Dirge growled, upper lip lifting to reveal pointed canines, his wolf’s eyes lighting up with flecks of red.
“Easy, big guy. I didn’t say we were going to do it, just putting all the information on the table.” She laid a hand against his cheek, and just like that, the red disappeared.
“Whatever it is, if he reacts like that, I vote no,” Leigh interjected. “Just on principle. We won’t let you sacrifice yourself for anyone else, Shay.”
She shook her head, a sad expression dragging her features downward. “No, it’s not that kind of sacrifice. It would be a sacrifice, but… no. Basically? I can temporarily give someone else my immortality.”
The room went still. “What?” Fiona spluttered. “You’reimmortalimmortal?”
Shay nodded, taking the question seriously. “I’m half greater fae, and from what we learned when we visited the court, the royal line is immortal, no matter if they’re half, quarter, or even less fae. The magic is so strong, you’ll be alive forever. In most cases.”
Dirge growled again, but Shay grabbed his hand. “It’s possible for a greater fae tochooseto gift their immortality toanother. But it comes with a price, and that price is that fae being trapped in the fae realm forever.”
I gasped, and so did several others.
“I know. Like I said, it would be a sacrifice. We’d be trapped for good. My mother made that choice to save my father’s life. Unlike two wolves bonding, a wolf and a full-blooded greater fae do not have a soul bond that automatically grants him immortality. He was mortally wounded in the wars, and she chose not to live without him. They’ve been confined to the fae realm ever since. Well, he can leave occasionally. Once every ten years.”
Her sorrow was palpable, and I wondered why they’d ended up leaving her on earth, knowing they wouldn’t be able to see her. It was an awful, awful choice, but I had no doubt it had been made for a reason. It felt rude to ask, though, when she was obviously struggling to share as much as she had.
She was brave. So damn brave to even offer, knowing the price she and her mate would have to pay. I thought I was isolated in the enclave, but I’d had my sisters. I couldn’t imagine being gone from my own kind forever.
No chance to come home, no backsies.
Kane walked over slowly, pulling Shay into a hug, then turning and repeating the motion with Dirge, before putting a hand on each of their shoulders. “While we love you for offering, neither of us would ever take you up on it. We would never exile you to the fae realm. Your worth to this pack is immeasurable, and we want you with us. Unto the very end.”
Goddess, it was awful. He sounded like a man facing down his executioner.
Granted, I understood it. Lisanne had dropped absolutely crushing news and a whole heap of uncertainty. But there had to be a way. I gazed out the window and up, to where the moon hung fat and low in the sky, not quite full.
What is your plan, Goddess? Show us. Show us how to win, to survive. Show us the way.
I uttered the prayer silently, but I meant every word. We needed a miracle.
“Thank you, brother.” Dirge wrapped an arm around Shay’s waist, pulling her into his side as if he could keep her from making any more promises if he held her close enough, protected her hard enough. I understood the impulse even as I knew it wouldn’t work.
But we held on anyway, because what was the alternative?
I was never fucking letting go, not of this pack, not of these friends who’d become my family.
I loved them all, and I would stand in the gap for them as long as I was still standing, maiden’s uniform or no.It’s time to get back to work.
Realizing there was nothing more to accomplish by discussing things to death, I turned to Valens. “I need a weapon. Help me pick one?”
Chapter 58
Valens
Iwatched Elodie browse the armory, walking through makeshift aisles of weapons in addition to the impressive cases that lined the walls. We’d been in the basement for two hours, but nothing was calling to her.
None of them were her butterfly sword. But I’d done some digging with Cristian before her heat, and I had one last thing up my sleeve, assuming she didn’t find anything on the shelves. I’d known it was possible she’d eventually get her mate marks, and now, I was glad I’d thought ahead. I couldn’t ever replace her butterfly sword, I knew that.
But I wanted to give her something new. Something familiar but fresh.
She stopped a few feet away and sent me a baleful look.
“No luck?”
“No, there are plenty of acceptable options. Just… none that feel right. I’m not sure anything will at this point, so maybe I just need to grab a sword and move on. It doesn’t have to be sentimental, right?”
