Shadowshine.They were stronger together, but the risk was still there, and Mera knew it.
“Excuse me,” a low raspy voice interrupted. “I couldn’t help but overhear. If you need someone to protect our young Aurora with their life and multitude of power, I am happy to take that role.”
Shadow and Mera turned to face Gaster, who stood in his usual calmness. This was the demi-fae who guarded the Library of Knowledge. Shadow’s right-hand man. He was powerful and ancient; I knew that from even the small information he’d released to me over the years.
“Mera needs to stay,” Shadow rumbled again.
Gaster stepped closer. “I’m from an ancient line of goblins,” he started slowly. “I’ve lived through many wars and stood in the presence of the great line. The fae who severed that line has no idea what he’s done. It’s not just the Silver Prince who stands to lose, but all of us. You must go and fix what has been broken, for if you don’t, the worlds will be thrown out of balance. To the point that I fear everything might be destroyed.”
My worry of the rippling effect this might have in the great multiverse had just been confirmed.
“You remember the Great Queen?” I asked him.
He nodded once. “Aye. When she disappeared, it was almost as if a glamour washed across Faerie. None could remember her. But I was already working in the library, and it protected me from the effects. I have no idea where she ran to, but if your Samantha was on Earth, it stands to reason the queen set up her new life there, hidden in a near magicless world.”
“And the rest forgot her,” I mused.
Another nod. “Aye. At least the finer details.”
Mera turned to Shadow. “I’m not going to say I told you so, but this might actually be your damn fault, Beast.” He snorted, crossing his arms as she continued. “But if there’s a chance the worlds will end, we both need to go. Our strength together is the only way to ensure that there’s a future for our daughter. We both knew that one day we’d be facing an end-of-worlds event. It’s written in the stars. One by one, these worlds need to be saved to save all the Solaris System. It’s Faerie’s time today, and we will go with Len.”
Shadow wanted to argue. I knew my brother well enough to see the storm brewing behind his flame-filled eyes, but he couldn’t argue with Mera’s logic. “Gaster,” he rumbled, turning to the demi-fae. “I’m going to recall Midnight and Inky from the Shadow Realm, and together you three will utilize every part of the library’s energy to keep Aurora and Damon safe.” He turned to me now. “I’ve already sent this message to Angel and Reece, Lucien and Simone, and Galleli. They should be here momentarily.”
Gaster held his hands out, and I watched closely to see if Shadow would finally allow another to hold his beloved child. Mera lifted Aurora a little higher, before kissing her on both cheeks. “I love you, my precious miracle,” she whispered, a few tears brushing her cheeks. “Mommy and Daddy have to go and fight for your safety, but I promise, we’ll do everything in our power to return to you. Stay strong, sweet baby.”
She buried her face against the little girl, and Shadow enclosed them both in his arms, blocking from view his last words and moment with them. When they finally untangled, the others were streaming into the library, just in time to see Shadow hand Aurora to Gaster.
The demi-fae took her with calm and steady hands, amidst the gasps and shock as the others circled around us. “This can’t be fucking good,” Reece rumbled, as the scent of desert whipped up around us. “The worlds are ending, aren’t they?”
“Only explanation for that possessive bastard to share his child,” Lucien added, reaching out to draw Simone into his arms.
This wasn’t our first Faerie storm, and they knew exactly what to expect when Shadow called.
Wasting no time, I explained everything again, including Gaster’s new information about the worlds and the balance.
“You will have one chance to repair the line, and it’ll only be possible because you hold members of the Great Queen’s line in your grasp,” Gaster added when I finished.
“Sam and Tabby have to go to the Deep?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes, but only one of them is needed. They’re the only ones who can touch the final strand and repair the damage. We just have to hope they have enough of the power in their diluted bloodline.”
“If they don’t have enough power?” I asked, wishing we had the time to pry all information from Gaster before we left.
His rugged features fell, thin lips even thinner. “It will be all over for everyone. Including those from the Great Line.”
Darkness danced across us, and for once, not all the shadows came from the beast of this library. Again, we found ourselves in a fight to save the worlds, and I had so much to lose.
I had everything to lose.
33
SAMANTHA
Queen Glendriel took us away from the mass of fae, situating us in a corner. The female with the authoritative voice joined her a moment later. “The alignment is off,” she said without preamble. “It didn’t happen immediately, but now that I know the line is severed, I can feel a fracturing of other fae power. Have you noticed it too?”
Glendriel’s tone was clipped. “Yes. One line was severed, but it’s not the only power bleeding from our world.”
The other female huffed. “This is why we didn’t agree in the last meeting. None of us truly knew the consequences of severing the line. It’s never been done before.”
