“He can’t do it. He can’t kill Uther.” A tendril of magic wended its way to her eyes, sharpening her vision in time to see Uther reaching into his boot. Iyana gasped; Uther was going to murder his own son. Before she thought it through, which appeared to be becoming a habit, she rushed towards Zane, putting an extra boost of magic into her legs. The super-sprint was quickly becoming her favorite aspect of her newly unlocked powers.
Uther launched himself at Zane, who stumbled backwards in shock. Iyana reached them as the dagger aimed for the prince’s heart was only inches away from landing a killing blow. Hurtling her hands out in front of her, she shoved the emperor away with a blast of air. Spinning end over end, Uther finally came to rest almost ten feet from where they were.
It was an uncoordinated attack, and Iyana was surprised at the amount of wind which had left her body. She hadn’t consciously thought ofhowshe would save Zane, only that she wanted to, and her magic responded in kind. Trembling handswere the only indication of how much power she’d produced, because still Iyana had not delved into the depths of the amulet. It was astounding how much magic she was capable of without siphoning much from the amulet, and nothing from her Kanaliza. Fatigue wasn’t even a thought in her mind.
Zane was on his back, propped up on his elbows, and stared up at her, eyes wide in shock. “I couldn’t do it,” he said, quietly. “I’m sorry.”
Iyana’s heart wrenched. Zane really was a gentle soul, and she wondered how she had ever thought otherwise. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, Zane.” She reached out her hand, helping to haul him to his feet. “We never should have put this on you.”
Green eyes flashing with anger, Zane shook his head. “I should’ve been able to,” he growled, running a hand through his hair and tugging at the roots. “That man killed mymotherand was a monster to me my whole life. Ending him should be easy.”
“But he’s still your father,” she said tenderly, looking over towards where Uther had landed in a heap. Iyana swore under her breath; he had landed directly next to his cape with the astmina still affixed to the cloth. The emperor’s shaking hand grasped the tattered clothing and tied it around his neck. Everything became so much more difficult than it had been ten seconds before.
Gripping her two necklaces, she watched as Uther stood on shaking legs, a crooked grin spreading across his face—his icy stare losing any semblance of sanity. Over his chest the astmina continued to gleam gold, belying the shadows lying within. It was clear he wanted Iyana and Zane both dead and was willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. Zane needed to leave; he had no powers, no magic, to protect himself against the magical relic. While Iyana didn’t doubt he could beat his father in a one-on-one combat, he no longer stood a chance of coming out of this battle alive.
“Zane, go,” she muttered from the corner of her mouth, unwilling to take her eyes off Uther. The emperor continued to stand there, stock still, the maniacal grin stretched across his face. He no longer appeared human.
“I won’t leave you on your own with him.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, Your Highness, I’m the only one at the moment capable of defeating the astmina.” Maybe. Hopefully. “Hewillkill you if you don’t leave. I can’t face him and worry about you at the same time.”
Zane huffed a sigh behind her. “Fine. But I’m getting Altair for reinforcement.” Iyana gave a brief nod. Uther’s gaze flicked over her shoulder, telling her the prince was leaving. Before his father focused his attention on him, Iyana took two steps forward.
Fire ran lazily through her body, both necklaces warming in her palm. The essence of both women within guiding her, teaching her, and loving her.
Mata Imo, Alessia. Please guide me so that we may end this man’s reign of tyranny. And keep my friends safe.
Without warning or a single movement from Uther, shadows shot out of the astmina, spearing towards Iyana. Based purely upon instinct, she raised her hands as if to protect her face from a physical blow, and she directed her magicout. Silver light erupted from her palms, connecting with the shadows and bursting them upon impact. Uther raised an eyebrow, a crazed smile still plastered across his face. His gaze dipped to the necklace resting on her skin. Though he hadn’t looked at her in a lewd manner, her skin still crawled. Iyana remembered the emperor leering down upon her while she was strapped to Azazel’s table, those shadows writhing around him. All she wanted was to curl into a ball, to block those memories out, but the man responsible for her pain was standing right in front of her. Iyanawantedto end him, and that scared her more than anything else.
“Well, well, looks like the Aztia has a new trick up her sleeve.”
Emmeric’s panic jolted through her and she knew Zane had reached the others. It was only a matter of time before they reached her. Uther needed to be dead before that happened. She refused to put her friends at risk. Though she had only known them for such a short period of time she loved them each dearly, and she didn’t think she could live with herself should any of them be harmed. And they would be if she couldn’t do the one thing she was put on this earth to do. The amulet lay warm in the hollow of her neck, and the spirits of powerful women lay within her—Les, Imo. Her mother. All the Aztias before her. No, she was ready for this.
