by Eva Brandt
On the other hand, if my mother had come, my father must have as well. Pythios was the captain of one the largest units of risen in The Immortuos Voievodat and his connection with my mother had given him unique insight into demonic beings. I didn’t look forward to him facing off against Eranthe, not after what had happened earlier.
Something was bothering me, beyond this whole mess with the Grand Lich supposedly being a former part of Eranthe. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but since we’d claimed Eranthe, I’d begun to feel that maybe things weren’t what they seemed.
Eranthe’s outbursts of power had been... odd. I hadn’t been able to identify it, and if Adrian knew more, he hadn’t said anything. Damn fae-born and their secrets.
Adrian seemed to sense my irritation with him, because he walked up to me and squeezed my shoulder. It didn’t provide me with much comfort. I could feel his anxious magic fluttering under his skin, trying to get out.
Something was going to happen. I just knew it. Something would go horribly wrong and I had no idea how to stop it.
I only realized I’d said that out loud when Eranthe turned toward me and offered me a sweet, honest smile. “There was never any chance of this meeting going well. If there had been, I wouldn’t have asked Cassia to make the iceberg.
“Emperor Octavian likely wants to keep Eiar as the Grand Lich. She doesn’t seem inclined to listen to him. But in the end, not everything is up to her.”
“Or to us,” Adrian said darkly, staring at the sky. “I’ve never liked the idea of being a plaything of fate, Eranthe. I won’t start now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Adrian. Of course you’re not a plaything of fate. You’re mine, remember?”
The flirtatious comment drove a surge of heat through me. It was the worst possible moment. We were supposed to be focusing on the approaching fleet of undead, not on how much we wanted to fuck.
Then again, maybe the two things didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. I certainly couldn’t imagine a day when I wouldn’t find Eranthe’s presence arousing.
There must’ve been something on my face that gave away my thoughts, because Cezar elbowed me in the gut. “Not now, Baltasar. We don’t have time for sex.”
“You say that like you’re not thinking the same thing,” I muttered under my breath.
Adrian smiled at our soulmate. “Wicked little minx. You really shouldn’t be distracting us.”
“On the contrary, that’s exactly what I should be doing,” Eranthe shot back. “Don’t worry so much. I’m not afraid of the future, not anymore.”
I frowned, my apprehension returning with a vengeance. Adrian wasn’t the only one keeping secrets. Eranthe was too, and I didn’t like it.
“Eranthe?” I asked. “What is it?”
She ignored my question. “Oh, look. Cassia’s done with the iceberg. Let’s go.”
Naturally, we didn’t go alone. Eranthe’s escort was already waiting for her. March had insisted to come along, and she would be leading a squad of sylphs to the iceberg. Cassia’s dragons were already with her, and the iceberg would be guarded by her yeti. Lachlan, the demon who watched Eranthe’s garrison in this area, had teamed up with a group of encantados sent by Tarasia and would be monitoring the waters.
We weren’t exactly mounting an attack on Emperor Octavian’s forces, but we weren’t taking any chances either.
Tarasia met us at the edge of the wards, visibly displeased. “You don’t have to do this, Eranthe,” she said. “You don’t have to go.”
“Tarasia, you know very well that it’s my responsibility. It’s my fault this started, to begin with. I have to end it.”
“We should be with you,” Tarasia insisted. “Things never go well when we’re apart.”
“Cassia will be there,” Eranthe replied, shaking her head. “That’s already excessive. We can’t risk more than two avatars of the seasons. If anything happens to us, you and Pandora have to ensure the stability of the wards, until such a time that Mother can provide a replacement.”
“You realize you’re not really helping, right?” Pandora asked. “There’ll never be a replacement for you, Eranthe, not if I can help it. Go now.”
Eranthe kissed her sister’s cheek. A perfumed breeze was already blowing around us, making her pink gown flare like an aura and the petals of the roses in her hair slide loose from the blooms. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
I got the feeling that Eranthe hadn’t said that just for Pandora and Tarasia’s benefit. She might’ve said it for her own sake, to prepare herself for her unavoidable confrontation with Eiar. Nobody called her out on it. How could we? We all wished we could help Eranthe more, but this was one thing only she could do.
