough to save the world.
“Do you trust her?”
I turn my gaze from Zander to the full moon. “I don’t know, Zee-Zee. Should I trust her?”
He chuckles at the nickname and takes my hand in his, the two of us stargazing in the meadow. The cool air against my freshly washed skin and the sounds of the forest are comforting as we watch the night sky. Even as a child, I have always loved the moon and stars. They remind me that no matter where I am, I’m never alone, and now I know that I never was; Selena was always there for me. Would she trust my mother?
When the monsters first came to the forest, she didn’t turn them away as Danica did. She embraced them for who they were and welcomed them into her kingdom because she knew they deserved a second chance. If Jonah was able to forgive me for what I did, I should be able to forgive my mother, at least until the kingdoms are saved.
“I want to trust her,” I answer honestly. “I’m just scared this is another trap.”
“You have every right to be scared, but…” He trails off and I turn to look at him, transfixed by the way the moon bathes his skin in an ethereal glow.
“But what?” I probe him.
“Narah nearly died, right? If this was a trap, I don’t think she’d go so far as to kill herself. She cares too much about her precious throne to do that.”
“She wanted to destroy King Ulric’s throne, not hers,” I say in agreement. “I know how much Narah loves being the Dark Fae Queen. She’d never give the Throne of Luna up willingly.”
“Which means it must have been taken from her,” he counters, turning his gaze skyward again. “Narah is a lot of things—cold, calculating, manipulative—but she’s not reckless like Eva. Every decision Narah has ever made was for her kingdom, and for you.”
“Me?” I repeat quietly, my chest tightening.
“She started the war for you, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
He reaches out and tucks my damp hair behind my ear. “And she came to you for help despite knowing that you might turn her away and leave her to die?”
“Yeah, she did.”
“It’s because she loves you. I don’t think she would have come here if she didn’t want to see you one last time. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a fucked up, unstable mess who needs to have some sessions with Gage, but I do think she cares for you in her own way.”
I nod, struggling to find the correct response. I never thought about it all like that. Narah did come here, even though she was on the verge of dying. She was potentially using the last moments of her life to ask for my help and forgiveness. Ambrose and Zander are right: Queen Narah sought me out of all the people she could’ve gone to. Surely that must account for something?
“You know, I’m really lucky I have you all in my life,” I tell Zander.
He looks at me again, arching a brow. “And by all you mean me?”
I swat his hand playfully, grinning at him. “Seriously though. Ever since I met you guys, I’ve been able to face things I never in my wildest dreams thought I was strong enough to face. I don’t know what I’d do without you all. It’s like you saved me from the darkness—from myself.”
Zander lifts my hand and kisses me. “We’re the lucky ones, Vina,” he whispers in a low, sexy voice. “Without you, neither of us would have a purpose. You are the one who saved us.”
His words make my heart soar, and I roll on top of him, pressing my lips to his. He has no idea the strength he’s just given me by saying that. Now I feel ready to face the world again, but more than that, I feel ready to give my mother a second chance.
Everyone deserves forgiveness, right? Even a Dark Fae Queen.
“Has anyone heard of the legend of the Zorya artifacts?” Ambrose randomly asks, breaking the tension stretching between us over breakfast.
Thank the gods!
Breakfast has been just as awkward, if not more so, than dinner. Jane and Jonah sit together, quietly talking between themselves, Zander is on my left side and Pitch on my other. Gage is next to my mother and Pitch, and the awkwardness between them all makes everyone unbearably tense. I’m almost thankful for Ambrose’s comment as it helps to break up the tension. Before anyone can answer, Sage and David, who were sitting on the sofa on the other side of the room, stand and join us at the table.
“I once read an ancient script about them but there wasn’t much known,” Sage says. “The Zorya artifacts are only really brought up in the old fae rhyme sung to children.”
“I know it,” Pitch says, glancing at Narah. I wonder if she sang him rhymes as a baby, or even played with him as a child. She doesn’t look at Pitch like she does at me, but the queen is hard to read at the best of times, and I know that deep down, she does think of him as a son. It’s weird to think I’m shacking up with my stepbrother. Adoptive brother?
Yep, we are a weird-ass family.
Just as I think that I look over to see Echo hovering in the air above Jane’s head, eating crackers. The crumbs falling from his mouth land in Jane’s hair, covered in Echo’s drool. So gross but my lips twitch. Narah chuckles and everyone turns to look at her. Seeing her still so weak and injured is surprisingly hard. It took all her energy to walk down the stairs. She really was on the brink of death last night. Until we have a concrete plan, and she’s better, we’re stuck in this awkward cottage. Pitch singing softly beside me snaps me out of my thoughts.
Gods, that’s a scary rhyme to sing to kids. But as Pitch sings it, I get goosebumps and a flicker of familiarity about the rhyme. I link my hand with Pitch’s under the table and I look up at Ambrose who leans against Jonah’s chair. He appears almost lost in thought as he stares down at the floor. I wonder if he sang the same rhyme to his son before he was taken.
