No, Veralden says. I’m back. We’ll find another way together. Wait with me.
My own most beloved harmed me, she whispers, to bring me one more glimpse of you. I can’t be angry at her or at this moment we finally have together. Jörð presses her beautiful, shining lips to Veralden’s, and then she closes her eyes, and explodes.
Her magic scatters in a million directions, and then begins to coalesce slowly, methodically. . .on me, sticking to me like Fluff Dog’s fur clings to black pants.
No. Veralden Radien stands. No, I won’t allow all of her magic to attach to you, even if it was her wish. You destroyed her.
“I did,” I admit. “I did it to draw you back here, because you made a mess, and you left her to clean it up. But just as you couldn’t heal her wounds, she couldn’t fix your broken children, and they’re destroying hers.”
I’m not like her. I couldn’t stay. It’s not who I am.
I shake my head. “You could have.” I glare. “You didn’t want to.” In that moment, I feel it. Thanks to the magic surrounding me, attaching to me, the light that’s flooding every cell of my body, repairing the damage, smoothing the rough places, and making me more, I feel it.
A tiny flutter.
Magic and light and life of its own.
A life that Azar and I created. . .together. “You could have stayed, and you could have been devoted to doing whatever it took to love her. Because love is change. Love isn’t a thing you feel. It’s not a desire. It’s a bond, and it takes what you are and it makes it better.” As I say the words, the remains of Jörð’s magic attach themselves to me, changing me, improving me, just as I said love does. “Love always makes us better, or it isn’t really love.”
Veralden Radien sneers. I loved her, and now, thanks to you, she’s gone.
I laugh. “No, thanks to you she’s gone.”
He blinks.
Then he looks around.
Odin, no longer frozen, is watching us, eyes wide. Next to him are other blessed I don’t know, probably Thunar and Azar’s siblings. They’re all flame blessed.
Beside Azar is Hyperion, and clinging to his side is Coral. Asteria and Jade, Sammy and Gordon, they’re all watching. And notably, several people aren’t here.
My mother.
Poor, sweet Rufus.
Stupid, awful Thunar.
“We only get one chance to do things right,” I say. “And you messed yours up.” I look around. “Fix it, or else.”
Or else what? Veralden Radien steps closer. You made the wrong decision. Jörð was never stronger than me. I spared her when I visited earth because I loved her, and I despise you for killing her. What could you possibly hope to gain from bringing me here and enraging me?
“You didn’t love her right away,” I say. “In fact, you tried to kill her at first, and I stepped in front of her, saving her life, and giving you time to see her beauty, her grace, and her quiet strength.”
His eyes widen. That was you? That crude, pathetic earth child? Then how are you still here? I destroyed you.
“Love persists. And it’s never pathetic,” I say. “It’s never weak, even when it might seem that way. I loved her then, even in that lifetime, in that form, powerless as I was.”
He scoffs.
“Her love for me brought me back,” I say. “And that’s why I’m here, when you were not. That’s why I have a power you will never understand, never be able to have for yourself. Because I have loved, I am stronger than you.”
Veralden Radien’s nostrils flare. His eyes widen, and fury creeps into his expression. Not the fury of losing a toy, not the irritation that he was summoned.
Fury that he is less than, when all he cares about is being more.
She’s right. Azar moves beside me. Liz isn’t weak, even though you believe you can kill her, even though you believe you can end her easily and have tried and failed in the past.
Move aside, Veralden says. Even though you’re one of mine, I will destroy you. Coming here, answering Jörð’s call, has brought me nothing but grief. Loving her was my life’s single mistake.
