Page 27

“Dad—”

“Go now.” The tone brooked no argument.

Evie’s nostrils flared, but she gave a sharp nod. When her scent faded from the room, Cernunnos stepped by my side.

“I’m not sure what will happen when I break her shield. You’ll have seconds, Moira.” He held his wrist out to me. “Drink.”

I shook my head stubbornly. Doing anything other than killing my mother would break my resolve.

He watched me for a long moment. I wished I could turn my head and look at him. All I wanted to do was drink him in and let him take me away from all the pain, but a deeper need burned within me.

“Seconds, Moira.” He raised his hand.

Emerald and gold magic slammed into Minka’s shield.

Outside, the otherworldly scream of a banshee shattered the quiet.

Tess screamed for me. The knowledge hit me and sank in. I brushed away the realization of what was about to happen, even as I grieved for the friends who’d come for me. There was no fear this time, only resolution.

Cernunnos jerked in surprise and reached for me, but I was already gone. The last of my strength went into my burst of speed. Claws extended from my fingers as the barrier shattered. My mother’s eyes flew open as I slammed into her, gathering that tiny last piece of magic I’d held inside for so long. My claws sank into her chest, magic flaring bright green as it soaked into her heart. Mom choked and sprayed blood from her mouth, the hot liquid soaking my face and neck.

Her lips pulled back from her teeth in a grim, macabre smile, just as something tore open my stomach, magic and silver ripping and shredding my organs.

“I knew you’d be rash,” Mom whispered against my ear.

I glanced down. Her hand was holding the glowing hilt of a knife, blood soaking her fingers and wrist. My body sagged against the weapon as Mom brought it up.

“NO!” Cernunnos roared.

Mom laughed and tossed my ruined body away. She staggered back and fell.

With that final blow, all my strength had fled.

Outside, Tess’s scream cut off with a terrible finality.

Cernunnos skidded on his knees to my side. He lifted me up, holding me in his warm embrace. A bloody hand pushed my hair away from my face.

I lifted my hand to his stubbled cheek. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, and let the darkness take me.

Chapter

Fourteen

TESS

Cernunnos landed in the grass before us, holding a blood-covered, still body.

Moira.

I felt the moment her life had slipped into the gray, that strange, cold place where souls went when they left their hosts. Grief swept through me, an emotion I hadn’t realized I could feel until this exact moment. My fists clenched at my sides. I slowly shook my head in denial.

“No.”

Evie fell to her knees, a garbled scream of horror ripping from her throat. I’d only heard her scream like that once before, but this time sounded a little different. This one was mixed with grief and despair—the knowledge of making it in time only to lose the one you loved anyway.

We’d made it in time. Her decisions had taken that time away from us.

Why were we here? What had happened in those few short moments to end Moira’s life in such a cruel way? My gaze swept down her body, pausing at the jagged wound from the upper cavity of her chest down to her stomach.