As we took to the skies, flanked by the sylphs, silence fell between us. We passed through the wards without incident, the heat not causing any discomfort for me and my fellow vampires. Like Eranthe had said, Cassia’s iceberg was already prepared for us, including the minor modifications made by Eranthe’s lieutenants.
In the distance, Emperor Octavian’s frigate shone like a black pearl. I could already see its dark sails, channeling death magic to propel the ship forward instead of having to rely on the wind. The black flag of The Immortuos Voievodat—the same banner I’d pledged fealty to all my life—now drove a spike of dread through my heart.
Cassia’s dragons seemed to agree with me. “I have to say that looks quite ominous,” the ryū—I thought his name was Raijin—commented. “I don’t like the feel of the magic coming from those boats.”
“We knew what we were up against, Raijin,” Kerryn replied. “It’ll only get worse from here on out.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” the firedrake—Emmerich—said. “I think it’ll turn out quite exciting. My parents will regret having missed this.”
“Not everything can be solved through evisceration, Emmerich,” Cassia reminded him. “We’re trying diplomacy now.”
I wasn’t sure Emmerich’s preferred method would even work on an undead, but he and the other dragons had other tools at their disposal. Dragon fire could obliterate almost anything in the world, and three-quarters of The Voievodat would be vulnerable to it.
The problem was with the rest of the undead, specifically those that didn’t walk the paths of the living at all. If Emperor Octavian decided to bring spirits forward, elemental magic would become useless.
As far as I knew, Cezar’s uncle hadn’t made such a choice. Ghosts didn’t thrive in other lands and they were reluctant to leave The Voievodat. I hoped that would be enough and the emperor wouldn’t change his mind.
If Eranthe was as concerned as I was, she didn’t show it in front of her sister. “I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time for battle, even if we don’t resort to evisceration. But yes, Cassia is right. We’re here in the hope of ending the war without having to turn to that.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Emmerich answered. “I’m well aware and will act accordingly.”
I understood where he was coming from and would’ve agreed with his assessment had I not been too worried about Eranthe to enjoy the prospect of a war. I would’ve much preferred a boring walk in a field of flowers if it meant Eranthe would be safe.
But my wish wasn’t meant to be fulfilled and before long, the ships began to approach the iceberg. Most of the fleet kept its distance, with only two large vessels heading toward us. As expected, Emperor Octavian’s frigate led the way, followed by my father’s trireme.
I swallowed around the sudden knot in my throat. I wasn’t looking forward to this, to what my father would say, to his reaction. I’d yet to figure out what would happen to my mother after what she’d done and he loved her. By now, he must’ve learned she’d been taken captive and was likely not happy.
Eranthe took my hand and threaded our fingers together. “It’s going to be all right. I promise you. I won’t let you lose your family.”
“Even after everything that’s happened?”
E
ranthe shook her head. “Because of everything that’s happened.”
She appeared to be taking lessons from her sisters in terms of cryptic statements, but now was not the time to point that out. We were in public, and it would be inappropriate for me to question her. And so, I just nodded, accepting her promise and hoping she was right.
The issue of my father became irrelevant as soon as the two vessels arrived and Emperor Octavian appeared on the deck of his frigate. When he stepped onto the iceberg, his expression was colder than the magic Cassia had used to create this space.
Eranthe didn’t let that deter her. “Greetings, Your Majesty,” she said with a kind smile. “Thank you for taking me up on my invitation. I trust we will have a productive meeting, one that will ensure this useless war comes to an end.”
“I’d say the same, except we both know our interests might not align in this matter.”
A hiss escaped me at the emperor’s rude reply. Adrian shot me a chastising look, but it was too late. Octavian had already noticed. “Ah, yes. If it isn’t the envoys we sent to your beautiful land. How have you been, Baltasar? Enjoying the results of your treason?”
