by Kyra Quinn
“You’re alive,” the newcomer—presumably Morrigan—choked. She reached down to run a hand through Aster’s hair. “I thought for sure—”
“We made it.” Aster gripped her hands in hers, her smile gentler than any expression Viktor had seen her wear to date. “Please, come in. I’m sure Lili will be happy to see you again.”
Viktor folded his arms over his chest as Aster led Morrigan into the house. She stopped in front of Viktor as Lili scurried into the room from whatever nook she had tucked herself away in to sulk. Morrigan’s eyes swept the room but froze when they landed on Viktor. “Is he—”
“Not now.” Aster shook her head. “We can discuss all the details another time. Did you bring it?”
“Of course.” Morrigan reached into her blouse and retrieved a small wooden stick. A ruby no bigger than Viktor’s thumb sat on top, the design neither intricate nor elegant. “Will this due until you can commission a new one?”
Aster’s nose wrinkled as she took the stick. “It will have to.”
“I pray it does. Madre discovered the Forbidden Texts have disappeared. Half the coven is looking for you.” The girl’s face sobered. “Has the rest of the news reached you yet?”
Aster shook her head. “We’ve kept a low profile since our return from the Shadowrealm. Many people would love to see us dead.”
Morrigan fiddled with her necklace. “Lucky you.”
“Why?” Viktor asked, no longer able to hold his silence. “What’s happened?”
Morrigan shook her head. “We aren’t sure what it means yet. All we know is that reports of demonic activity in Starbright have shot up in the last couple of days. Rumor has it Wyvenmere has lobbied the same complaint. We have no idea what yet, but something is coming.”
“Daeva,” Aster whispered.
“Daeva can’t travel beyond the veil,” Lili objected. “It has to be Zanox.”
Morrigan shook her head. “We aren’t sure who’s men they are, but it doesn’t matter. Angels arrived soon after.”
“We have little time,” Viktor said, his voice flat. “The war is close.”
“What war?” Morrigan swallowed, her forehead moist with sweat. “What’s going on?”
Aster and Lili filled Morrigan in on everything they had learned, from the dubious origins of Lili’s birth to the banshee’s ominous prediction and Remiel’s capture. By the time the girls finished, Morrigan’s lip quivered.
“I don’t understand.” She pointed Lili’s direction. “Is this because of her?”
“No, the banshee was clear on that,” Viktor said. “We don’t know enough about it to know what they want. But they will catch Astryae in their crossfires. Which is why we need help to get back into the Shadowrealm.”
Aster shook her head. “No, I asked Morrigan to come to help us figure out a modification to the warding spell that would allow us to protect a greater area of land than a single dwelling.”
“And that is a great idea—after we save Remiel,” Viktor said, his voice tense.
Aster shook her head, her mouth a thin line. “I’m sorry. It is too late for Remiel. Even if Daeva had left him alive, we cannot trade thousands of lives to save his.”
Viktor scoffed. “After everything he and I have done for the two of you, this is how you repay him? He breaks into the Shadowrealm to save you, and you leave him to die?”
Aster’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not that simple. This isn’t about us anymore. The fate of thousands of innocents rests on our shoulders—”
“So does his. He risked his life for yours, and now you intend to make him pay with it.”
“I didn’t want this, either!” Aster stomped her foot against the floor hard enough to vibrate the wood. “You think I want to manage anyone but myself? There are people depending on us even if they don’t realize it yet. We can’t let them die in a war that isn’t theirs.”
“Carramar has always been a hotbed for demonic activity,” Morrigan added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the real fight kicked off here.”
“I am not responsible for what happens to the people of Carramar,” Viktor said through clenched teeth. “As much as my heart aches for their loss, I have obligations of my own to attend to. If I’d known the two of you were so selfish I would have never pushed so hard to save you.”
“What happened to Remiel is tragic,” Aster said, “but there’s nothing we can do to change it. The rest of Astryae though? There’s still a chance we can save them.”
Viktor’s eyes flashed to where Lili stood. “Does she speak for both of you?”
