“A final chance to make a mark.
“Drawn from crown and land combined,
“Pull the Starfire the earth has mined.
“Do not go forth into the deep of night,
“Until Starfire’s lightburns bright.”
Violet stared at him, hands on her hips. “What in the everlasting fuck is any of that supposed to mean?”
The mist rolled in, thick and heavy this time. So heavy it clouded my nose and clung to my clothes. It faded to reveal Violet and the Wraith once more in the cave.
“My sister-in-law is pregnant, almost full term. That means the time is nearing, yes?”
He looked at her sadly. “It does. The darkness will come for her. It will be enough to rip through the Veil. When darkness blots out the sun?—”
“Her time has just begun,” she finished, and stood straight, her shoulders back in defiance of the coming darkness. “Teach me what I need to do.”
“With the burnout, you can halt it. Not permanently, but enough.” The words were halting. As though they were being dragged from him. As though he wanted to be telling her anything but this.
She nodded her understanding. “At the end, will I be able to call upon Starfire?”
“You will,” he confirmed, then paused. Again, it seemed as though the words were dragged from his mouth. “You and your kin are bound to it. For better or worse. Until death.” He paused as if listening to something, and an emotion akin to pain crossed his face. “I must return to the isles.”
Violet nodded even as her face fell. “If the time is soon, you should go. It’s not safe on these shores. But… I’ll never see you again, will I?” She looked up at him, her vibrant eyes flashing in the dim, muted light.
His face etched with pain, he admitted, “Not in this life.”
She drifted closer to him. “I still don’t even know your name.”
“It is how it must be,” he said stiffly, face still contorted, as if he was at war with himself.
“I understand. But if this is the last time I’ll ever see you, and if I’m to die soon, then I have nothing to lose.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He only hesitated a moment before crushing her to him, and I averted my eyes, giving them privacy.
As the scene began to swirl away, I heard him murmur, “I will find you in the next, Violet. Thatis a promise.”
The mist barely even appeared before drifting away again.
Violet looked out over a balcony, her face solemn, an expression that was odd on her face. I’d seen her angry, frustrated, stubborn, joyful, but never sad. As if she’d given up.
A man came up next to her. I startled. I had never met this man before, but his features were as known to me as my own.
“Garrett,” she said, smoothing her worry lines away. “Thank you for meeting me.”
Griff’s father was so young. He dipped his head. “Of course, my lady.” His voice was even similar to Griff’s.
She sighed. “Aren’t we beyond the ‘my ladying’ yet?”
I saw Finn’s grin on him. “Clearly not… my lady.”
She swatted his arm, and his smile grew broader. “It’s time. You know what to do?”
He nodded. “I’ll see it done.”
There was a brief swirl, then the next scene settled.
All of the air abruptly left my lungs as I saw Violet with my parents, my mother rocking something—me. Nana stood in the background, tears in her eyes.
