Is it a weapon?Night asked with his gaze fixed on the sphere Tate held.
“Of a sort.” Tate glanced at the duke. “It looks like you’re going to get your wish after all. I can help your daughter meld with an artifact.”
Tate had thought carefully about this decision. It burned to give him what he wanted. Roslyn was perfect the way she was. She shouldn’t have to change herself to earn the duke and her family’s approval.
But of those present, Roslyn was the most appropriate recipient. Tate and the duke already had relics. While it was possible to stack them and have more than one, you had to ensure the relics didn’t clash with each other. A bad synchronicity would wreak havoc on the body. Without being able to predict what form the thing waiting inside the sphere would take, it would be inadvisable to take it for herself.
In a way, this was better anyway. Even if Tate hadn’t had a relic.
Ilith made her powerful and nearly indestructible. The past and present had taught her it was pointless to survive on her own. Better to strengthen others so they could stand beside her rather than exist alone.
Roslyn also had the advantage of being Jax’s descendant. In all ways that mattered, she was the most worthy of whatever waited inside.
“I won’t force you though,” Tate said, seeing Roslyn’s hesitance.
It would be nice having a powerful ally, but it wasn’t crucial. If Roslyn chose not to accept the gift, Tate wouldn’t think less of the woman.
“I’ll do it.” Roslyn’s nod was firm. There was no longer any sign of doubt. Roslyn gave every appearance of someone who was resolved in their course.
It seemed Tate had worried for her friend for nothing. Roslyn wasn’t the same woman she’d first met. The one who hid her wounds so deep no one could see and who held herself apart from everyone else.
She’d walked through the fire and come out the other side. No matter what happened in the future, she’d handle it with the same grace and confidence she had everything else.
“My family wasn’t given the key to unlock the sphere. There are no records regarding it beyond the instruction to pass it on when the time came,” the duke said.
It was probably one of the reasons why the pandora’s box hadn’t received an owner in all this time. Jax would have known his descendants might one day grow greedy. Not every person in a family was above reproach. Loyalty and obedience faded. In addition, he couldn’t predict if there might one day be an event where his descendants’ hands would be forced.
It was the sort of meticulous planning Jax was known for.
“That’s okay. I already have an idea of what’s needed.” Tate shifted the sphere to one arm, reaching into her jacket pocket for the cube that contained Jax’s last message.
She now knew why he’d left it for her. It wasn’t only to inform her about his unfinished business. It was for this reason too.
She held her hands in front of her, one containing the sphere, the other the cube.
Here goes nothing, she thought.
Tate closed her eyes and concentrated. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried to inject some of her essence into both and failed.
Frustration mounted.
Ilith crowded Tate’s consciousness.You always forget to ask for my help.
Before Tate could question her, Ilith shared her mind, flooding their body with strength.
Tate could almost see the invisible lines of power as they circulated through her veins. Ilith guided her to inject that same power into both objects, being careful not to flood the lines. Slow and steady was better than speed here.
Tate’s hands shook as pressure settled on her. Still nothing happened.
Finally, when Tate thought she couldn’t take it anymore, two tiny silver filaments leaked from her skin. They waved in the air before touching the sphere and the cube at the same time.
Ripples spread along the outside of both as if a pebble had landed in a pond.
Resonance,Ilith whispered, sounding awed.
Tate started to ask what she meant but found her words locked in her throat. Her mind expanded. Infinite possibilities lay before her. As many as there were stars in the sky.
Despite her words earlier, she knew she could take the treasure for herself and not suffer any issues to her body. It would be enough to rule the world. No one would be able to oppose her and if she ever decided to resurrect the Aurelia to voyage the stars once again, she could.
