“Ah,” she said, meeting Sebastian’s eyes.“I remember you.The little thief.”
Kieran stiffened.Would Verbena even be willing to help someone who had once tried to steal from her?Considering that she’d cursed him, Kieran couldn’t imagine she’d be understanding.She hadn’t exactly asked what his motivations were—
Then, though, her face softened as she looked between Sebastian and Kieran.To Sebastian, she said, “You’ve changed since then, haven’t you?Not so selfish anymore.”
“He wasn’t selfish then either,” Kieran heard himself say.
Verbena’s eyes went to him, and he instantly froze.Realizing he’d already put his foot in his mouth, he elected to simply push on.“Sebastian tried to steal the scepter because he was trying to get magic to help his sisters—to make a better life for his family.It was never for his own gain.And I know you have no reason to believe me, butIknowhim.So please, you have to help him.I’ll do whatever you want in exchange.”
Sebastian started, voice quieter than before, “Kieran—”
“You know,” Verbena said, voice creaky, “you are quite the unusual person, Kieran Pelumbra.”
Kieran blinked.“I’m…What?”
“I’ve lived a long life,” Verbena explained.“In these woods and beyond.I’ve seen how people take and take and take, draining every magic vein of its power.It’s why I was so drawn to you in the first place.You were willing to sacrifice yourself for someone you didn’t even know.”
Her eyes fell to Sebastian.“This boy tried to steal from me, like so many others before him.I never would have expected him to give up his own life for someone else as you did.Perhaps I’ve…misjudged.”
“Does that mean you’ll help him?”Kieran’s hand tightened around Sebastian’s.
Verbena stared at Kieran for a long beat.She seemed to be looking past him straight into his soul, examining far beyond his words.All the while, Kieran clung to Sebastian, silently praying that this creature could find it in her heart to forgive him.
Finally, she said, “Perhaps we can make another deal, Kieran Pelumbra.”
Kieran straightened.“Yes—of course, I’ll do anything.”
Verbena nodded.“Then so it shall be.”
She held out her hand, and suddenly, Kieran saw that the bag he’d discarded on the ground began to move.It unzipped, and from inside, the Hilt and the Stave floated out.From across the glade, the Crown floated toward Verbena’s hand.All at once, the pieces joined together.The gaps between them closed, and a second later, Verbena held a slim silver scepter in her hand.
She stood, taking a few steps back.She examined the scepter for a moment before she took a breath and held it aloft with both hands.As she did, it began to glow silver like moonlight.
Then, in one fluid motion, she stabbed it into the earth.
All around them, the scene began to change.New pools of water suddenly opened up, paths of stone connecting them all.Clouds of steam rose from them, creating a glittering mist in the moonlit air.The towering mushrooms shrank, becoming small bundles as the base of massive trees that grew out of the ground in their place.The air grew colder, and Kieran realized that the obvious divide between the magic vein and the forest around it vanished.Now the pools simply looked like hot springs in the middle of the woods, blending in nicely with the rest of the nature around it.
Verbena pointed to the nearest pool and met Kieran’s eyes.“Submerge him there.”
Kieran nodded.He reached beneath Sebastian and, with Briar’s help, lifted him.The twins lowered him into the pool together as the blight covered half his face and his breathing grew shallow.They submerged him.Kieran’s heart felt like it was about to break through his ribs.
The second the water closed over Sebastian’s face, the blight washed away.The skin beneath went from bruised back to normal in seconds.Color returned to Sebastian’s cheeks.His eyes flew open, and he jolted, flying upward and taking a gasping breath.He coughed violently for a moment, and suddenly, an oily black ball flew out from between his lips.The second it touched the water, it melted into nothing.
Sebastian stood, completely drenched.He touched his face, stared at his hands.He flexed his fingers, and when nothing happened, his eyes widened.
“The water’s a panacea,” he said, in awe.He met Kieran’s eyes, a smile spreading across his face.“The curse is broken.”
In that moment, it was as if Kieran’s body moved of its own accord.One moment, he was at the edge of the pool, and the next, he was jumping inside, throwing his arms around Sebastian and holding him tightly against him.He pulled back enough to press a kiss to his lips, though he was smiling so much it was mostly teeth.Sebastian laughed and kissed him back, wet fingers knotted in Kieran’s hair.
“It’s like Wyvern Springs,” Delilah realized with a gasp as she looked around at the pools.“This is what happened when the Hammond family was entrusted to look after the water because of its magic.”
Verbena nodded.“You understand, then, what I’m about to ask of you.”
Kieran stopped kissing Sebastian long enough to refocus on Verbena.She gestured to the space around her, looking between the four of them.
“I’ve synthesized the magic to create this panacea spring—its water will break any curse.You may use it for whatever you like, including to pass your Calling.Beyond that, a place this powerful will need to be protected.I’d like you all to be the ones to do it.”
Briar seemed on the verge of laughing.“Us?But—we’re just a bunch of kids.How are we supposed to protect this place?”