“W-what? No. I speak for myself,” she stammered, her cheeks kissed with embarrassment.
“Then say something.”
“How should I know?” Lili threw her arms out to the side. “I have no clue what we should do. While I agree with both of you, we can’t be in two places at once. Asking me to decide between the angel who saved me and the nameless people counting on me to save them isn’t fair.”
Aster flashed a sympathetic smile. “This is only the first of difficult decisions to come. Many spend their lives dreaming of power like ours, but that’s only because no one’s told them the weight of the world comes with it.”
“This shouldn’t be a difficult choice. Your mother only has Remiel in the first place because of what he did for you. Can the rest of Carramar say that?”
“Stop it.” Aster slammed a fist against the wall. “I understand you’re upset, but you will not blame Lili for any of this. The angel has been alive for centuries longer than anyone in this room. He chose this, and he knew the risks.”
Viktor shook his head. “I don’t think he realized no one in this room would do the same for him. I’ll take my leave now. Enjoy your little girls’ night.”
Viktor shoved Aster out of the way and stormed into the kitchen. He snatched a bottle of ambrosia from Aster’s counter and stormed outside. The front door slammed shut behind him with a satisfying bang.
He didn’t need their help to save Remiel. He needed no one. The lone wolf could cover far more ground without a pack of fussy females holding him back.
* * *
Viktor sat on the stone steps of Aster’s building. A heaviness settled into his chest as he gazed up at the waning moon. For once, the approach of the full moon didn’t fill him with dread. Instead, his body buzzed with anticipation. He kicked the empty bottle of ambrosia at his feet, his body warm. He hadn’t meant to down the entire thing so fast, but moderation had never been his finest trait.
His mind took turns drifting between Remiel’s sacrifice and Celia’s lifeless eyes. With Andras dead, what would become of Remiel’s soul? Had the demon responsible for Celia’s death been brought to justice? He wished he believed it but doubt still tugged at the frayed fibers of his thoughts. Why would a Marquise of the Shadowrealm kill Celia? And why hadn’t he detected any sulfur near her body? He drummed his fingers against his thigh as a restless energy filled him.
The front door creaked open, snapping Viktor to attention. Lili stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Her lips pressed into a pucker as the stench of booze wrinkled her nose. She pulled Aster’s knitted wrap tighter around her shoulders and muttered, “This is where you’ve been?”
“Not like you cared enough to look. Even you can’t be cold enough to kick a man while he’s down.”
Lili kicked the bottle away and slumped down next to him. “I haven’t come to make you feel worse. I wanted to ask what I can do to help.”
Viktor’s throat tightened. The eagerness in her voice and the glint of desperation in her eyes made her sincerity clear even in his intoxicated state. Viktor rubbed the back of his neck as his rage melted into something foreign and uncomfortable. Of course the loss of Remiel hurt her, too. She carried the additional weight of guilt on her shoulders.
A bitter taste flooded Viktor’s mouth as he swallowed. His grief and rage at the apathy of his comrades had consumed Viktor so thoroughly, he hadn’t considered if he want
ed their assistance. His heart sank as sober truths sank into his drunken thoughts. While Lili’s intentions were pure, the problems posed by her company were too great a risk. He’d cover more ground and attract less attention on his own. Lili would only bring danger.
Viktor licked his lips and shook his head. “Unless you have the power to turn back time and stop all this from happening, I don’t think there is much you can do to help me. The demons and angels are both still after your head. If I take you with me, I’d be inviting danger to follow.”
Lili gave a weak nod. Her head dropped towards her lap as her platinum eyes sparkled with moisture. Viktor’s stomach twisted. He placed a hand on her thigh, her skin warm beneath his touch.
“Hey,” he mumbled, “please don’t cry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply any of this is your fault. It’s safer if I go alone.”
Lili threw her arms around Viktor’s neck and buried her face in the hairs of his chest. She fell apart at the seams, a ragdoll in his arms. Her body trembled with the force of her grief. Viktor wrapped his arms around her and rocked her back and forth as he cooed, but his efforts to comfort her only brought more tears.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into his chest. “I am so, so sorry.”
