“Do they need help?” Frederich rasped.
“This is the help,” Robin replied, running her hand through the blanket of shimmering blue light.
Frederich brought his gaze slowly back from the fight to land on Ian. “Gareth showed his true colors long ago. Even as a child he was ruthless and cruel. I am sorry that I thought he was a safe companion for you.” Frederich’s eyes flickered over to Robin, his shame evident. “Especially when I deemed others who were far more worthy to be unfit.”
Ian nodded. He appreciated his father’s words, but now was not the time for this conversation.
Aden had been fighting for long enough and was clearly tiring. It was time for someone to replace him.
Ian stood.
The blue shimmer had continued to spread throughout the room, though it had not quite reached the fight yet.
Gareth landed a blow that took Aden out.
Ian rushed to his brother’s side, grabbed him under the arms, and pulled him back toward the family circle. Isa and Ashlin rushed to aid him.
Gareth charged toward them, intent on finishing Aden.
But when he stepped into the shimmering cloud of harmony magic, he howled in pain and jumped back.
Ian stepped forward, placing himself between Gareth and the rest of his family. Robin stood at his side. At their feet, the harmony magic continued to spread into the room as they walked.
“It’s over, Gareth,” Ian said. “Your violence cannot withstand our united harmony. Surrender yourself.”
Gareth looked at Ian, appearing every bit the caged animal that he was. “No!” he yelled. “No one can take this from me!” He ran toward Ian, his hands outstretched.
Ian had no time to react as Gareth was upon him in an instant.
The man’s powerful fingers wrapped around Ian’s neck. Ian tensed, knowing Gareth’s strength would destroy him in an instant.
But the harmony magic was already at work. Blue light spread over Ian’s body, washing over Gareth’s hands.
Gareth yanked his hands away, and the look on his face transformed from rage to fear. He stumbled backward, convulsing as the harmony soothed the chaos that had taken hold of his body.
Gareth fell to his knees and clutched at his own throat, as if he was struggling to breathe. His body once again crackled with lightning, but the small flashes instantly disappeared into the blue light.
Then, he collapsed forward.
Ian waited for several heartbeats, unsure what he was waiting for. He had no desire to witness death, but he longed for the relief of knowing that Gareth was truly gone.
Dropping to one knee, he felt for a pulse.
There was none.
Ian dropped his head, then turned his face to the rest of the room behind him. “He’s gone.”
He felt Robin’s hands on his shoulders. She pulled his kneeling body into a tight hug, holding him upright as she supported his weight.
“He’s gone,” Ian repeated, wrapping his arms around her waist. He felt her shaking with emotion and looked up at her face.
“He’s gone,” she said.
Chapter 64
Ian stood next to Robin, hiding behind Rowena in the far stall of the stables.
They had found precious little time to be alone in the days after the attack, but Robin had remained at the castle with Ian while they had dealt with the aftermath. She’d said that she could better find homes for the Majis if she worked with him and used the castle’s resources.
