But somewhere beyond this place, Valkaryn pulsed faintly in my grip, though I could no longer see her. I remembered what Kaelric had told me, that without the blade, he could never reclaim Fenmyr.
‘There is something I need to tell you.’Valkaryn pulsed in my mind, sharp and urgent.‘If you accept this magic gift, you will be stronger than you have ever dreamed… but Kaelric will lose his only chance to redeem his people and avenge his lost family. To avenge me.’
Confusion washed over me.‘What? Why?’
‘When you claim this magic, Kaelric will have an opportunity to wield me, and he will fail. I told you before,the power I carry breaks the greedy, and it drives the cruel mad. Kaelric is neither, but his heart is still not pure enough to wield my power. Only you can.’
My chest suddenly felt hollow. What was shesaying? After all this, after everything Kaelric did to help me win, so that he could have her… she wouldn’t accept him?
‘He’s your son,’Iscolded her.
I felt her heartbreak in my bones.‘Yes, which is why I’m begging you now: reject the mountain's gift. Keep me, and help free the wolfkin from a savage king. Together, we can conquer him and return Kaelric’s crown to him.’
I had to choose? Between Kaelric or my people? It was impossible. But as she said it, I thought of Kaelric, of his family slain when he was a young boy. How his crown was stolen from him. How he’d chosen to help my family.
‘Can I keep both?’I asked her.
“No,” the man said, and I startled, looking up into his golden, compassionate eyes. His head was cocked to the side as he watched me weigh my decision, clearly able to hear what Valkaryn had said.
My family was without a home, currently en route to Fenmyr to live a new life, and that was because of Kaelric and his kindness in taking them in.
I couldn’t just leave him with nothing to avenge his people.
‘If I keep you, do you promise we will be strong enough to defeat this savage king?’I asked her.
There was a hesitation I did not like. How strong was this wolfkin alpha imposter?
‘I will end his life or break my very steel and release my soul back to the heavenlies trying.’
I couldn’t ask for more than that. So I chose the man I loved. I chose his happiness instead of mine. I trusted that he would provide for my family where I could not. I looked at the armored man in his golden eyes and smiled sadly.
“I’m sorry, but I reject your gift, though I ask to keep my sword.” I bowed my head once before looking back up.
His expression didn’t change, but the wind died instantly. The warmth drained away, and then the corner of the man’s mouth lifted in a radiant smile that felt like the sun was shining on me.
“A more worthy champion could not be found. So be it,” he said, and the marble cracked beneath my feet. The world tore away, and I was back in the arena. The labyrinth was gone. We stood on the dust-covered ground as the House sponsors spoke in hushed voices over Corvessa’s dead body. Fatigue pulled too greatly at me then. I felt like I might pass out where I stood. Valkaryn was warm and solid in my hand, and Kaelric stood before me, his grin shining brightly.
That grin slipped when he looked down at my chest.
“Your mark is gone.” His voice held fear.
I glanced down to see that my sponsor mark had vanished, pale skin in its place. And no Elite magic user mark to show that I had received magic from the mountain.
I looked back up at Kaelric, who eyed the blade at my hip.
“I’ll take that now,” he said, reaching out.
I swallowed hard, stepping back two paces, and the haunted look that came over his face broke my heart.
“No.” Kaelric shook his head. “Where is your magic mark? You won; you got magic.”
I tried but failed to keep my voice from shaking.
“I rejected it,” I told him, and his eyes went wide. Pelts of fur rippled down his neck. “So that I could keep Valkaryn and help you.”
I rushed forward, but now he was the one stepping backward.
“No. You have no idea what you’ve done.” He shook his head. “Ten years I’ve waited. I helped you win. I needed her. You stole her from me!” He shouted the last part in a desperate cry, and then his shift started. I don’t think he was able to stop it.