“Shhh.” Viktor stroked her hair as he held her, unsure what else he could do. “None of this is your fault. When destiny calls, we have no choice but to answer.”
“I don’t want this destiny. I want this to be over.”
“And someday, it will be. I cannot promise how long this will last or how much it will hurt. Only that nothing lasts forever. There is no healer more influential than Time himself.”
Lili shook her head as she pushed away from his embrace. “It’s over, Viktor. The war isn’t here yet, but we’ve already lost. My father and Remiel are dead. Eventually, one of my parents will capture me, too. And the rest of Astryae will become casualties of war between the realms. We can’t fight fate, remember?”
Despite his grief, a small smile tugged at his cheeks. “Or so I used to say. Until I met you.”
“And now?”
Viktor shrugged. “Now, I’m uncertain what I believe. If Zanox is to be trusted, the only person with any influence over our destiny is us. As powerful as the gods are, even they do not determine our fate.”
“But the banshee—”
“I know.” Viktor rose to his feet and brushed his hands against his slacks. “We cannot remove Astryae from the center of the war, but that doesn’t mean we do nothing at all. We fight until there’s no breath left in our bodies to fight with.”
Viktor stumbled down the dirt path towards the gate with his spine erect. He held his head high, his head as clear as the sky in Mulgrave on a summer’s day.
“Where are you going?” Lili called after him.
“To take my own advice. Remiel could still be alive down there. I need to find the veil.”
“But—”
Viktor shook his head. “I appreciate all you and Aster have done for us. And I know you want to help. But I can’t afford any extra heat if I plan to sneak into the Shadowrealm again. Remiel needs me to come through for him.”
“Will you return?” she asked, her voice small.
Viktor nodded. “I cannot say when, but I will come back. With any luck, I’ll return with Remi in tow.”
Lili forced a weak smile. “I’ll be here to heal your wounds when you come home.”
“I’m certain I’ll need it after escaping your mother. Goodbye, Lilianna Trevil. May your path be blessed.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes. “And to you, Viktor.”
A heaviness settled into Viktor’s chest. He bolted for the gate before her tears forced him to change his mind. Lili and Aster needed him. Returning to the Shadowrealm was a suicide mission.
But Remiel needed him, too. He could still picture the flash of fear in the angel’s eyes when he had ordered them to run. Remiel couldn’t be dead. He would sense it. Remiel had to be alive and waiting for his rescue in Daeva’s castle. Even if he failed, at least he could die by Remiel’s side with honor. As he pushed the gate open and scurried down the street towards the train station in Carramar, guilt twisted his stomach into knots.
Jett’s scarred face flashed into his mind. Viktor pivoted left and sprinted towards the woods outside of Carramar. With any luck, the elder wolf might know where to find backup. Daeva had an entire army at her disposal. He wouldn’t stand a chance in the Shadowrealm on his own.
Raw, hungry energy filled his body as he crossed into the woods. He’d cover twice the ground in half the time on four legs. The time to fear his primal side had past. His wolf form offered his best chance at finding Remiel alive.
The moment he made it far enough into the woods for Carramar to disappear, he ripped his clothes from his body. His breathing was heavy as his heart raced. Heat rushed through every inch of his body. He closed his eyes and growled as he waited for the transformation to complete. The pain of shifting increased tenfold without a full moon to ease the transition.
“Hang on, Remi. I’m coming.” No matter how far he had to travel or how long he had to stay gone. He’d eat whatever woodland creatures he had to for survival. He would remain in wolf form until he found Jett and the veil, or a hunter put him down. And if anything got in his way?
He would eat them, too.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Destiny Reclaimed
Two weeks after Viktor left, a dull ache would still flood my chest any time I pictured his scruffy face. It amazed me how much I had learned about loss in the last few weeks of my life. Father, William, and Remiel had all given their lives to save mine. Even in my sleep, the weight of their sacrifice weighed on my heart. Who could blame Viktor for taking his leave before the option expired? No man appeared safe in my presence.