“What exactly are the artifacts?” Zander asks.
Narah straightens up shakily in her chair. “I had the mirror… It showed me Corvina before she was conceived, but it could only grant one vision of the future before it was destroyed. It was said to be made with the blood of a thousand dead fae, and to be a weapon against the gods,” Narah says, her voice as unstable as she looks.
By Selena, Eva has ruined her. What did she do? I never thought I’d see the Dark Fae Queen’s spirit wounded like this.
Ambrose narrows his eyes on her. “It makes sense now—why Corvina is so powerful. They commanded her existence.”
“What?” I say for everyone.
“The artifacts were indeed used against the gods, and the mirror could only be used by one person at one time. It then destroys itself and goes back to its home, waiting for the next person to use it,” Ambrose coldly states. “The mirror, the sword, and the necklace are the only weapons powerful enough to injure the gods since it’s their blood-filled magic that created them.”
“Why would the gods create weapons to make them vulnerable?” Sage asks, taking the words straight from my mouth.
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“They were to be used against each other,” Ambrose explains, “but the artifacts soon had other ideas. You see, the Zorya artifacts are alive. They think for themselves, they want for themselves. Dangerous magic,” Ambrose all but growls and Narah nods, her features turning paler. “The mirror wanted Corvina alive so it tempted the queen with the prophecy, knowing it would come true. Now I believe the artifacts are our only hope in the coming war.”
“You want to use the mirror?” I question. “How is a vision of the future going to help us?”
“It won’t,” Ambrose agrees, “but the Sword of Tears is powerful and deadly. It will boost your power and make you unstoppable and strong. Strong enough to kill Titans and send them back to their cage.”
“Why can’t one of us use it? Not Corvina,” Pitch demands, his arms crossed tightly.
Ambrose shrugs. “There is a test for the sword like there is for the mirror and the necklace.”
“This sounds like some sword in the stone bullshit,” Sage grumbles and I grin at her.
Narah says quietly, “The mirror demanded many lives and talked to me when I was close to its hiding place. It said only royals deserve to communicate with it.”
Great. Talking mirrors and swords. Just what we need.
“I’m a royal as well, therefore I should be able to get the sword,” Pitch argues and though Ambrose nods, his eyes stay on mine. We both know that the sword isn’t going to want Pitch when I’m there. Dammit.
“Where is this sword said to be?” Gage asks, the muscles working hard in his face. He’s not pleased about this situation either. I can’t really blame him. It seems to always be me who gets lumped with these quests.
“Near the dragon kingdom, on the edge of their sea,” Ambrose answers, “the water looks flat and waveless even though the ocean around it moves. You can’t miss it. It’s about a day or so’s walk from here if we aren’t interrupted on the way.”
“We should pack and leave,” Jonah interrupts and looks at Jane. “Will you watch the queen while she continues to heal?”
“Yes,” Jane agrees, her eyes flickering to me. “But do not get yourself killed for anyone.”
I avert my gaze. I won’t be letting anyone die for me, especially not those I love.
I turn to Sage and David, asking them, “Will you stay with Jane and Narah? And Echo? I don’t think—” I halt as Echo lands on my shoulder, his big doe eyes staring at me, making me feel guilty for leaving him behind. “Fine. You can come too, Echo.”
I’m sure he grins at me but Sage catches my attention.
“We’ll stay. I’m still weak myself and need to rest,” Sage says, taking David’s hand and smiling at him. She looks back at me. “But be careful, okay? Don’t get lost in the magic. It will tempt you.”
“And I will tempt Corvina back to her home,” Pitch growls, rising from the table. “No magic is going to steal her from me.”
Zander, Gage, and Jonah look at me all at once with worry, but we all know there isn’t really a choice anymore. We get the sword, or we die at Eva’s hand. Personally, I’d prefer to go with the talking sword.
Once we’re packed and ready to go, Sage pulls me into a suffocating embrace. David has to pry her away from me as I struggle to breathe. Dang, Sage’s hugs have gotten stronger since she became a fae.
“Promise me you’ll come back in one piece, Buzzie?”
“I promise. And you’ll promise not to worry?”
“But I never worry.” She glares playfully at me. “Ever.”
“You’re always worrying,” David comments as he tugs her into his arms. “My little worrywart.”
Sage crosses her arms stubbornly. “I don’t worry. I obsessively overanalyse every minuscule detail until I reach a satisfactory conclusion.”
“Because that isn’t worrying at all,” I hear David mutter as I turn to face Narah.
She takes a deep breath and visibly steels herself. “Make haste, Corvina, and stay in the shadows.” Despite her bravado, the fear in her voice is mirrored within her weary eyes.
An unexpected lump swells in my throat as I stare at her. Do I bow or hug her? It’s not like we’re exactly close, but when it comes down to it, I am worried about her. She is my birth mother at the end of the day, and if things go wrong out there, this may be the last time I ever see her.
