“We’ve known for hundreds of years that three veylanthi sisters would be born to protect the three fate changing artifacts. The Sword of Wern, the Bow of Blythe, and the Mirror of Vesmal will save us. I trust them wholeheartedly,” I said. “If their mother didn’t tell me this part of the plan, it was with good reason. She was protecting me in some way.”
Mikel sighed heavily, but Della watched me closely like she could see the weight of all of this crushing me. Fate was fucked up, and it was my duty to fix it.I hadn't come up with a single reasonable explanation as to why she kept Kilryn from me. I thought we had killed it centuries ago.
“So where are the artifacts?” she asked.
“The bow is in Valynth. Maris is the guardian. The mirror is in Gilyx with Bexla.” I hesitated before I shared this new piece of information with them. “Maris said the Sword of Wern is in Elloryon and always has been.”
Della and Mikel stood up and stared at me.
“What the fuck, Abram?” Della asked, confused. “How could the sword be here and none of us have felt its power?”
“Their sister, I still have no idea who it is, has it hidden that well,” I answered. “That family has done everything it can to hide her identity from me, from everyone, because they know the danger she’d be in. The Sword of Wern is the most dangerous thing in this realm, and she has managed to hide it in our realm, right under our noses.”
“So she is the wielder.” Mikel nodded.
“No.” I shook my head. “I came to the same conclusion, but Maris said none of them are the true wielders of the artifacts; they only protect them for the rightful owners.”
Della took a deep breath before looking at me.
“What if the rightful heir of the sword is not on our side? What if they want to help Gilyx take over the entire world? We won’t be able to stop them. That sword can kill even us old gods for good. We will not come back.”
I nodded.
“If Valayah’s daughters are protecting the heir of the sword this much, then it is because they are on our side. I promise I have things under control.”
Mikel and Della trusted me, I knew this, but this all going to plan literally would determine the fate of all of us.
“I trust you, but I have to say this, Abram.” Mikel frowned. “Someone with an incredible amount of power has to be protecting that sword, and I don’t like that we haven’t ever picked up on it. How are they hiding so well?”
“I agree,” Della chimed in.
I nodded in agreement.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I don’t think we’ll know who it is until they want us to.”
Mikel and Della looked at each other.
“Well, we will do whatever we need to to protect the heir of the sword and pray to the heavens that they are on our side when this all goes down.” Della smiled but it was void of happiness.
I nodded as I glanced outside. It was getting dark, and I wanted to try and make Elowyn’s coven gathering if I could.
“Where are you going?” Mikel raised his eyebrow at me when I stood up.
“Home,” I lied. “I’ll see you for dinner in a few days,” I spoke to Della.
“Will you invite Elowyn if you run into her?” Della smiled.
I nodded, keeping my expression steady even as something sharp twisted inside me. My gaze moved between my siblings. Maybe I should tell them about Elowyn being my wife. But I dismissed the idea. I needed to slow down. I’d been so certain of what I felt that I hadn’t stopped to consider the quieter truth—Elowyn might not want me the way I already wanted her.
It had been hours since Elowyn left for the coven. I stopped by the house first, just in case she’d come home early, but the silence there told me she hadn’t. The scent of her cookies still lingered in the air, sweet and warm.
By the time I reached the coven, night had settled, and candlelight spilled through the windows, soft and golden against the dark. I stepped close enough to see inside.
Elowyn stood alone in the corner, her hands clasped tightly around a cup. The table near her was lined with food, laughter echoing from every group, but the plate of cookies she’d brought sat untouched. Not a single one missing.
My chest ached as I watched her glance toward them, then quickly away, pretending it didn’t matter. No one met her eyes. No one thanked her. She just stood there, trying to shrink into the shadows, her smile trembling at the edges.
And I realized then it wasn’t just the cookies they were ignoring. It was her.
