Bridget’s head swirled with possible solutions. This couldn’t be how the war ended. Vegacouldn’twin. Not after everything. Not after…
The ripped pages of Vega’s book of spells stared up at her. “Another curse.”
It was Stellan’s turn to blink in confusion. “What?”
“You have to curse us.Thiscurse.” Bridget unfolded the papers to show him Vega’s almost unintelligible scribble. “With powerful enough blood, you can send her and the Sanguis away. It’s what she wanted to do to the Nymphs that rebelled against her last month. And this one.” Bridget waved another piece of paper in his face. The one describing the rebirth curse. “I hadn’t figured out who this was for, but it will work, right? It’s just like picking us up and moving us to a different time so that we can survive. If you use Cade’s blood as the anchor and have a strong enough rune, it should work.”
Stellan kept his eyes on her face. “You sound just like her right now.”
Bridget flinched. It was the one thing he could have possibly said to hurt her and deflate her ideas. But it’s what would have to be done if they had a chance to win the war and save Cade. “Please. We can’t let her win. If she does, how long is it before she destroys even more worlds?”
Silently, Stellan took the pages from her. He slowly read each spell. “This is blood magic.”
“Which you’ve never done,” Bridget argued, her voice sounding a little too hysterical, even to her. “So hopefully the price won’t be that steep.”
Shame pricked her chest. It was such an unfair statement. She had no idea what blood magic would cost him. But she needed him to try.
“What if Cade doesn’t agree?”
“He will.”
Stellan didn’t bother to argue. They both knew Cade well enough to know that if she hadn’t been the one to come up with the dangerous plan she was currently proposing, he would’ve.
“If I do this…” Stellan took a deep breath and put the pages in his pocket, “there’s no guarantee that you’ll be reborn at the same time. Or in the same world. Or that you’ll figure out what happened at all. There are so many things that could go wrong. I don’t think I can risk…”
“Whenyou do this... you’ll find us one day. The spell says whoever’s cursed will have to be reborn in the same bloodline… you’ll know where to look. Stay with Cade’s family and send Bronwyn with mine. I’m sure she’ll agree.” Bridget reached out and grabbed his cold hands. “And when we see you again, you’ll tell us everything. We’ll have a head start. Vega will be trapped in another realm. We’ll have all the time in the world to figure out how to get rid of her once and for all. You’ll find me, findus, and then tell us everything. Promise me.”
Stellan’s tortured gaze remained unsure.
“Please,” Bridget begged. “Promise me.”
After a long moment, Stellan closed his eyes. Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms. “I promise.”
Bridget quickly squeezed him back before she knelt down to grab the Tuathan stone from the hard cell ground. “Keep this safe until we figure out how to use it.”
Not looking at her, Stellan put the stone in his pocket.
“Don’t let Cade watch the execution,” Bridget requested quietly. “And tell him that I’m sorry. And that I love him.”
It was all she could manage to get out. If she thought about how she wouldn’t get to see him again or say goodbye… then she wouldn’t make it out of the cell in one piece. She wouldn’t be able to face Vega and accomplish what needed to be done.
With a quick poof, Stellan appeared on the other side of the cell bars. He slowly backed down the hallway, keeping his eyes on her. “I’ll do my best.”
Once he was out of sight, Bridget sank to her knees. The plan was dangerous, and would cost Stellan dearly, but it had to work. And knowing that there was a plan in place to save Cade made the thought of facing Vega one last time a little easier.
Minutes, or hours, passed before the warden appeared again. Hardly able to stay upright, Bridget barely registered her surroundings as he led her to Vega. Only when cool night air hit her face did she realize where shewas being taken. The thrones and the gate to the human realm buzzed as they arrived, like even the very earth knew a large amount of magic was about to be unleashed.
As she was shoved in front of Vega, a familiar shiver vibrated over Bridget’s skin. She turned to the hills behind the palace, where she knew she would find Cade. Of course he was here, despite her request. If the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t have stayed away either. Even from far away, she could tell what he was thinking. Bridget shook her head. He couldn’t interfere. Not now. Not if they wanted a chance. She mouthedI love you. She hoped he saw it.
“Is there anything you’d like to say to me?” Vega asked. Somehow, her ceremonial mask was even worse than the one she usually wore.
Bridget glared at her. “Just get on with it.”
The blood red mask seemed to glare at her. “Bring it forward.”
The chest from Vega’s room was dropped in front of Bridget. The chest she knew was now empty. She couldn’t stop a tiny smile from forming on her lips.
The Sanguis surrounding her began to chant. A slow, deafening build. The reality of what was about to happen suddenly hit her. Hands trembling, Bridget kept her eyes glued to the bottom hem of Vega’s gown so she wouldn’t do anything stupid like try to run away. She thought of Cade, and the time he’d shown her around Cavamyne before war tarnished every single moment… then of her sister, swimming in the lake when they were ten. The only thing they cared about then was finding peace together one day. Two perfect memories. Two perfect days.