Before I can make a decision, Narah takes me into her arms. She whispers something in my ear that I struggle to catch. When she pulls back and holds me at arm’s length, her eyes are pure black and the smell of dark magic lingers in the air.
“It’s just a protection spell,” she explains, her eyes turning back to their original colour. “Our blood binds our magic. Use it should you need to. It will not affect me.”
I blink at her in surprise, touched by her concern. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Perhaps when this is all over, you might call me mother, and truly mean it this time.” She smiles at me, tears glazing her lashes. “I would like that very much if it is something you’d dare consider.”
This time, words fail me and I can only nod and smile at her before moving on to the last person.
Jane.
She opened up her home to me in spite of everything. I don’t ever see us being friends, but I owe her my gratitude and will remain in her debt for the rest of my life. I part my lips to say thank you but Jane rolls her eyes and I clamp my jaw shut.
“Just go,” she says, looking away, “and keep my brother alive.”
Well, that was pleasantly awkward.
I nod and lift my cloak hood over my head. With a backwards glance at my best friend and mother, I follow the guys out of the cottage. Echo flies off Zander’s shoulder and into my arms as we walk down the path. I hug and kiss Echo, grateful for his affection.
“All things considered,” Zander says, “that went rather well.”
“You could’ve cut the tension with a knife,” I counter dryly.
He chuckles. “True. But one thing’s for sure, Jane’s starting to like you.”
I gawk at him. “Really? She could’ve fooled me.”
His arm falls around my waist. “Give her time. I think Echo’s glad to be back outside.”
Echo’s wings vibrate against my arm and one of his legs twitch like a dog as I rub his belly. Zander chuckles and boops him on the nose. Echo sneezes a puff of smoke that I fear will set the ground on fire. But then I remember his collar and how it’s helping to keep control of his magic. I still hate the idea of collaring him, which is why, when Zander isn’t around, I always take it off.
“Stay back,” Ambrose warns ahead of us. “There’s something dark nearby.”
“Is it a monster?” I ask, and Echo squeaks frantically in my ear, his fur standing on edge. “Echo seems to think it is. Perfect. Just what we need.”
“He wants to help us,” Pitch says, nodding at Echo. “Take the collar off and see what he does. If anything can fight off another dark creature of Zorya, it’s a Shade. Those things are lethal.”
“And if Echo fails,” Jonah adds with a grin, flexing his biceps, “we’ve always got these guns to fall back on. Never failed me yet.”
“Yeah, right,” Pitch grumbles, summoning a black fireball just in case.
I would laugh at Jonah if not for the monster about to kill us.
Putting Echo on the ground, I take off his collar and he immediately flies into the shadows. When we reach him, he’s growling at what can only be described as a furry stegosaurus with green jagged spikes running down its spine to the tip of its tail.
The creature roars and stomps its hooved-foot into the soil. Now that I know what Shades are capable of, I’m not surprised when Echo mimics the creature. He turns into a similar version only bigger and fluffier and bright pink.
Oh my gosh, he looks so adorable and yet terrifying at the same time.
Echo charges after the creature. That is when I see how considerably taller Echo is. He swipes his tail and the spikes attached t
o the end shoot out like daggers into the creature’s skull. It lets out a pained roar, shaking its own tail, but it isn’t as effective as Echo’s. Aw, diddums.
With a loud popping noise, Echo transforms into an enormous pink rabbit whose floppy ears brush the tip of the trees. I press a hand to my mouth to smother my giggle, but it escapes when Echo leans forward and eats the monster in one gulp. He sits back and lets out a deafening burp that sails around us like a gust of wind, lifting my hair. My giggle turns into aching laughter that hurts my stomach.
Transforming back into his original form, Echo flies back over and lands at our feet, looking positively delighted with himself. Zander bends down and scratches him on the head.
“It’s official. Pink is definitely Echo’s favourite colour,” he says.
Tears stream down my face from laughing so hard. I really needed this after everything that’s been going on. I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. With Echo at my side, I pity any monster, god, or fae that stands in my way now.
“This will do for the night,” Zander suggests, patting Ambrose on the back. “Good find, man.”
“If there’s one thing I’m familiar with, it’s empty dark caves.”
The two of them grin at each other like long lost friends while Pitch merely glares at them. Jonah and Gage couldn’t care less as they start investigating the cave and I follow them in, Zander and Ambrose’s laughter bellowing behind me. Echo jumps onto my shoulder, purring and rubbing his head against mine as the cave grows increasingly dark.
I clap my hands together, whispering a spell under my breath. Three magical spheres float into the air above us, spinning ever so softly to cast light around the cavern. The sleet walls narrow towards the top, and at the back is a small pool of water we can use to drink. My aching feet demand that I sit down since we’ve been walking all day. I find a rock near the water and rest for a while as the guys make plans to get wood for a fire and cook some food. Above the water is a tiny tunnel shuttered in darkness. Most likely I could just manage to fit into it. Before I can blink, Echo flies into it.
