Cyara led the way. Then Lyrena, still armed. Evander practically shoved Mya through. Then the humans approached. We’d given them no role, assigned them no part in the upcoming conflict. They’d stood by silently as Veyka decided to sell her soul for a victory that felt anything but assured.
Percival took a step toward the rift.
“Diana stays.”
The man’s mouth fell open, his foot a second from crossing over, his sister’s hand gripped tightly. “What—”
“We did not agree to this,” Morgyn le Fae said. Her voice was even, but she showed the same tells of annoyance as Veyka. The tightening of her mouth, the way her shoulder shifted back in the subtlest defensive stance.
Veyka looked to Diana. “You helped us. You deserve to stay in safety.” Unlike her sister, she did not bother to hide her annoyance with Morgyn. “Welcome to life on the outside of your precious island. Sometimes, you do not get to choose.”
Morgyn did not argue.
There was no question of Percival staying. Whatever reason Veyka had for leaving him out of her last-minute machinations, she did not share it with me. We had not shared a single thought through the bond since her sacrifice.
The bond was intact, so that must be as well. But now was not the time to test it, not with sweat already sliding down from Veyka’s temple. This was only the first of many rifts she’d open in the next few hours. Her internal battle with the succubus was costing her.
“Be quick about your goodbyes,” I ordered. I had already vowed to stay by Veyka’s side through what would be a hellish few hours. My role was now to make this as efficient as possible, for her sake.
Percival hugged his sister, but for once he did not argue. Diana dissolved into sobs, but she did not protest. He stepped through the portal, then Veyka and I followed. I tried not to notice the tear that slid down Veyka’s cheek as well.
It was too much. The look Mya shot me as she followed her troops through the portal rift into Annwyn only deepened my conviction. This had to stop.
Sweat was not the only thing pouring off Veyka. The cut on her hand had opened into a gaping wound that leaked black bile continuously. The soldiers noticed. But thankfully they were too in awe of their queen to question.
But I could not stand by and watch her soul leaking from her body. Every drop that splatted to the ground was a knife to my heart. What would be left when this day was over? Was the transformation ongoing… and the flow of that darkness literal? Was I watching my mate lose her soul drop by drop, right before my very eyes?
It had to stop.
She closed the portal with a bright flash, stumbling backward from the force of the magic tearing from her body. I tried to catch her, but she brushed me off. Our hands did not even touch. She did not even pause for a drink of water before lifting her hands to open a rift to take us to Eilean Gayl.
I didn’t miss the fact that she did not reach for me to take me through the void with her, as she’d done a hundred times in the past. She moved to open a portal rift, which would not require any contact at all.
I did not have to touch her to block her. “It can wait until tomorrow.”
She huffed out a haughty exhale. “There is a succubus horde in the valley now. The humans might not be alive tomorrow.”
I don’t give a damn about the humans.But I kept that thought to myself.
“And what about you?” I said, stepping into her space but not reaching for her. “I can see you fighting.”
She couldn’t hide the flashes of darkness. When her posture changed, when the expression that crawled over her face did not belong to her. But the harder she pushed herself, the more frequent those little battles became. Little was the wrong word. I knew there was nothing small about the battle for her soul that Veyka was now waging with every breath.
“I am in control. Thisthingcannot have me,” she snarled. At least that was all Veyka.
“You are tired. You heard what the Lady of the Lake said as clearly as I did. The mind is weaker when you sleep.”
“Then it is a good thing I am not asleep.”
She’d traded sarcasm for anger. Anger was her last line of defense before despair.
I searched her black eyes for the female I loved. I tried to let her see all of the emotion in my own, the fear for her. If she would not rest for her own sake, maybe she would do it for mine. “Wait until tomorrow.”
Another battle, that’s what I’d forced upon her. I wished I regretted it. I watched the battle in her eyes. And knew the moment I lost.
She stepped around me and opened the rift. I had no option but to follow her through it. Guards waited on the other side on the bridge that connected Eilean Gayl to the mainland. Their eyes flared with surprise, but not fear. They’d known to expect us, at least. It was the work of another hour to find my father and give the word for the troops now camped on the lakesideto break their camp and prepare to march. My mother spoke quietly with Veyka. I did not try to intrude on their conversation.
When the northerners were ready, Veyka opened the last rift. I did ask her if she was well enough to do it. We both already knew the answer to that. So I stood by her side and tried to be a pillar of strength. If she reached for me, I would be there. I would always be there for her.
