Another roar echoed into the world as a dark mist circled around Cassandra’s enclosure. Thames knew what we were doing, and he was pissed.
“She said the dome wouldn’t last long.” My voice shook as I dug my hands more firmly into the ground. “Cassandra can only give us so much.”
“Together, Lana.” Kade met my gaze.
I trembled with anticipation. Everything I’d become had led to this. My light, foretold for a thousand years, was our only advantage, and it was time to unleash it on our world.
Closing my eyes, I focused all my attention on the ground beneath my fingers. The sounds of the battle, all the screams faded into the background until it was me, Kade, my light, and his shadows. His breathing, his very heartbeat perfectly in sync with my own.
I inhaled a steady, calming breath as I wrapped my magic around my hands like a coil.
We’re ready, my light reassured me, speaking confidently, fueled with the love I felt in my soul.
We were one, my magic and me. The light an extension of me. My body shook at the force of the magic gathering inside. I clung to it, letting it well up despite my trembling.
“I’m here, Little Rebel,” Kade’s voice caressed over me, but I kept my eyes closed, focusing both of our energy into one solidtorrent of power. I dropped every doubt, every fear I had, and let the light reign supreme.
My magic plunged into the depths of the earth as a scream escaped my body. Staying connected with its power, I held on, letting everything flow through me to pour outward with purpose into the earth. I felt it then, a pulse of energy scattering in the depths of the soil, gliding through Atheria along the feet of everyone here in the battle, and outward even still.
Kade’s shadows circled the light, reinforcing it like vines coiling together to carry the charge across all of Atheria. My arms shook, my body pushed to the brink of its limits, but still I didn’t let go of the power. Not yet.
I groaned under the weight of it all, feeling Kade’s grip tighten around me. He grunted, as if feeling the heaviness of our power extending itself to its limit.
Apollo burned at my thigh, and I forced one hand from the ground, pulling the white dagger from its sheath. I channeled every last ounce of my magic, Kade’s shadows, every ounce ofmyselfinto the blade.
I directed my love for my parents, the king and queen. The pride I felt being theirs and knowing they loved me like I was their own.
I channeled the love I had for my birth parents, knowing they died with a fierce devotion to each other, and to me.
I poured my dreams from childhood; though there had been trauma and torture, there had also been a love most only dreamt of having. Something unconditional from the start. A love that never asked for anything in return. Love given freely and genuinely from my best friend. I thought of Ian, of his strength, of his absolute, unwavering belief in me.
“You’re doing it, Lana.” Kade’s voice brushed over me in a strained whisper.
I tilted my head back, squeezing the blade harder as I pictured the friendships that came after Ian. Of Kalliah and her spirit, of Leif and his humor. A tear escaped as I thought of Corbin and how he’d made me feel worthwhile every damn time we spoke.
My chest constricted, the toll of holding myself together to accomplish this goal reaching a breaking point. I let the pain come, adding it to my thoughts and emotions I used to fuel my magic, because at the root of that pain was love, light itself.
More faces came to mind, boosting my heart to give more and more of myself. Raya, how much she’d suffered, and most importantly, how she’d endured it all through the love of her friends. My best friend’s mate.
Jax with his ability to make everyone smile.
Storm, who had been my shield and support when we’d both lost Kade.
Apollo grew hotter as it glowed so bright, I saw it even behind my closed eyes.
Hale’s devotion. Vivienne's perseverance. Cassandra’s sacrifice for the world.
I opened my eyes, and they immediately connected with Kade’s storm-grey ones as he leaned back to see my face. His face was red, strained and weary, and yet his gaze still softened as I watched and admired his perseverance. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and I knew he was giving me everything he had.
Kade.
Last but far from least, I poured every emotion this man had awakened in me forward. I would give every drop of magic to the world if it meant allowing him a moment of peace. He saw me when I had no magic to offer our world, when he believed he needed someone powerful to help him defeat his father, and chose me anyway. He thought I was worthy, loveable, powerful even without magic. He saw the queen I could be before I did,and he stood beside me. He allowed me to learn, to grow, and to fight my battles head-on, knowing he was always standing there alongside me.
“I love you,” I whispered.
With a quivering hand, I expressed what I’d known my entire life into the dagger, letting it flow alongside the love and warmth I’d already spilled into it.
“I am Illiana Dresden,” I cried, my body weak but holding on. My voice surprised me with its steadiness as I inhaled slowly, lifting the dagger above my head. I focused all of the magic into Apollo the way the journal had instructed, running my fingers over the center and pouring the last remaining bit of light directly into it. “I am stronger than the darkness within me.”
