Page 90 of Vardaesia
As she moved into them again, he whispered into her ear, “I’m free now, kitten. That means I’m better than okay.”
“Do you promise?” she whispered back.
He pulled away only to press a kiss to her hairline. “I promise. And now there’s something I need you to promise me.”
She met his gaze. “Anything.”
“Screw the prophecy,” he told her, straight up. “Forget what it said—both versions of it. You go and make your own destiny.”
She swallowed, but he wasn’t done.
“No matter what happens next, don’t give up. And stop doubting yourself while you’re at it. Even without an immortal army backing you, even without being able to share your gift with others, you already have everything you need to defeat Aven, and it’s all right here.”
He pointed a finger to her chest, straight over her heart.
“Trust your friends, trust your training, but most of all, trust yourself,” he continued. “Because when it comes down to you against him, the victor won’t be the one with the swiftest blade, but the strongest will.” He held her gaze. “That means you’ve already won. You just have to believe it.”
Lips trembling, Alex looked into his eyes and, knowing he was expecting a response, nodded slowly.
“Good,” he said. “Then I think we’re done here.”
Alex felt panic rising within her, but at the same time, peace settled into her soul. Quietly, she said, “This is goodbye for us, isn’t it?”
With a quick flash of a grin, Niyx replied, “It’s certainly better than the last one we shared. Much less messy.”
A strangled sound of mirth caught in her throat. “Stop making me laugh when all I want to do is cry.”
“We’ve already established that you’ve cried enough this week.” He drew her close one final time and whispered into her ear, “No more tears, kitten. Not for me.”
Nodding into his shoulder, she held on for a long time before releasing him, finally,finallyready to let him go.
“I’ll never forget you, Niyx,” she whispered as the scene around them began to dissolve.
With a sad, soft smile, he whispered back with clear meaning, “As long as there are stars in the sky.”
And then, just like that, he was gone.
So was she, but she didn’t find herself back in the stadium.
Instead, she was standing on a cluster of white clouds, with swirling mist and smoky haze surrounding her, making her visibility next to nothing.
As she squinted into the mist, she soon made out the shape of a person moving slowly towards her.
Alex recognised Skyla instantly, her hands beginning to shake as the willowy girl approached.
As if aware that she had little time, all Skyla did was smile wistfully at Alex, before offering only three words.
“Make him pay.”
Alex didn’t have a chance to utter her agreement before Skyla vanished into the mist once more, only to be replaced by another familiar figure.
“Tell my son I love him,” William whispered, his hands coming to rest on Alex’s now shuddering shoulders. “That I’m so proud of who he is becoming. Tell him for me.”
Alex nodded through a hiccupping breath.
“And I’m proud of you, too, Alex,” William continued. “You’ve faced more than anyone ever expected of you. I’m honoured that my son has been by your side through it all,that he has stood with you and fought for you. I know he struggled with the decision to follow you here, unsure if he should leave so soon after my death, but he made the right call. Make sure he knows that too, okay? Make sure he knows that he is brave, he is loyal, he is strong, and that, no matter what, he needs to keep fighting. Because he is needed, more than he’ll ever know.”
“I promise,” Alex whispered through her impossibly tight throat.
