My brother by bond, by choice, by friendship, lies dead. Dayton’s body is stiff, eyes open and gazing into the void. A hole cuts through his stomach, so large and gaping it reveals the stone below.
A cry erupts from the darkest part of me. I grab his body and clutch him to my chest. My emotions meld with the ones pouring through the bond, our grief forming a tempest of its own.
I’ve brought him back from the brink of death before, but I’m too late now.
“How could you do this to me?” I ask him, tears merging with the rain, flooding down my face and into my mouth. “What am I to tell Delphie?”
Does she know already? Has Summer’s Blessing passed to her? Oh realms, Delphie, poor Delphie.
“Farron?” I cry. “What am I to tell Farron?”
Because I know by the depths of grief rocking through my body that Rosalina already knows.
Rosalina.
I turn around, still clutching Dayton to my chest. “Where is she?” I roar.
Caspian’s staring at us glassy-eyed. “Taken.”
“Did you know?” I yell.
“No. Not until we arrived here, and I saw these.” He kicks an iridescent briar lying limp upon the rooftop.
How could this happen? How could everything end like this? I lay my brother down and gently close his eyes. I press a kiss upon his brow. “I’ll take care of them, Day. Del and Rose. I’ll protect them in your name.”
The sound of wings beating whooshes through the air. I look up to see a Pegasus descending to the rooftop. I squeeze my eyes shut, not sure how much more anguish my heart can bear. It’s Farron. He’ll see Dayton’s body, know the love of his life is gone … I’ve already had to watch him lose his mother. If only I could take his pain.
Farron slips off the horse and walks over to us. He looks from Caspian to me. Then down at the body.
I stand on shaking legs and pull him into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Farron. I’m so, so sorry.”
Farron doesn’t say anything. He just starts to laugh.
I pull away and shake his shoulders. He barely reacts, still staring down at Dayton, damp auburn hair shadowing his face. “What’s wrong with you?” I cry. “He’s dead! Dayton is dead!”
“So he is.” Farron looks up and his eyes glow a brilliant green. “And I’m going to bring him back.”
CHAPTER 120
Farron
It’s almost funny, thinking how I hesitated at the edge of the pool. I was so afraid of the unknown. But this time, my courage won out. I reached into the deep, dark place and Itookwhat was offered.
Took what I deserve.
And look! Now, I need it. I told myself I would never be back in that place again. The field, with my mother cradled in my arms, a spear in her chest.
Ezryn is so upset, yelling at me, crying. The bond within my chest screams with grief. They don’t understand. Not like I do.
Not likehedoes.
The Son stares at me, his purple eyes hard. Caspian. Shadow-blood. Flame-blood. “Do not do this thing, Farron,” he says, voice dark and low. “Dayton would not want this.”
Ah, The Son is always so cautious! So afraid. I was like that. Before the Baron helped me See.
I walk over to Dayton and kneel behind his head, brushing blond strands of hair away from his eyes. He is beautiful. “Look,” I whisper. “Now, I’m the one protecting you.”
Even more beautiful than my Summer-blood is what hovers above his chest. A tiny sun bursting with all the magic and power of the Summer Realm. Within this bright spark lies the ancestral memory of all the High Rulers of this realm. Summer’s Blessing. It hovers by him, grieving in its own way. But very soon, it will try to make its way to the next in line. Yes, it will try.