“My offer still stands, Iyana,” Uther said, caressing the astmina resting against his chest, tattered cape hanging limply behind him. The Dead Lands offered no wind tostir the cloth. It made him appear bedraggled, insane. “You give me the star, and I let you and all your friends live—even my son. You’d need to leave Arinem, of course, but you’d live out the rest of your life and grow to an old age. Have children with thatdashingsoldier of yours. Watch them grow.” Uther’s grin became feral—all teeth. “What do you say, Aztia?”
Multiple scenarios played out in her head.
What if Iyana agreed and gave Altair to Uther? She’d live out her days on another continent, and the worries of Arinem would no longer concern her. The Aztia could retire. Wasn’t she just thinking about how easy it would be to love Emmeric in another life? That might be a possibility. Maybe with time she would view him as more than a friend, and they could have a life together. Or they would go their separate ways, and she’d find another man wherever she landed. Talon and Zane could be together, and Kaz could come with them if she wanted. But would Iyana be able to live with herself knowing she so easily handed over someone she was supposed to love? Knowing Uther would raze Arinem to the ground, not caring for innocent lives in his quest for more power? And, deep down, she realized he would never stop with Arinem. No, once the emperor had achieved immortality, he would set his sights on the rest of the world and any new home she found would no longer be safe. He wouldn’t stop until he had conquered everything, making himself a god.
Then she imagined not giving Altair over, finishing the battle, and killing Uther. She and Altair could live out their lives. Iyana would tell him, yes, she wanted to become immortal, and she would go through with the ceremony at winter solstice. Stay wrapped in his arms forever. Arinem would be safe from Uther’s tyrannical rule, Zane would become emperor, and actual change could happen—Talon standing at his side. Emmeric and Kaz could rekindle whatever it was they’d briefly had before. She would return to Imothia as their healer, as she was always meant to, and leave the Aztia days behind her. Everyone would be happy.
But what if she didn’t hand over Altair and she lost? If Uther killed her on the battlefield in the Dead Lands. Would her friends be next to die? Uther would capture Altair, anyway; her star was exhausted and almost depleted of magic. Arinem would be doomed, Uther still won, and all was for naught. Being honest with herself, this was the most likely scenario. Although Iyana had been doing well with the amulet so far, minus the murder spree she almostembarked on, she hadn’t had time to practice with it. Everything was still unknown and foreign to her. The power contained within the necklace was too deep, too much. Should she scrape the bottom, what would happen? Would there be drastic consequences? Her body was not attuned to carrying so much magic. Could she burn out? Could her heart stop? All valid questions Iyana knew she would never get answers to. Not in time.
All this flashed through her mind in mere seconds. A tear ran down her cheek, cleaving its way through the blood and grime. It was an impossible choice. Purely based on the greater good for all, rather than the few, Iyana shook her head slowly. She had to try. Even if these were her last few moments alive…she had to try.
“I won’t give him to you,” she said. More determination rang through her voice than she felt in her soul. Hopefully it was enough to convince Uther, and maybe even herself. Iyana took precious seconds of the momentary silence to send soothing emotions to Emmeric, who was still thrumming with panic. She willed him to feel her intent. To let the others know she loved them. Just in case. The panic and anxiety only increased, and wishing he could hear her, Iyana thought,Goodbye. I love you.And then she raised her walls to block Emmeric out.
Uther cocked his head to the side in a purely animalistic movement. “A pity.”
Tired of always waiting around for men, Iyana moved on the offensive. Bright silver magic released from her in a heady rush. Simultaneously, Uther’s shadows erupted from the astmina. The might of the two magics collided within the space between them, exploding outward—knocking over deadened trees, rolling bodies away, and creating a mostly invisible barrier just as Emmeric slammed into it. Her Kanaliza screamed her name, though she couldn’t hear it, banging his fist around the dome, faintly sparkling silver and black. It was similar to the golden shroud covering the tomb—coming and going, only visible at certain angles. Uther glanced upward at the crown of the dome. Tendrils of shadows tentatively prodded against the walls and ceiling. Anywhere they touched flared brightly, the shadows recoiling back to the astmina. Iyana hazarded a touch on a wall. A bolt of electricity shocked her finger. There was no damage, but it was clear she and Uther were both stuck inside, and her family outside.
Good. That was good. They’d be safe.
“Your friends won’t be able to come to your aid,” Uther drawled, gesturing to the dome enclosing them. “This will stand until one of us is dead.”Of course it would.
“Then we should carry on and get this over with.”
“In that much of a hurry to die, Aztia?” Uther coiled a shadow around his hand, idly threading it between his fingers.