“I didn’t realize saving another monarch from a horrible fate we were partially responsible for counted as treason,” I snapped back. “As far as I knew, we were not intended to cause a war with Chronikos. But of course, I could be wrong.”
“I’m sure you aren’t,” Cezar said tightly. “My uncle would never endanger The Voievodat for his own self-interest. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”
Octavian flashed his fangs at Cezar. “That would depend on what you perceive as dangerous. Unlike presumptuous little fools, I think in perspective.”
Eranthe didn’t react well to the implied insult. Her magic swelled around her, deep, cruel, and dark. Even so, when she spoke, the words came out calm and level. “Perhaps we should set aside these private matters and focus on why we’re actually here.”
The emperor would’ve probably argued with her, but the Grand Lich chose this exact moment to make her appearance. She emerged with my father from his trireme, flanked by a large contingent of risen. “I agree with the Lady of Spring. There needs to be a balance between life and death. Pursuing this conflict further would endanger it.”
Octavian clenched his jaw, obviously unhappy with the interruption. Still, he let it slide and chose the diplomatic approach we’d all come here for. “You might be correct, Grand Lich. By all means, let us discuss a potential truce.”
“Right this way, Emperor Octavian,” Cassia offered. “We’ve taken the liberty of preparing a private location for the talks.”
The structure in question was very similar to the buildings in The Gardens of Edenia. I had no idea how the sisters had combined the magic of winter with that of spring, but the end result was a tree-like hall growing straight from the ice. Cassia and Eranthe led us inside, and Emperor Octavian, the Grand Lich, and my father followed. Cassia’s dragons, Cezar, Adrian, and I joined them, ending the procession. Our escorts remained outside.
As soon as we were behind closed doors, the Grand Lich dropped her hood. I suppressed a flinch upon seeing Eranthe’s face in a person who was so unsuited to it. This was why we were here, to face Eiar, to build Eranthe’s future, independently of Eiar’s demands.
“Let us not mince words,” Eiar said. “As I stated before, during our meeting, The Voievodat requires one thing from you, and that is another Grand Lich. Queen Eranthe, I know for a fact that you’ve been making progress in using your death magic. You need to take up your role in leading your future homeland.”
Eranthe’s lips twisted in a strange, unreadable smile. “Ah, yes. My future homeland. I don’t think I’m going to do that. I’d like to think I can build my own future, no matter how much blood it might hold.”
Whenever Eranthe spoke the word ‘future’, her magic vibrated beneath my feet, fierce, angry, but comforting. I had no idea what that meant, but Eiar apparently did. Her already pale face turned pasty white. “You can’t be serious. You know and you still deny me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Eranthe shrugged. “I owe you nothing. The Voievodat isn’t important to me. I am the queen of Tis Ánoixis and that is what I must remain.”
The moment Eranthe finished that sentence, Eiar cried out in pain. I gaped in shock as her body began to blur around the edges, as if she wasn’t really there. It reminded me a little of the moment Snegurka had been hit by Tarasia’s magic, but at the same time, it was so much worse.
Octavian panicked. He reached for Eiar, instinctively wanting to help her. The moment his hand made contact with her shoulder, he was thrown back, his skin and flesh burnt away to the bone.
My father let out a choked gasp at the sight. “Your Majesty! You’re hurt.”
Octavian ignored Pythios, as well as his own wound. He angrily turned toward Eranthe. “What are you doing? What is going on? What kind of spell are you casting on her? Stop it at once or you will regret it.”
Eranthe’s smile faded into a sad expression. “I’m not casting any spell. A spell that was already cast is coming undone.”
“Eranthe,” Eiar croaked out, “you can’t do this. You can’t defy what was already written. It could tear the whole world asunder.”
Her knees went weak as she spoke and she slid to the ground, drained of strength. A part of me ached for her, because she was still Eranthe, and this wasn’t supposed to happen. It hurt to see her like this, in so much agony. But my place was by my Eranthe’s side, so I made no move to rush to Eiar’s assistance.
