My plan would either save them or doom them.
Be brave.
Kaelun’s final sentiment washed over me, and I finally spoke. “From this point forth, no harm shall befall Artton, Sidrick, Tarrin, and Endymion—either by you or another under your control or influence, so long as they are in the Autumn Court. We shall honor the same toward you and yours. To ensure my full cooperation, they will remain here until I yield myself fully; at which time they shall be sent back to Caius’ study in Summer Court the instant I have fulfilled my side of this bargain. Kaelun’s ashesshall also be returned.”
“No!” The word was a chorus from my companions. I ignored them. This was the only way. And gods help me, I hoped they’d forgive me for it.
“Not Endymion,” Wymond countered.
“Or Tarrin,” Thaddeus chimed in.
“I think you misunderstand me,” I said, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. “This is not a negotiation.”
The king moved toward me with murder in his eyes, but the High Lord put out an arm, stopping him.
Wymond took my measure, and I could tell he was replaying the proposed bargain, looking for any loopholes or trickery that either of us could exploit. The truth was, it was a fair deal.
“And what will become of you after this?” he asked.
“We both know I’ll be dead.” The brutal truth seemed to surprise him. Not because he hadn’t known, but because I did—and had asked for the bargain anyway. A bargain that didn’t save me.
I could have sworn something like respect crossed his features before he said, “I accept the terms of your bargain as stated.”
Murmurs echoed in the Great Hall, and I gasped as a searing pain burned on the inner side of my right wrist. Looking down, I watched the bargain’s mark spread across the width of my wrist. It was strange and not at all what I expected. I traced the delicate lines that reminded me so much of the veins in that leaf I’d picked up—maple, if memory served me right. Only, there was no silhouette. Just the veins in the stunning colors of my own magic. Had I been marked for any other reason, I might have found it beautiful.
Movement pulled my attention as Wymond walked to the soldier holding Endymion’s golden sword. My heart hammered in my chest as I watched, suddenly afraid that I’d missed something, that he’d murder them out of spite, despite our bargain. Walking back to where I stood, he swung the sword in a lethal arch. I ducked, instinctively covering my head with my arms.
Had I miscalculated? Didn’t he need me alive for the spark? Had I just killed us all?
A softthunksounded, and I looked toward it, instantly regretting it. Bile rose, and I almost heaved when I was met with King Thaddeus Artimus Alton the Third’s blue-gray eyes staring at me from his severed head—his lifeless features frozen with shock.
I chanced a glance at Endymion, who looked just as surprised.
A sound of raw, visceral anger filled the hall, and I looked over my shoulder to find Nevander pulling his sword and charging.
And then, he screamed.
His sword dropped to the ground with a loud clatter as it skittered along the wide wooden slats, leaving scars along it as it did. I shifted my focus to Wymond and realized whatever was happening to Nevander, it wasn’t him.
Looking back, I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. Thaddeus’ commander was… aging at an exponential rate. His momentum moved him forward as he aged. Mercifully, the light in his eyes went out before he began to dematerialize from the ground up as he fell forward, no longer supported by legs. It was like watching a tree fall in the forest, but there was no sound as the soft cascade of his body fell, turning to dust before he finally hit the ground. I blinked as his ashes spread out wide from the impact.
“The link,” I breathed. Panic filled me as I whipped my attention to Tarrin. His mouth was agape in horror as his eyes met mine. He nodded once, letting me know he was fine. That he was, indeed, free from Thaddeus.
“That was… unexpected,” Wymond mused.
I was speechless as I looked at him, then back down to Thaddeus. I yelped, jumping back. The blond man with sharp features and silvery eyes was no more. His skin had turned to a darkened leather, cheeks sallow, eyes… gone. Wymond waved a hand, and magical roots slid up through the wooden planks, wrapping themselves around his body until I could no longer see him. Then, they pulled him back down to the earth. To the Mother.
Thaddeus was gone.
“He was your ally,” I said, voice rough.
Wymond shrugged and pinned me with his golden-brown eyes. “I’d made a deal with him, but I’d made a bargain with you. A bargain that didn’t involve him in any way, I might add.”
He was right. When I’d saidI yield myself fully to you, I hadn’t meant Thaddeus, and Wymond had taken advantage of that. I swallowed, suddenly terrified that there was something else I’d missed.
“Now, Nyleeria, if it’s all the same to you, I want this over with. It’s been a long day.” He held out the sword to his side, the blade still dripping with Thaddeus’ blood. A soldier hurried to collect it and stepped back to where they came from. Wymond held out a hand for me, but I ignored it, following him to the center of the room on my own.
My back faced the wall of shields we’d mistaken for glass, the High Lord standing before me. To my right about ten paces was Endymion with the others another five behind him. They all gave me varying looks of anger, resolution, and most of all, fear. A tear slipped free as I looked down to all that remained of Kaelun. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, too,” I whispered, “but I’ll see you on the flip side, soon.”
