The Unseelie magic plunged into Ailen Dierdra’s chest, and the monster gave a wail of defeat. Faylin uttered a curse as she used her magic to twist the magic in until it burst outward, exploding Ailen’s heart and destroying the monster’s existence.
Life began to die in Ailen Dierdra’s eyes. The monster gave dying gasps of pain as he collapsed onto the floor. Faylin refused to keep her distance, screaming at the top of her lungs at the monster as she drove her Unseelie magic further into his chest.
As Ailen died, he swiped out with his claws in a final act of vengeance, and they connected with Faylin. She didn’t bother to protect herself from the blow. There was the sickening sound of slicing flesh as the claws sank in, and then a slick noise as they ripped out of Faylin’s body. She landed close to her husband, her insides torn apart by Ailen’s hit. Once Faylin smashed upon the earth, Ailen Dierdra gave a final hiss, then went still.
“No!” Arthur came hurtling forward. He collapsed between Vocheck and Faylin, looking between them both as if not sure who to grieve first.
Lucien tripped as he ran to his mother, who was still alive. Faylin breathed shallowly as Lucien fell beside her.
“Mother,” Lucien whimpered. He reached out to grasp her hand, and kissed the back of it.
“My mate and I will die together,” Faylin said with pride. “He’s there for me at the gates to the Great Hunting Grounds. I won’t keep him waiting long.”
Lucien was lost for words. His head bowed as he sobbed. Evonna came up cautiously, sinking to her knees beside Faylin. For as much as she hated the woman, it was obvious that regret shone on her face. She hadn’t wanted things to end like this.
The rest of the room was still with shock. Stefan changed back, and stood beside Finlay and Amantha to watch the scene with stunned silence. I was frozen by Emma’s side, unable to fathom anything but how difficult this was going to be to explain to her.
“Bapa,” Arthur choked out as he looked at his grandfather’s body. Then his gaze turned to Faylin. “Don’t go, Babcia.”
“Do not mourn me. This is a good death, for me and my mate. It is the way a fae should die, on the battlefield with their honor intact,” Faylin gasped. “My biggest fear was to pass away old and in bed. Now I will go on to be revered in the halls of the gods.”
“You mustn’t leave us,” Arthur wept.
“This is what we both wanted,” Faylin insisted. “Respect our wishes and allow me to die as a true Arcanea.”
Arthur became a copy of his father as he bowed his body, putting his forehead to the earth to wail. Evonna watched her son and her mate weep with a distant expression, as if this was all too much for her and she needed to detach from it to stay whole.
Quick as a viper, Faylin reached out and snatched Evonna’s wrist. Evonna became white-faced, lips parting as she observed the dying woman before her.
“Protect Kalina… with your life…” Faylin rasped. “Swear to me you will keep this family together.”
Evonna nodded rapidly. “I will. I swear to it.”
With Evonna’s vow, Faylin gave a gasping last breath, and her hand fell onto the ground.
Death was still, but we were even more silent. The only sound that could be heard was Lucien and Arthur’s grief, stretching out into incomprehensible sorrow.
Long moments passed before Lucien eventually rose, and reached out to haul his son to his feet.
There were footsteps around us as a search began. I paid little attention to it. I was still trying to come up with what I was going to say to Emma.
“Where’s the crown?” Amantha said hoarsely. “We’ve looked everywhere, and it’s not—”
An idea struck me. I moved toward Ailen’s body, and used my sword to cut his belly open. Blood spewed from the wound as I stuck my hand into the reptile’s center, rummaging through the gore and using my sword to cut open organs.
My hand slipped through the beast’s stomach, where it latched on to something solid. I pulled whatever it was out. There it was, the silver crown, doused in Ailen’s blood.
“That’s it,” I said with certainty. It was the exact same crown I’d seen in my vision. I pocked it in Emma’s bag, slung it on my shoulder and said, “Let’s get out of here. Finlay, you know where we’re going?”
“Of course,” Finlay replied. Amantha cast a portal for us, and it bloomed by Ailen’s immobile form.
“My son and I will stay behind,” Lucien said lowly. “We must bury my parents here, in Ireland. It’s where they belong.”
“We’ll be waiting for you,” I said. Emma deserved to be there, to say her goodbyes, but it wasn’t safe for her, and she needed medical attention. I didn’t know if she’d forgive me for it, but her safety in a time like this was paramount.
I busied myself with gathering Emma in my arms. I nestled her against my chest, taking note of her faint breaths. I could only hope that Faylin and Vocheck’s sacrifice had been worth it.
Evonna didn’t move to go through the portal with us. Clearly, she was staying with her mate.
