But that had never stopped me before. “You’re not going without me!” My chin lifted sharply as my voice raised.
“Hate to break it to you, Princess, but yes I am.”
I stared at him, my jaw set, mustering my argument.
“That defiant look always makes me want to kiss you,” he muttered.
I raised my eyebrows. My look clearly stated that if he tried it, he would suffer the consequences. He gave me a wry grin in return.
“And if someone else is turned?” I countered.
He tentatively rested his hands on my shoulders, and when I didn’t shake him off, he stroked down my arms to take my hands. “From the reports I just received, this is worse than I’ve seen before. The Veil is in tatters across the western border. Hufen are attacking in greater numbers, and faster than usual. I don’t know that there would be anyone for you to save.” His tone was gentle as if he couldsoften the blows. “And if I’m right, and they somehow know you’re there, I won’t be able to concentrate on what I have to do if you’re in danger. So please, for me, stay here.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Don’t leave me here, Griff. How am I supposed to just stay behind, knowing you’re in danger and having no idea what’s happening to you? What if you get injured? What if?—”
He stopped me by putting a hand on my chest, right over my heart. “You’ll feel me here, Princess. Our bond will let you know. The best way to help me is to concentrate on the memories. On how to fix the Veil so this stops happening. Only you can do that. It’s more important than anything else.”
He had a point, much as I hated to admit it.
“I will stay here,” I said slowly, but my voice became firm as I added, “but you will check in through the bond. Often. And if the bond goes quiet or I sense you’re in trouble, I’m coming.” He started to shake his head, but I pressed on. “You can’t ask me to just sit here, Griff! Imagine how you would feel if I was in danger and you felt it through the bond! You’d teleport to me instantly. Youhaveteleported to me instantly. Every time. Give me that much at least.”
After a long moment, he nodded.
“And Griff?” I caught his hand as he started to rise. “When you get back, we’re having a serious conversation about this partnership thing. I may be your mate, but I’m likely to be queen of this realm someday. These are my people too.”
I could tell he wasn’t pleased with that but he understood. “May I kiss you?” he asked softly.
“I’d be pissed if you didn’t.”
He tunneled his fingers into my hair, dragging me against him. But when his mouth met mine, it was soft, as if he wasn’t leaving, as if this wasn’t a goodbye. He gave me kiss after kiss, each one promising tomorrow. Time slowed as his lips lingered against mine, both of us reluctant to break the connection.
When we finally parted, he bowed his head, our foreheads touching. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I grabbed onto the lapels of his jacket and pressed one more kiss to his lips, before pulling back. “Be safe.” I accompanied each word with a sharp poke to his chest, just to drive the point home.
“Always, Princess.”
I was backon that battlefield, darker than the blackest night. Magical lights had been cast, adding to the torches illuminating the fast-approaching hordes. In just a few minutes, we would be overrun. I had to do something. Now.
I let out a savage yell and brought up all seven of my channels that were screaming for release. I flung my head back, pointing my chest to the sky as they detonated out of me. No longer were there seven individual channels, but combined as one, into pure bright-white light.
I was being split apart. The power was burning me from the inside out, searing my soul.
Solais, take me into your embrace. Guard me and keep me.
Through the pain, I saw a golden haze in the distance, beckoning me onward. With one final burst of light, I tied my soul, my life force, to the power.
A mushroom cloud ricocheted around me, sweeping harmlessly over my people. But the hufen were burned away, bursting into ash.
Twin bursts of light appeared where Thom and Mira had disappeared, stretching up, forming a dome over our location. It flew high and wide, expanding around us, a protective barrier that the forces I had thrust away could not penetrate.
This was Starfire. It had to be. I’d never seen anything like this before. Never would again.
I lifted my head through the pain, the blinding light still bursting forth from me. It would continue until my life force was extinguished. I saw only my people.
We had done it. I could rest now.
I spared a moment’s thought of pity for the next generation, for the mess we were leaving them with. For the fact that we hadn’t been able to solve it this time and must leave it in their hopefully capable hands.