Aster was a different story. Her confidence melted into panic the moment she realized the Forbidden Texts had disappeared. With her soul gem lost to the Shadowrealm, Aster had no way to monitor the effects of her magic usage. She’d torn through every spell-book and journal without performing a single spell.
I leaned against the wall and watched as she stood at her alter and flipped through a new spell-book Morrigan dropped off for her. She mumbled in a foreign tongue under her breath as her brows furrowed in concentration. Her index finger skimmed each page before she flipped to the next one. Her expression darkened when she reached the end of the text.
I swallowed back the urge to suggest to Aster once more her books might not hold the answers we needed. From the way she’d bitten my head off the last time, Aster worshiped her dusty old texts and knowledge more than any ancient deity or unseen power. Anyone with half a brain knew better than to come between a person and their faith.
“This is maddening.” Aster snapped the book closed when the reached the last page. “I’ve read through nearly a hundred books now. There are wards for a person, wards for a building or grounds even, but nothing strong enough to protect an entire city from both angels and demons. Not even one of the smaller towns like Faircrow.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and tried not to imagine what Faomere would look like reduced to a pile of ashes and debris. I leaned forward and gently removed the book from Aster’s clutches. “If it were possible to avoid the war, I think Viktor’s clairvoyant friend might have detected that outcome.”
Aster’s face paled. “If we cannot prevent it, our only option will be—”
“—to fight our way through.” I set the book down next to her on the altar and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “But we can’t do it alone. No matter how much power you channel or how hard I train, we need the strength of numbers.”
“Wonderful time for the wolf to run off.”
“Is there any way to tell how long until they fire the first shot?”
Aster shrugged. “Immortals don’t measure time the same way we do. We know it will be soon, but we have no concept of what that means for creatures with infinite lifespans
. It could be tomorrow, it could be a decade.”
I swallowed back the urge to ask Aster what my lifespan might be. Would I find myself damned to an eternity of watching the world I loved burn long after everyone I love faded to nothing more than a memory? Or would Daeva and Zanox offer me the mercy of a swift death when they captured me again?
“We should use whatever time left to prepare.” I tilted my chin as my voice hardened. “Recruit soldiers to fight with us. Warn the guards and other towns what is to come.”
“Practice your magic and combat skills so you don’t lay waste to the world yourself.” Aster shot me an easy smile, the first one I’d seen since Viktor left. A bit of the pressure on my chest lifted. “I can teach you to use a staff.”
My nose wrinkled. “No thanks. The wings make me look silly enough without a magic stick in my hands.”
Aster laughed, the sound like a whimsical melody designed to lift my spirits. Gratitude swelled in my chest as I basked in the sound of her humor. Without Aster by my side, I doubted I would have the strength to continue after everything we had been through. The days to come would be long and grueling. The gods were gone, but Aster’s presence in my life still felt like a blessing.
“Do you want to eat now or after?” Aster’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she cocked her head to the side. “I suggest after, but the choice is yours.”
“After what?”
“After I take you outside and teach you how to not fight like such a pussycat.” She swiped the air with her nails and hissed. When my eyes narrowed, Aster only laughed as she grabbed my arm. “Come on. Let’s go transform you into a little killing machine.”
I followed Aster outside and around the back of her building, my steps light. I didn’t bother to check over my shoulder for demons or angels anymore. Let them come for me. I refused to live my life cowering in the shadows any longer. They had taken my home, my father, and my friends. They would have to kill me before I let them take anything else from me.
If I died, it wouldn’t be for my mother or father. I’d never surrender to their games. I cracked my neck and straightened my spine. I planted my feet into the ground, ready to face off against Aster. The time for fear had long expired. I’d force myself to fight through the uncertainty and become someone Father would have been proud of. Someone I might have admired as a girl. If war came to Astryae, I’d do everything in my power to be ready when it arrived.
