Had I done something wrong? I thought purgatory was a place mortals went when they wanted to go to heaven but got waitlisted instead. I reached out to touch the darkness and felt nothing. “Why am I here?”
Once again, everything around me changed. I stood in a country-style kitchen that looked similar to the one we had in my mother’s house in the mortal world. A moment later, I jolted when I saw myself enter the room and sit down at a long wooden table. Several textbooks and a spiral notebook rested on the table. I appeared to be doing homework. Mom came into the room, sipping tea, and sat next to me. “What is this?”
“What you see can be your reality,” he replied, with excitement in his tone.
I waved my hand in front of their faces, but neither responded. They hadn’t seen me or heard us. My eyebrows furrowed as I turned to face my father. “What do you mean?”
“The mist absorbed your elemental half to heal itself, but your mortal half survived.” He smiled. “Now, you must decide which future you’d like to have.”
“Which future?” I had a hard time coming to terms with what he said. I thought I was supposed to die. There were no other options for me. How was any of this possible?
“Because of your sacrifice, you have an option to return to the mortal world as a mortal with no memory of the elementals. Your mother will join you, and her memory of Avalon will be wiped clean.”
But she’d never know the only person she ever loved. I’d never know my father. Never know my friends. Never fall in love with Rowan. “Why would I want to do that?”
“You can have the simple life you craved.” He squeezed my shoulders, leveling our eyes. “You can go to college, get married, and have a child. Whatever you wish. All of the sadness and burdens you’ve experienced will be gone.”
There were so many times I wished for that kind of life. To be able to choose my future and make my own decisions. He was offering me more than life. He was offering me a freedom I’d never known. “What’s the other option?”
“You can return to Avalon as you are,” he replied in a lackluster tone. It was clear which path he preferred I choose. “But, this option is much riskier.”
“Why?”
“If you return, the First Wind will restore your elemental half.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “In your weakened state, there is no guarantee you will survive the process.”
Tension built in my shoulders. “Are you saying I could choose Avalon and still die?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
This choice gave me a lot to consider, but it wasn’t only about me. Many would be affected by my decision. “What will happen to my friends if I don’t return? What about Rowan?”
“There will be a period of mourning,” he replied, staring into the distance. “Some longer than others, but each has responsibilities within their court. They will eventually move forward with their lives.”
Rowan had fought so hard for me. I thought of the last time I saw him. The look of desperation on his face. “Will they be happy?”
“You can’t make this decision based on others,” he said, slightly agitated. The scenery washed away. All that surrounded us now were moving clouds. Even the surface I stood on was gone, which made me a little woozy. “This is a personal choice.”
I cocked my head to the side. “It’s not that simple, and you know it.”
“The most important decisions are rarely simple.”
I’d never been so conflicted. All of my life, I’d known where I’d be and what I was supposed to do. Now I stood at a crossroads. I could have total freedom. Live without the pain of Dad or Ariel’s loss. Make my own choices. Or, I could return to Avalon. Back to the life I was destined to live. To the ones I loved. “I don’t know what to do.”
“We’ve run out of time.” He took my hand in his. “What do you want to do?”
I’d given up everything to save Avalon. I’d gained and lost so much. Dad was right. For the first time, I had to think for myself. I had to decide what was best for me. The choice was clear. Now I just had to be brave enough to follow it. “I’ve made my decision.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rowan
“Be patient, young king,” Britta said, telepathically.
Relief spilled over my shoulders, and I released some of the tension in my chest. Kalin was alive. That was all I needed to know. As we waited, I tried to understand what Britta had told us about her premonition. Kalin had to believe she would die. Her sacrifice had to be pure so that she would receive this gift. And now she must choose her future. But what were her choices? “You said she might come back. What was her other option?”
“To return to the world as a mortal with no memory of the elementals,” Britta replied, as she moved toward a small stream that ran through the area.
Without the burdens of her court, it would be a fresh start for Kalin. She’d never know the pain of Taron and Ariel’s deaths. The memories of our war expunged from her memory. She’d be free.
I glanced over at Kalin’s mother. “What about Tricia?”
Tricia stared at Britta. “If Kalin chooses a mortal life, her mother will return with her.”
“Would I have any memories of Avalon?” Tricia asked, eyes rounded.
Britta glanced at her. “No, you would believe that Kalin’s father was a soldier who died at war.”
Her eyes welled with tears. “I don’t want to forget about Taron. I’ve spent half of my life in love with him.”
Britta waved her hand. “If you wish to return with your daughter, that is the cost.”
My heart ached for her. That was a terrible price to pay. If I had the choice, I wouldn’t want to lose the memories of the one I loved. But Tricia would ultimately follow Kalin wherever she chose to go. That much I knew was true. They had been best friends since her birth. Nothing but death would keep them apart.
But what would Kalin want?
As a mortal, Kalin would design her own life. No more destiny to fulfill or life-threatening choices. Selfishly, I wanted her here. When I'd pictured eternity, I’d always hoped she’d be with me that we’d protect our courts together. But I understood if she chose to create a new future for herself. If that made her happy, I hoped she’d choose it.
Thunder filled the skies, startling us all.
I gazed up as lightning flashed. A bolt shot down, landing a few feet away from me. A thick puff of smoke covered the area. When the dust settled, I saw something lying on the ground, and I cautiously moved toward it. The closer I got, the object came into view. A lump swelled in my throat.
It was Kalin.
She’d chosen to return to Avalon. But something was wrong. Kalin wasn’t moving, and her eyes remained closed. I rushed to her side with Tricia right beside me. We both fell to our knees in front of her, and I met eyes with Britta. “What’s wrong with her?”
Britta pressed the palm of her hand against Kalin’s chest. “Her mortal-half survived, but she is weak. She will die if she remains in this state.”
My heart was beating rapidly in my chest. “What can we do?”
“She will need a spark of power from each of the four courts.” Britta glanced at each of us. “We must give a part of our essence.”
Marlena stepped forward. A green leaf with golden trim sprouted from the middle of her chest. “This is the essence Orion gave me during our wedding ceremony. I want Kalin to have it.”
“No,” Orion said, stopping her hand before she could pluck the foliage from her skin. “I will give her the essence you gave me.”
“You are the oldest and strongest of our kin.” Marlena placed her hand over his heart. “She needs your strength more than I do.”
He gently kissed her lips. “You’re right, my love.”
Marlena laid the leaf over Kalin’s chest. A glowing light appeared all around her essence. The greenery absorbed into her chest. “Let the strength of the woodland faeries nourish you.”
Britta held her hand over her chest. A te
ar-shaped droplet materialized in her palm. She held the water over Kalin’s body. A warm light flashed as the drop landed over her heart. “This is our gift to you, brave queen.”
With my palm over my chest, I collected my essence. It was nothing more than a single red flame. I took a deep breath and slowly blew the fire. The blaze ignited over Kalin’s chest, then quickly extinguished. As she inhaled the smoke, her skin glowed. “Let this fire help you rise from the ashes.”
All eyes turned to Tricia, and she put her hands over her mouth.
Panic rippled through me. Kalin had requested that her mother reign as queen over the air court, but she was a mortal with no essence to offer. Did that mean we couldn’t revive Kalin? “What are we going to do?”
The wind tickled the back of my neck, and I spun around. Marcus held out a spinning ball of air. Ariel’s essence. “I can give her the essence of the air court.”
A lump swelled in my throat. “Marcus, I can’t take that from you. It’s all you have left of her.”
He shook his head as a tear ran down his cheek. “Ariel would want Kalin to have it.”
I pulled Marcus into a hug. “Thank you.”
I held my breath as he released the essence over her head. The wind blew through her hair, but nothing else happened. She still hadn’t opened her eyes or moved even an inch. I stared at Britta. “Is there anything else?”
“We have to wait and see how her body responds,” Britta replied, stepping away from us as we crowded around Kalin. “She was frail when we began.”
Anger grew in my chest. “After everything, there is still a chance she’ll die?”
A tear fell down her cheek. A rare glimpse of emotion from her normally stoic persona. “Yes.”
My stomach churned. “Was Kalin aware that this might not work?”
“Yes.” Lowering her head, she replied, “She knowingly chose to take the risk.”
“Come on, Kalin.” I took her hand in mine. An icy shiver raced down my spine. Her skin was pale and cold. “I need you to come back to me.” Tricia brushed the hair away from her face with the tips of her fingers. “If you can hear me, open your eyes.”
Nothing.
I laid my head on her stomach. “Please, Kalin.”
Kalin’s back arched, and I leaped up. Her red hair faded to a wheat blond that matched the other air court elementals. Tricia stood and stepped backward. “What’s happening?”
Wings burst out from either side of her back. Flexing wide, they were unlike any I’d ever seen. Instead of one particular kind of feather, she had a mix of all four courts. I saw scales, leaves, and even black feathers like mine.
“They’re beautiful,” Orion added. “Does this mean she’s the akasha once more?”
As the wings relaxed at her sides, she lay flat against the grass. But she still had her eyes closed with no signs of waking up. “I have no idea,” I replied. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”
“The future is always changing,” Britta added. “No matter how certain we believe it to be.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kalin
My eyes burst open.
The sun shone, blurring my vision. I tried to feel my way around to determine my location. There was grass in my palm, and I was lying on the ground. When my eyes came into focus, I saw my family and friends. My mother and Rowan were the closest to me. Farther away, I saw Orion, Marlena, and Marcus. I was in the woodland court, right where I’d entered the mist. When I tried to sit up, pain radiated from my back. I reached behind to touch my spine, and my fingers ran over soft feathers. I glanced over my shoulder.
Wings.
I had wings.
Was I able to move them? They flexed. Yes, I could. But they weren’t like any I’d ever seen. Some of the feathers were leafy like the woodland faeries. Others scaled like the fish in the water court. As I examined them, I realized my wings represented each of the four elements. “Holy shit.”
Everyone chuckled.
I stood to take a closer look, and Mom wrapped her arms around me. “I can’t believe it. I’m so happy you came back to us.”
I felt the same way. When I'd stepped into the mist, I’d assumed that was the end. The premonition only said that I would die. No one mentioned I could be reborn. But what was I? “I’m as surprised as you are.”
“Do you remember what happened?” Mom asked as she ran her hands over the feathers. Orion and Marlena joined her, admiring my unique wings.
I tried to piece together what had occurred after I entered the mist. All I could recall were bits of time. There was nothing that made a whole lot of sense. “I don’t remember everything, but I do know Dad was there.”
Mom put her hand over her chest. “What did he say?”
“I don’t know.” I rubbed my temple. “It’s all in fragments. All I remember is that he loves us. He seemed happy wherever he was.”
Mom stared into the distance as tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you for sharing that. It’s a relief to know he’s okay.”
As she spoke, a strand of my hair fell into my face. I startled. It wasn’t red. “My hair is blond? When did that happen?”
“Right before you sprouted wings,” Rowan replied, as he fiddled with one of my curls. “I think it’s hot.”
“Does that mean I’m an air elemental?” I asked.
I glanced at Britta. “We revived you using a piece of each of our essences, and now you are pure elemental.”
“Is that any different than what I was before?” I questioned.
“You were half-mortal then. I suspect you are stronger now.”
I saw a flash of light. Images I recognized came into view. Islands were being torn apart by massive winds, hurricanes swirled in the water, and tornados whipped across farmland. There was devastation all over the mortal world. In an instant, I knew what I must do. I spread my wings and burst into the air, passing through Avalon’s mist. I flew hundreds of miles in the air, then stopped. My wings flapped, holding me in place.
I called to the elements.
Rowan flew next to me with his black wings flapping heavily. “What the hell are you doing?”
I had the answer. My purpose was clear, like never before. “I have the power to stop the devastation.” I put my hand over my heart. “I feel it growing inside of me. I have to help the mortals. I must protect them.”
“I want to help you.”
“You can’t,” I replied, shaking my head. He didn’t look convinced. “Trust me, okay?”
He stared at me as if he was preparing to put up a fight, then he sighed and glided back down to the ground.
The elements tugged at me, sensing my power. I tried to steady the unrest. I was stronger in my pure form. Energy flowed in and out of me with ease as I slowly calmed the natural disasters plaguing the mortal world. One by one, they subsided. But I knew I could do more. I focused on all of the destruction. Trees sprouted out of the burned ruins. Crops of fresh fruits and vegetables regrew in the flooded plains. Glaciers returned to their icy lands. Without any drain of power, I renewed the world.
When I sensed the balance had returned, I returned to Avalon. Rowan was the only one that remained. “Where did everyone go?”
“They went back to their courts when Britta told us you had restored the balance. Tricia asked that you return to the air court when you can.”
“We did it, Rowan.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “It’s finally over.”
“No, Kalin.” He pressed our bodies together until there was no space left between us. “You did it. You saved us all.”
I thought of Ariel and Dad. “Not everyone.”
“That’s true.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “But you saved more than you lost. That has to count for something.”
In the scheme of things, it did. We’d loved and lost, rejoiced and cried. That was all part of life. I had no idea what the future held for me, but I’d discovered a few things along the way. Avalon was
where I belonged. I was destined to live this life. I was who I was supposed to be. I’d spend the rest of eternity keeping the balance, and I was proud to be its chosen protector.
I leaned in and kissed Rowan.
“What was that for?” he asked, smirking curiously.
“I’m happy,” I replied, sensing all the peace around me. “I’m finally free.”
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Acknowledgments
There have been so many people who have helped me throughout my journey. The first in a long line is my parents, Russell and Brenda Howell. Your love, encouragement, and support have been priceless. I feel so lucky to be your daughter. I want to send out some love to my brother, Michael Howell. You believed this could happen even before I did. Thank you, little brother. None of this would be possible without my husband, Christopher. The fact that I found a man as wonderful as you still astonishes me every day. Thank you for putting a ring on it. My life wouldn’t be complete without my daughter, Madison. I didn’t truly understand the depth of love until you came into the world. Everything I do is for you, sweet girl. Special thanks to Jennifer L. Armentrout for lots of reasons. Mostly, thanks for thinking this was a good idea and for being full of awesome. Last, but not least, I want to thank you—the reader. Thank you for giving me a chance. This series has been a labor of love, and I genuinely appreciate your support. A big, awkward virtual hug is coming your way.
About the Author
Stacey O’Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 65
