by Linsey Hall
It threatened to overwhelm me, the sensation foreign and familiar at the same time.
Familiar.
It felt like Nix. And Del. And Cass.
Iain, Connor, and all the others we’d lost.
Shock slammed me in the face.
I’d subsumed the darkness. But before that, the darkness had absorbed the life forces of all that it had killed.
Nearby, the black dragon hovered in the air, red eyes staring at me. The crimson orbs were grief stricken but resigned. I hadn’t asked her to kill me if the time came, but she was smart enough to know what might need to be done to get rid of the darkness forever. She was waiting to hear if she should blast me with flame and take out the darkness once and for all, but she wouldn’t do it unless I told her to.
I was warmed by her faith that I would do the hard thing if I had to.
“Not yet,” I shouted, my voice nearly lost on the wind. If this worked, maybe that was the next step.
But I had to try something first.
Frantic, I spun around, looking for the bodies of anyone that we’d lost.
I saw Nix and Del first, lying on the huge tor that looked like a terrible dark altar. Ares cradled Nix, the pale vampire sitting by the small dragon as they wept. Roarke, still in his demon form, crouched over Del, his dark wings forming a cage around them. The hell hound sat next to them, no doubt carried to the top of the tor by Roarke. The dog howled, and the grief in the sound cut me to the bone.
I shot toward them, my wings carrying me faster than they ever had. I landed on the top of the rock at a run, stumbling toward them and crashing to my knees near the closest body—Nix.
Her dark hair was limp and her face pale. My heartbeat thundered, fear and hope going wild inside me.
Ares looked up at me, face pale with grief. “Claire.”
“Move.” I lunged for her, putting my hands on her chest.
“What are you doing?” Ares tried to push me away, but the dragon nudged him aside.
“I can save her.” Please let me save her.
Fear and hope. Fear and hope. I tried to find Nix’s life force within me. Each force was distinct, and they all fought to the surface. Finally, I found it—the unique signature that was hers.
I forced it into her, imagining the life passing from me to her. My breath heaved and tears rolled down my cheeks.
Please, please, please.
Her chest glowed, and she gasped, sitting upright.
“What’s going on?” She blinked, confused.
Ares pulled her to him, a rough sound escaping his chest.
I sobbed, wanting to hug her but knowing I didn’t have the time. How many did I have to save? Could I save them all, give back what had been taken?
I moved on to Del next, and I could feel Roarke and Pondflower staring hard at me, their hope a searing brand.
As the light of her life force passed from me to her, Del gasped and sat up.
Joy surged in my chest, and I launched myself off the tor, searching for more bodies.
Iain, Connor, Cass.
I wanted to go straight for my favorites, to search them out through the crowd.
But everyone here deserved to live. There could be no choosing. I couldn’t save those who’d been torn apart by the glass monsters, but if the shadows had taken their life, I could do something about that. I flew from body to body, returning the life forces that had been taken.
Finally, I found Cass at the base of the tor. She’d transformed back to human and lay crumpled in Aidan’s arms. I pushed him aside and leaned over her, putting my hands to her chest and forcing her life force back into her.
My head roared as I waited to see if it would work. When she blinked and opened her eyes, I sobbed.
“Nix and Del?” she asked. “Are they…?”
“They’re alive!” I wanted to stay, to hug her, but I needed to keep moving. I shot into the air, searching for more.
At some point, the others figured out what I was doing and began bringing the fallen to me. Some were too broken to save, their bodies torn apart by the glass beasts. Their life force would flow into them, then out again, disappearing on the air.
My heart felt like ash every time that happened. But I saved more—so many more.
I could still feel the darkness inside me, but it grew weaker with every life that I returned. Where it was going, I had no idea. It wasn’t transferring to the others—I would have felt it pass from me to them, and I definitely didn’t feel that.
But it was definitely growing weaker inside me.
As I worked, worry crept in around the joy.
Where were Connor and Iain?
Had they been torn apart as well?
Tears poured down my face as I tried to focus. When I came across Connor, I gasped, lunging for him. His face was pale and cold, his form limp on the grass.
It was my worst nightmare, staring me in the face.
There was no buggy to be seen. He must have been thrown off.
Yawning terror tried to devour me as I leaned over him and pressed my hands to his chest. I sobbed as I pushed his life force into him.
Please work.
When he blinked and sat up, I burst into tears and hugged him.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I pulled back. “Someone else will have to explain. There are more I need to save. I need to find Iain.”
“The buggy overturned,” Connor said. “He may have been thrown from it.”
Damn it. I stood, looking for the next body. For Iain.
But everyone around me was standing.
They were all healed.
All except for the one I was desperate to find.
“Iain.” My voice was hoarse. “Where is Iain?”
Some people turned, clearly confused.
“Iain!” Desperation surged through me.
Why hadn’t I told him that I loved him?
I should have told him.
