I grab the sword from his hand. Silas’s eyes snap open. “It is done. A veil of defense is up. It will hold.” His eyes lock on my hands. “Give me the sword so I can give it to whom Erevan named last night.” He comes forward, hand open.
Slowly, I raise the God Sword. I remember forging this one. For hours, I hammered the metal, pouring more strength into it. Too much. I cared for my creations too much.
I gasp when my fingers uncurl, and the sword falls into Silas’s waiting hands. He holds Erevan’s stare before he leaves the room, sword in hand.
Erevan glares at the book. It’s the first time he’s ever looked at it with disdain. He must feel as I did when I made those swords. It’s shocking to be told your child is not only grotesque but also a tyrant. As parents, we try so hard to defend our creations, but sometimes that makes us blind.
I reach for the book and flip through the pages, recalling the moment I drew each rune. Then I reach the blank pages, knowing the book will never run out of them.
“Do you think they will draw new runes?” I ask as I flip the blank pages.
“I fear what we won’t be able to draw. Silas does not realize this book is one of the strongest items ever made. It has the core magic of two gods fused.” Erevan begins to pace the room, running a hand through his hair.
I pick up the book, press it to my chest, and kiss the front cover.
“Amariel.” Erevan stops. “Give me the book.”
“Why?” I hand it over, furrowing my brow.
He doesn’t answer as he places it on the desk and starts taking deep breaths.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
His eyes close, magic seeps out, but it is not his magic!
I knew it! He does harbor another god’s core magic!
Shimmers of black grasp the page like spiderwebs, covering it entirely. “That’s Tova’s magic,” A tear slides down my cheek. Tova, was the God of Replication. She was the third of us to be slayed.
Erevan sings his enchantment magic, forcing it to mix with Tova's; then, using his small dagger, he slices his palm, infusing his blood into it. He inhales sharply as the magic disintegrates, dancing in the air. The book shakes, then it stills.
Erevan grunts. Suddenly, he grabs my hand. His magic seeps into my skin, finding my magic. He tugs at my core.
I allow him to grab hold of it. To take a part of me without permission.
Erevan stumbles forward, crashing into the desk.
“What did you do?” I help steady him, but my stomach feels adrift.
Loving him gave him the key to my magic. He’s never taken a piece of it before, but he did just now. I let him.
“I replicated the book,” Erevan answers as he studies his hand, “It’s magic to forge runes is within me now.”
“You had Tova’s magic.” I whisper in a breathless horror. “Why did you not tell me?”
“I made a deal with Tova for a large piece of her core magic, long before you figured out how to master starfire, Amariel. I honestly forgot, it’s been a hidden dagger I just remembered I had. This is good news, my love. We can still make runes."
“Youcan make runes,” I correct him. I can’t without my book. My eyes blur with painful tears from not having blinked. All of my blood has drained into the pits of my hollow stomach.
"Don't look at me like that. Everything I do is for you.” The yellow in his brown eyes darkens.
I want to step back, but I’m frozen in place. My emotions are a thunderstorm coloring my cheeks in a hot red fire. “You stole a piece of my magic. My ability to forge was within those pages.” I glare at his hands.
“Stole?” He recoils slightly. “I’m keeping it safe.Yousafe.”
Me or my magic?
“We don’t have time for this. Do not let Silas drive a wedge between us. He is jealous of our love.” With visible effort, he stands tall. He takes a few deep breaths, and then his complexion returns to a healthy glow. Erevan takes my hand. “I will tell Lord Thalis of the book. He and his dragon shall watch over it. We will take the copy.”
