“Talk to me, badass.” I hear his strong, sober basso voice on the otherend of the line. “You’re not at the Outer Island at our rendezvous. I understand plans have changed. The Intercessoria have tracked a massive power surge in Magnussen lands—cosmic-level bad, not to mention a shitshow of a battle at Stockholm, which I surmise you were in, just a day ago. It was over by the time the Intercessoria stopped fucking around enough to portal in. Talk to me. What’s happening?”
“Insinio. I need you to keep everyone else out of this when you and the Intercessoria come to deal with the Black Dragon with us today. Can you promise me?” I dive into it because I know he’s a warrior like me and will keep his promises.
“You already talked to Layla Price and her Bind.” I can almost feel Insinio’s soft, sad smile on the phone. “I promise. I won’t let them get involved. It’s gonna break their hearts, but… I get how bad this is. All of us Archangels do. So you’re ready to move out? What’s the plan?”
“I need you to head to the power surge spot you tracked, now. It’s where everything’s going to go down tonight. Maybe by dawn.” I wipe my tears away now, readying myself for what comes next. “Just hang back until we can get there, maybe a few hours. Then we’ll be there with bells on.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, as I practically feel him raise one dark eyebrow. “About not telling your friends, or letting them help?”
“I’m sure.” I’m decided, though infinitely sad. “If we fail… at least everyone else may have a few more days of happiness. It’s all I can give them.”
“Okay.” Insinio doesn’t question me, only gives me his affirmative as he lets me make my choice. From his lack of gainsaying, I understand that even as strong as Layla’s Bind is, it hasn’t got the right magic to help with something like this monstrosity my Blood Dragon Ancestors created.
Because even Archangel magic doesn’t play nice with ours; no one’s does. It makes this creation nearly impossible to stop now, as I set my jaw and firm myself for our endgame.
Hoping against hope it won’t be our last move.
Ihang up with Insinio, knowing he’ll be where he needs to be with Heathren and anyone else who’ll help us from the Intercessoria, when the time comes. My drakes and Lærke are ready and waiting for me now; silver fly-bags stuffed with food, supplies, and water flasks crowd their hands, for the journey we need to take next.
At my nod, Bjorn juts his chin, moving everyone out. As we exit our abode into the late afternoon sunshine, I feel the crispness of the autumn air. It’s a beautiful fall evening; but the sunshine cannot pierce my heart now as I stew, wondering if I made the right call.
Before we can stride out from our lodgings, however, a small group of people approaches us. It’s my stepfathers, dressed in black battle-leathers now like me, plus Svanhild Magnussen, Olander Mortensen, Ström’s sister Mathilde and Mormor Annika, plus Prince Halfdir, who have come to see us off.
As everyone crowds around, we exchange embraces, holding them harder and longer than we normally would. Silence pervades our small group before Bjorn splits off with Svanhild and Olander to speak with them, and Ström steps aside with his family.
My stepfathers and Halfdir step to me, as Mikkel, Lærke, and Baldur move away to give us some space. Lærke’s on the phone, probably solidifying the twins’ empire before we head out, as Mikkel and Baldur speak low together, watching the rest of us.
But my stepfathers and Halfdir crowd around me now, giving me last hugs and holding them extra long. Khosh is tender as he kisses my forehead, and Vjen kisses my cheek. Halfdir gives me a crushing bear hug, despite the last remnants of black curse-work still evaporating from him.
And Trublut grips my arms, shaking me like a wayward puppy.
Before hauling me in and giving me the longest hug yet.
“We are here for you, youngling. To the end.” Trublut holds me now, growling protectively by my ear.
“Thank you.” I hold my sobs back, gripping him hard, this father of mine I love so dearly.
“We’re going to fuck them up today,” Khosh says now as I pull back from Trublut, lifting an eyebrow at me.
“They’ll never know what hit them.” Vjen is darker than I’ve ever seen him, as he lets his true Bone Magic whirl around him now in a thundercloud, his vivid Siren-blue eyes piercing out from all that furious power.
I smile, gripping his hand, and he grips mine back. Facing me, Halfdir grips my shoulder, squeezing it hard.
“We will be victorious today, cousin,” Halfdir says now, in the way of a King. I nod, knowing it’s his duty to shore me up and make sure all his forces are ready to battle.
Because we are his forces right now, not knowing if our King is alive or dead. Although King Huttr was stolen from us alive, I can’t feel his signature anywhere in my body right now, and neither can Halfdir.
“We’ll get your father back. I swear it,” I say now. Huttr means so much to both of us. I don’t need to tell Halfdir we might just lose all our lives in this last drive against our enemies. Strong like his father, Halfdir only nods, squeezing my shoulder again.
Before drawing me into one last, long hug.
It’s time to depart. Our farewells are said, though no one uses the wordgoodbyeas we all nod or clasp hands with our family, then leave them.
They remain behind at our abode, watching us go as we stride off now through the Hollows of the Damned in the late day. None of us look back as my drakes, Lærke, and I make our way through the ancient ruined city to the place we must go next.
The Sanctum of Mystery—the very same place Ström and I nearly bonded, ages ago.
I haven’t been to the Sanctum since Ström and I got it on and almost ended up Bloodbonding there. We sneak glances at each other now as we walk to where the Sanctum is. Ström ends up grinning like a fool, despite everything we’re up against and how all our hearts are tense right now.
