No. Not Sive. Not a new mother who still had a lifetime to watch her child grow.
The Dark Fae closed in, fighting against the translucent smoke holding them at bay. Arianna steeled herself, then let what was left of her magic cascade down the stairs, blowing the creatures back. They tumbled, then runes exploded from Sive’s body. The glowing symbols climbed through the stone, layering the walls and floors, and ceiling.
Fear gripped Arianna’s heart.
Avalon’s magic joined hers, shoving the dark creatures further back. Fear clouded the air. Rion joined as well, rocks and stones blowing chunks of flesh away from the beasts still scrambling toward Sive. Alec’s vines filled the hall next.
“Don’t touch her,” a man beside them warned. “She’s closing it off.”
“She needs to step back,” Alec growled.
“She can’t. She has to be in the room.”
Alec gritted his teeth. “I’m not letting her die in there.”
The man grabbed Alec’s arm, and The High Lord’s nostrils flared. “If you touch her, this will have been for nothing.”
Alec cursed, but resigned himself to beating the horde back. They were never-ending.
Arianna took in the scene. Sive was safe with all their magic protecting her, but what if she couldn’t get out in time?
Sive finally took a small step back. Runes still poured from her body as if she were a fountain. It was only then that Arianna realized the other Weavers were pouring their magic directly into her.
Sive was beautiful, even from behind. Her arms moved in a fluid pattern, never hesitating, never faltering. Her hair billowed from the sheer amount of energy pulsing from her body.
Another step back. Another sweeping motion with her arms.
They all watched. Helpless and reeling.
Another step and the Weaver’s foot faltered, slipping on the stone. Alec righted her with a trunk braced against her back to hold her steady. A reptilian creature burst past Alec’s line, racing for Sive, but Arianna’s father lifted his arm, and the creature shattered on the stone, his body nothing more than flakes of red snow.
“Almost there,” a woman called from behind Arianna. “Come on, you can make it.” Sive didn’t turn. She just kept up that fluid dance. A Weaver to Arianna’s right collapsed. Another beside them did the same. Others gritted their teeth against the strain.
Arianna held her breath, not daring to look away. If Sive fell, did that mean everything the Weavers were trying to do would fall as well? Would the creatures rush the entrance, or would the entire palace collapse into the abyss of monsters below?
Is this where the war would start and end?
Another step. Runes surged from Sive’s body, then she collapsed, going limp. The symbols stopped pouring from her center, but those on the walls only glowed brighter. The entire palace rocked violently. Alec’s magic wrapped around Sive and yanked her through the doorway right before rocks rained down from the other side.
Avalon pushed Arianna back. Rion took her arm and placed her body behind his own. The deafening roar of crashing stones filled the space, and Arianna gritted her teeth against the sound. Sive landed directly to her left, wrapped in Alec’s magic. A cloud billowed up from the entrance, and smaller stones rolled across the marble floors.
Then the world fell silent.
No one moved for a long time. Even the Weavers remained poised, though a few more had collapsed.
Arianna counted the seconds.
One.
Two.
Three.
A Weaver stepped closer to Sive, kneeling to examine the woman. Arianna waited for the Weaver’s face to fall, but she drew a rune instead. Then Arianna saw Sive’s chest rise. Sheloosed a sigh of relief and approached. The woman’s beautiful blonde hair was plastered to her forehead. Sweat still rolled down her neck. Her bodice was soaked with it, but she was alive.
Seconds shifted to minutes, and Arianna’s heart began to slow. No more tremors rocked the palace halls. More warriors arrived, forming lines on either side of their group. Each was dressed in full armor, their hands on their weapons, prepared to defend their home with their lives.
Arianna’s body trembled, but Rion was the first to sink to his knees. Her gaze snapped toward him, searching for any obvious wounds. Zylah tried to approach, but Rion waved her off.
