“Goodness, Mádhi, I thought the cost would be my immortality.”
“Perhaps it will be! Perhaps you’ll lose your Shabbin magic, too.” I toss my hands in the air.
“Did the Cauldron say I would?”
“It didn’t speak of your Shabbin magic.”
“Then chances are, I’ll get to keep it.” My daughter, forever the optimist. I wonder who passed this trait down to her, because it certainly isn’t me or her father. Perhaps old-Daya was an insufferable optimist.
“Thank you for telling us,” Lorcan murmurs.
“It isn’t as though I had a choice in the matter,” I grumble.
Fallon inhales sharply. “I’ve a great idea!”
“I’m listening.” Lorcan clearly doesn’t believe it’ll be great for his tone is as bleak as the ambient air.
“If the Cauldron were to remove my Shabbin magic, then Mádhi will make me a Serpent.”
My heart holds still.
The whole jungle holds still.
“Fallon, no,” I murmur.
“It’s my body. My magic. My choice. But most of all, it’s my people.”
“Fallon, our curse is manageable, thanks to the Serpents.” Pain abrades Cathal’s inflection.
“Yeah. It just drains Mádhi every time she heals us. What if it ends up draining her completely someday? What if she losesherability to shift?”
I shake my head. “The Mahananda will keep me safe, Fallon.”
“Like it kept imTaytah safe?” she volleys back.
I try to catch Lorcan’s eye but his stare is fastened to his mate. I hope he’s forbidding her from entertaining the idea.
“Fine.” Fallon huffs. “But if the Cauldron swears to keep my Shabbin magicandour mating link intact, then you will consider it.”
“Lore, no…” Cathal’s voice is barely above a whisper.
Fallon reaches up and takes Lorcan’s face in her hands. “Mara made you king because she knew you would always take care of your people. You owe it to her and to them.” After a beat, she says, “I will always be yours, Lore. Albeit less downy, but always yours.”
“Tell Fallon that her altruism has just secured both her blood magic and mating link. If they’re ready, then I’ll welcome the Crow King and his mate tonight.”The Mahananda must read my next question, because it says, “No need for an obsidian blade or your blood, my child. All I’ve need for is them to enter together.”
“What did the Cauldron say, Daya?” Cathal must’ve brushed past Lorcan and Fallon because he’s suddenly standing right there in front of me.
I inhale deeply. I’m aware the cost of her Crow magic isn’t my fault, that it’s my grandmother’s, but still, it pains me. “The Mahananda has sworn that it will not strip you of either blood magic or mating link. And that it’s ready to receive you and Lorcan tonight. I’d tell you to take some time to think about it, but?—”
“We can’t risk it changing its mind. Besides, what is there to think about?” Fallon’s eyes shimmer, and though her lips curve, I sense there’s heartache mixed into her relief and enthusiasm.
I may never have dreamed of shifting into a Serpent, but if someone were to strip me of my power now…
“Swear to always carry me on your back, Lore?” Fallon asks, a slight tremor to her pitch.
He must close his eyes for the twin pinpricks of gold vanish. “I hate this.”
“I know you do, mo khrá, but it’s a small price to pay to keep our people and our kingdom safe.”
