My vision blurs with each of his steps, the ashen remains of Keep Oakheart drifting away to pure darkness. Suddenly, the only thing that remains is a pool glowing with green light as if lit from the depths itself and … and him.
The man floats above the water, arms outstretched to me. “Step into the pool, Farron, Autumn-blood. I shall give you the power you seek.”
I blink. The water is so close, I can feel its pull like the moon to the tides. “And what will I give in return?”
The man smiles. “Anything. Everything.”
Shakily, I get to my feet and stare into the deepness of the pool. The power to save them …
My mother didn’t need to die. I don’t need to live in fear every day that someone will take Dayton or Rosalina from me. I could keep them safe forever …
“Farron!” Someone screams my name.
The man above the water looks past me, face turning into a sneer. “Come into the water now, Farron, Autumn-blood.”
“Farron,” the other voice says again. “Listen to me. You are not alone.”
“The water knows,” the floating man says.
I tilt forward, peering into its depths. He’s right. The water does know. Within are the answers I seek.
Fate decided by one step: either back to the voice, or forward into the pool.
“Farron, I’m right here with you,” the voice says. “You can fight this.”
He’s right. I must fight this. Must fight death.
I know the step I must take to decide my fate.
CHAPTER 99
Keldarion
Isit with my arms draped over my knees, head hanging low. How long has it been since we arrived in this chamber? Hours? Minutes? I guard the entrance, though there’s been no sound or sign of anyone else. Why should they have patrols? No one could make it to the heart of the labyrinth.
No one without a tie connecting them to the Queen.
George and Anya whisper to each other, savoring what little time they have remaining. Was it a cruel thing to call Rosalina here, knowing we cannot take Anya home with us? Perhaps. But if this is her last chance to see her mother, I know she would want it.
Pain grips my heart. I’ve been away from my mate too long. Never again, I vow to myself. Once I have her back in my arms, I won’t let her go.
And that means I must return to the surface. I touch the small seed Caspian gave us that will create a temporary portal back to Castletree. Hating myself for having to do so, I stand and walk over to George. “This prison could break any minute. If Anya won’t come back with us, we shouldn’t be here when it happens. It will only put us at risk.”
“He’s right. You should go now,” Anya says.
George looks between the two of us. “N-no, not yet. There’s still time …”
She smiles at her husband. “The sight of you has given my heart hope it has not had in years.” She flicks her gaze up at me. “Both of you.”
I bow low. “I will find a way to break our bargains. I swear it.”
“We can’t just leave,” George exclaims. “There’s still time—”
A sharp, piercing sound shatters through the chamber. There’s the high-pitched clang of metal meeting metal, followed by an explosive pop that sends me barreling forward, knocking George to the ground and covering his body with mine.
The giant green crystals explode. Shards scatter through the air. A shockwave tremors through the ground.
Pieces of crystal skitter over my body, some embedding in my skin like needles. Then a haunting silence fills the chamber, the only sound the soft tinkle of the final pieces of crystal falling to the ground. I blink rapidly. The chamber is so dark, the green glow gone.