“Yes, it could,” Eranthe replied, “but I don’t think that’s going to happen. No one has any interest in letting the Axis Mundi collapse, not for something like this.”
Eiar’s figure started to blur even further. “You can’t possibly rely on something so vague when it comes to the fate of the world. What happens if you’re wrong?”
“That’s why I’m taking some precautions and you’re going to help me.”
As she spoke, Eranthe walked up to Eiar. Her footsteps seemed to echo much too loudly in the otherwise silent room. “You will, won’t you?” she asked as she knelt by Eiar’s side. “This is for the best. I swear.”
Eiar let out a low, soft laugh. “You don’t have to make me any promises, Lady of Spring. I’m you, remember? Or I’m supposed to be.”
“Things never go the way they’re supposed to in Chronikos. But you already knew that.”
Without another word, Eranthe extracted February’s crystal from the folds of her dress. It seemed to glow even more brightly than it had in Eranthe’s quarters, and it grew brighter still the closer it got to Eiar.
“Everything happens for a reason, doesn’t it?” Eiar asked as she stared at the glowing stone. In the light coming from the crystal, she looked transparent, ethereal, like a ghost.
“I don’t know,” Eranthe answered. “I don’t believe in coincidences, but I don’t believe in prophecies either. I’m just going to use whatever tool I have at my disposal to make sure my loved ones are safe.”
Cassia didn’t like the sound of that any more than I did. “Eranthe, what are you doing?”
“What I must. Cassia, Mother lied. Eiar isn’t a fragment of me like she claimed. She is my future self. Or at least, that’s what she’s supposed to be. I will change it, and I will not allow the gods to rule me, not any longer.”
Her future self? That wasn’t possible. It made no sense whatsoever. I could maybe understand and accept that someone’s ‘dark side’ could physically manifest into another person through a botched ritual, but Eranthe was now claiming her situation was different. Surely, an individual couldn’t coexist, meet, and speak to the person they would become. The sheer concept was insane.
But both Eiar and Eranthe seemed to believe it. Eranthe turned away from us, gripping the crystal in her fist so tightly her knuckles went white. Eiar covered Eranthe’s hand with her own and took a deep breath. “Ready?” she asked.
“Always,” Eranthe replied with a smile.
She brushed her lips over Eiar’s in a ghost of a kiss that would have aroused me had I not feared its meaning. At the same time, the light coming from the crystal became so intense I could no longer see much of anything.
Too late did I realize what was happening. Too late did I realize that blasted magical stone had changed shapes.
“No!” Cassia cried out, extending her hand and already summoning her magic.
She wasn’t in time. A spike of ice went straight through both Eranthe’s chest and Eiar’s, still glowing with the power of winter. Blood splattered over Eranthe’s dress and Eiar’s dark robes, sliding down their skin in a twisted mimicry of what Eranthe had shared with me, Adrian, and Cezar.
“Hurt me,” she had said. “Hurt me more.”
Had she always known on some level what would happen? Had she always known that she’d have to die to end this war? How could she be so cruel?
For a few seconds, no one knew what to do. Time seemed to slow, which was ironic considering what had brought us to this horrible situation. And then, the two bodies of my soulmate collapsed to the floor, and everyone snapped out of their shock. “Eiar!” Octavian shouted, already stumbling to Eiar’s side.
Cassia ran forward, surrounded by currents of cold air and swirling snowflakes. “This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.”
Cezar, Adrian, and I joined them and dropped to our knees next to Eiar and Eranthe. As I brushed my fingers over Eranthe’s arm, the spike of ice disappeared, and I finally realized something I shouldn’t have missed at all. “They still have a pulse! They’re not dead.”
“Impossible,” Kerryn said, his eyes wide. “She aimed straight for the heart. I could see it. Even demigods can die.”
“It’s not impossible for an undead,” Adrian pointed out, “or for a person who comes into close contact with undead biological material. Eranthe might not be undead per se, but she did drink blood from us, as well as water from the river of the dead. She’s more resilient that she looks.”