I shot into the air, searching the ground around me. The glass monsters had turned to dust and the lightning had stopped. A feeling pulled me around, and I spun, searching the ground near the rocks.
There.
Puka was sprinting across the grass, darting around the tor. I flew after her, my heart thundering as I shot through the air. Wind tore at my hair and tears poured down my cheeks. Where was he?
Puka stopped near a crumpled body.
Iain.
His dark cloak covered most of him, and fear chilled me at the thought that he might be in such bad shape I couldn’t bring him back.
No.
I could save him. I would save him.
I landed hard at his side, pulling his cloak away from his face. He was so pale, so still. My heart tore and I fumbled to press my hands against his strong chest. Puka leaned her side against mine, letting her warmth flow into me.
I forced Iain’s life force back into his body, tears pouring down my cheeks.
“Please come back.” My voice broke. “I love you. I love you.”
Time crawled by, a million years passing as I waited to see if I could save him. Every second was an eternity, and I grew numb with fear.
When he finally shifted his head, I gasped. “Iain. Come back.”
His eyes fluttered open, dark blue and filled with worry. As soon as they focused on my face, the worry faded. I fell on top of him, hugging him tight.
His strong arms came around me and he sat up. “Caera, what’s wrong?”
“You died, you idiot.” I pulled back and pressed a hard kiss to his lips, then leaned back and met his eyes. “I love you. I should have told you sooner.”
The corner of his mouth tugged up in a grin. “I love you, too.”
“I know.” I grinned stupidly and kissed him again, unable to believe that he was here with me now.
His arms tightened around me, and he began to kiss me back. Joy spun through me as his lips moved on mine. Then he stiffened and pulled away. “We have company.”
Together, we stood. Iain gripped my hand, and I turned to inspect our surroundings. It was no longer pitch black despite the fact that I wasn’t glowing like the sun anymore. Light had crept in from somewhere, but not from me.
In fact, much of the light magic that glowed inside of me seemed dampened—but the darkness seemed dampened, too. Almost like it was gone. I had no idea what to make of it.
All around, people tended to the wounded. Our losses had been minimal, thanks to my ability to return the life forces, but everyone looked like hell. I caught sight of Aerdeca and Mordaca, both with messy hair and tired eyes. They were helping the injured to their feet, handing out healing potions and binding wounds. Farther away, the three DragonGods rode on their buggy, picking up those who could not walk. In the distance, Cass, Nix, and Del hugged. Their familiars crowded around.
My heart tightened to see them all together, and I squeezed Iain’s hand.
Connor strode up to us, worry in his eyes. “Are you all right?”
“I, ah… think so?” I searched inside myself, trying to feel for the darkness. “I honestly can’t tell if the darkness is still inside me.”
Magic surged on the air, and I shifted warily, looking around. My surroundings seemed to fade, as if I were looking through a foggy glass. Even Iain and Connor faded away until it felt like I was standing in the middle of impenetrable fog. My heartbeat thundered and my skin chilled.
What the hell was happening?
Five figures appeared in front of me, and I blinked.
Air, Water, Earth, Energy, and Time stood in front of me, looking wholly out of place here.
Air inclined her head toward me. “Caera of the Fire Fae. We are impressed.”
“The blacksmith said that you would surprise us,” Water said. “But we were not anticipating this.”
“What is this?” I asked. “I don’t fully understand what happened.”
“You found a way around your fate. Something that we did not know was possible,” said Time. “By embracing the darkness, you neutralized it.”
“Is that why I don’t feel it inside of me?”
Time nodded. “You were correct that there is no light without dark. And you had so much brightness inside of you, Queen of Light. By joining the darkness with your light, you have nullified it.”
Hope flared. “So I don’t need to die?”
“It seems not,” said Air. “You have changed your fate and saved your people. And yourself.”
Relief weakened my knees. “What now?”
Air shrugged. “That is up to you. But your destiny is fulfilled. I think it’s time for you to choose what you want.”
“I—”
Magic shook the air, cutting off my words. The figures faded away, and my surroundings returned. I still stood in the middle of the battlefield. Our forces were retreating through the portal back to the Tor of the Ancients, but my friends were still there. Iain and Connor stared at me, confusion on their faces.
“What just happened?” Connor asked.
“You didn’t see them?” I asked.
“Who?” Iain frowned. “All I saw was a bright light.”
“I’ll tell you later.” I smiled. “But I think everything is okay now. The darkness is gone.” I sighed. “We can go now.”
“Thank fates.” Iain gripped my hand and pulled me in for a hug. I grinned up at him.
Together, my friends and I strode toward the portal that would take us home. Gratitude welled within me as the ether sucked me in and spun me through space, returning me to the Tor of the Ancients.
The sun gleamed brightly here, shining on grass that looked fresh and new. Small white flowers burst from the earth, and I smiled.
“This is a change,” Iain said.
“With the darkness gone, this was able to grow.” I spun in a circle, inspecting the tor.
“Dartmoor is brighter,” Connor said. “The evil really is gone.”
I grinned. “I’m sure there will still be rainy days, but yes. I can feel the difference.”
Fates, I couldn’t believe it. This was all I could have hoped for.
All around, our troops were returning home through the portal that led to the earth realm. The king and queen approached, their clothes torn and their eyes tired. It was clear from just one look that the darkness was definitely gone from their souls. Their eyes weren’t as shadowed, and they walked with a lightness.
They stopped in front of me, gazes somber.
“We owe you a debt of gratitude, Caera,” the queen said.
“Damn right you do,” Connor said.
I probably should have told him to shut up, but I appreciated the support.
“It is over,” I said. “And I hope our losses weren’t too great?”
“Minimal,” the king said. “Better than we ever could have hoped for.” His gaze turned to Iain. “We owe you, as well.”
“Give Caera whatever she wants and your debt is paid,” Iain said.
The queen turned to me. “You are welcome home any time.”
I looked around, my heart singing at the sight of this place. I loved Dartmoor. I always would. My gaze landed on my friends as they headed toward the portal that would take them home.
“Thank you,” I said. “I am sure I will visit often. But I’ve found my home and it is not here.” I reached for Ian’s hand and squeezed.
The king and queen nodded.
The king looked at Connor. “You gave up your wings to help hide your sister. We would give them back to you if you like.”
Connor shook his head. “I’m good.”
I blinked, surprised. He didn’t want his wings back?
I liked having them. I almost told him that, but bit back the words. I didn’t know what drove him, but I couldn’t ask here in front of everyone. He turned from the king and queen, clearly uninterested in their opinion.
Hell, I didn’t need to care either. The thought made me grin. The power they’d held over me when they evicted me from my home was gone now. It was freeing.
Connor looked at me. “Ready to head home?”
“Ready.”
A week later, Iain and I stood in the kitchen of Potions & Pastilles. Actually, it wasn’t exactly standing. He had me pressed against the wall near the stove as he kissed me until my mind fogged.
It took all my energy to push him back, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I did so. “Stop. The party has already started.”
“We don’t need to go.”
“It’s a party to thank people for fighting in a battle on my behalf. Of course I have to go.”
He kissed me one last time. “Fine. You raise a fair point.”
I grinned and kissed him back. “We’ll finish this at home.”
He smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“So do I.” It was soon, but I’d decided to move in with Iain at his place. He’d created a portal for me that led directly to P&P, so it was almost as if I lived next door to the bar. I still kept my apartment here, but it was good to give Connor some space.
And I liked things the way they were. I was closer to Dartmoor, closer to him, and yet I could still get back to Magic’s Bend in two seconds flat. It was a no-brainer.
I gripped Iain’s hand and walked to the door that led out to the bar. I could hear the sound of the party going on, and a smile stretched across my face.
After everything that had happened, I couldn’t believe we’d gotten so lucky. All of my friends had survived. The darkness was gone. I had some badass light magic, and I’d made it out alive.
I’d drink to that.
I stepped out into the bar, and sound exploded. Everyone raised their glasses, cheering. I grinned, blushing hotly.
This shouldn’t be about me. Everyone here had been vital. I caught sight of Connor. Today, his band T-shirt was for Imagine Dragons, and I grinned at the irony. We didn’t need to imagine drago
ns at P&P. We had dragons.
Connor sidled up to me and handed me a beer. “You earned it, sis.”
I took the beer. “Everyone did.”
Connor threw an arm around my shoulder and I leaned against him, staring out at the crowd. Aerdeca and Mordaca sat in the corner, looking like scary sex symbols in their usual attire—the sleek white pantsuit for Aerdeca and the plunging black dress for Mordaca. The thorn wolf and hellcat sat by their sides, and I spotted their mates Declan and Tarron at the bar, refilling their drinks.
The FireSouls and their mates waved from the corner, where they were playing some kind of game with Jeff the dragon, who kept changing sizes. It looked a bit like charades, but I had no idea what they were up to.
The DragonGods—Bree, Ana, and Rowan—danced on a makeshift dance floor along with Jude and other members of the Protectorate.
All in all, the crowd was huge and happy.
“Pretty good life we made here,” I said.
“No kidding,” Connor said. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Connor nodded toward Aethelred, who sat in a big armchair in his blue velour tracksuit. “Looks like that guy could use a drink.”
I gave Connor one last hug, and he moved off to refill Aethelred’s drink.
Iain smiled down at me. “Ready to join the party?”
“Beyond ready.” I grinned. “I’d say we earned it.”
~~~
This is the last book in Claire’s series, but don’t worry! The adventure will continue. Connor will get a novella next month, and after that, there will be a totally new series that I’m so excited to share with you.
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Acknowledgments
