“It doesn’t feel that long.” She frowned. “When will they be here?”
“In a moment.” I assured her. “You didn’t move on to the next life?”
“I was waiting for Mikel.”
Her answer confused me. Either she didn’t know that gods can’t die, or she didn’t know he was a god. Well, she would findout soon because Mikel would mark her as soon as he could so she wouldn’t die again.
I shot my magic out around us, creating a barrier so that no one could get to us. I didn’t know how this would work. I couldn’t risk hurting those around us if something went wrong. I took a long breath trying to ease my fear. Then I closed my eyes and called Haden to come to me. Then I did the same to Mikel.
We only had to wait for a few seconds before Haden burst from the castle like he had been waiting for me, with Thea and Cassius right behind him. Shock filled me when Mikel came from the castle too. What was he doing there? I used my magic and lit up the castle gardens where I stood. Haden was running toward me with wrath and longing in his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept since I left, and that made me frown. His eyes narrowed with determination as he focused on reaching me.
“Storm, thank the fucking heavens.” He stopped when he ran into my magic barrier, stumbling backward and looking at me oddly. “Do you have any idea how terrified I have been? Why are you blocking me from coming to you?”
I glanced over each one of them for a moment. Gods, Haden looked terrible. I had done that to him.
“I came to right my wrongs, to set the realm right again,” I said. I knew they couldn’t see Remiah, not yet. Only I could see her because of my magic.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Haden frowned as he stepped forward, hitting my barrier again. “Let me in. Talk to me, please,” he begged. “I missed you so much, Storm.” His voice cracked, and it made me pause.
“Ardella, what is this?” Mikel asked me, confused. He took a step forward and realized that I had put up a barrier to block all of them. “What’s going on? Why have you blocked us from you?”
I glanced at Thea and saw she was looking at me like she could see my every thought. She was the first true friend I had made besides Pia. Cassius was gripping her hand tightly.
“What have you done?” Thea asked as she stepped forward, only to be stopped by my magic too.
“I did what I had to,” I said softly. “In a minute, the realm will be right again.”
“Gods, I forgot how handsome Mikel is,” Remiah breathed. I smiled softly at her when she looked at me. I forgot how much I enjoyed Remiah’s presence.
The book slipped in my hands because I was shaking so much. My chest ached with worry that I would never see any of them ever again. I thumbed through the pages to find the right passage. Once I reached it, I sighed heavily. The weight of everything was sitting on my chest, making me slowly suffocate in grief and guilt. I wanted to do this for Haden and Mikel, but I was so scared of what would happen afterwards.
I was about to change. This was the moment that would change everything. I reminded myself that it would not kill me. I knew that this was not how I died, but the thought didn’t give me very much comfort.
“Who is that standing in front of you?” Thea asked. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Thea could see Remiah standing here. Her magic mixed with the small sliver of my soul and her blood witch ancestry made her quite powerful.
“It’s Remiah Vale,” I sighed and ignored the silence.
“That is not possible.” Mikel frowned. “You cannot bring a soul back.” But even as he said it, I heard the crack of hope in his voice. My brother had suffered so much, and I had done that.
“Yes, I can, but only once.”
Remiah looked at me with excitement. I could see how she had been missed so terribly. There was a pull, a kindness that drew everyone toward her. I had forgotten how kind she was.
“You’re bringing me back?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Why?”
I glanced at Haden and Mikel. They thought I had lost my fucking mind. Then I glanced at her.
“Because you have others who love you and wish you were alive every day.” I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “They love you, and I love them enough to give them their wish. You were never supposed to die.”
“Are you sure this will work?”
“Yes, the fates told me it would.”
Remiah frowned at me when she saw the tears streaming down my face. I needed to hurry before this empty feeling swallowed me whole.
