“You meansavinghumans? Let us be, Galen. You know what their fate is if they stay here. I refuse to believe you want innocent blood on your hands. I saw how tortured you were after you were forced to kill. This is your chance for redemption,” I reasoned, taking a step towards him to protect Meli and the others behind me.
“Sweet Marigold… worried about my soul, even after what you’ve seen me capable of. The problem is, love… the Elderswillwin. They haveErebus, which means the only feasible option is to join them. It will be better for my people when they don’t have to rely on humans. We’ve found a way to take back what is ours. And now I’ll take back what ismine.”His temper flared and flames erupted.
Raf and I shielded on instinct, but Galen’s shadow-wielder had gone for Meli. She was in Galen’s arms with flame licking at her neck in seconds.
“Now we shall see just how righteous you really are. Will you trade yourself to save your friend?” His eyes were so cruel, so different than theone that had once looked at me with reverence and affection. I opened my mouth to speak, but stopped when I saw Odin running for Meli.
“No,” I gasped, reaching out my hands in a desperate bid to stop him, but the Queen was too quick. She wrapped Odin in her vines and pulled him to her with the flick of her wrist. She held him by his throat as Meli screamed.
“Stop,” I cried. “I’ll go with you. Please, let them go.”
Rafael’s head was swiveling between me, Odin, and Meli. “Don’t,” Rafael said firmly, putting a shield between me and them.
Sylvia put her red lips to Odin’s neck. “You have one more second before I drain him.”
Meli was screaming, sobbing as Odin rasped, “Don’t let them win. I love you, Meli.”
“One,” Sylvia said, rolling her eyes, before biting him. Meli’s agonized sobs pierced my ears—I couldn’t think, couldn’t act.
My heart was pounding throughout my whole body and there were too many things happening at once.
“Take me! Take me,” I choked. “Don’t hurt anyone else.”
“No,” Rafael said, but I blocked him with a shield and ran to Galen. The terror in his eye felt like an arrow through the heart.
Galen pulled me towards him with bruising force and tossed Meli to the side. He held me by the nape of my neck, fisting clumps of curls. I stifled a cry as he wrapped a jasper chain around my neck. “I dare you to move,” he murmured into my ear. I trembled as my magic sputtered out.
“Let him go,” I snapped at the Queen. “I’ve cooperated.”
Sylvia pulled away from Odin, her teeth stained red. “I don’t think I will. His existence is an insult to the gods. I can taste it in his blood—they’re blood-bonded.” She pointed to Meli with a menacing finger. “She’s given this human gifts meant only for faeries.”
Rafael attacked, but she dodged him with surprising speed, still holding Odin by the neck. He was nearly unconscious now.
“Just for that… Give him the true death, Galen. He’s nearly drained and has fulfilled his pathetic purpose,” Sylvia sneered.
I clawed at Galen, struggling against the chain, as he jerked me back.
“Please, no! No, no, no,” Meli howled in haunting repetition, gripping her belly and falling to her knees.
“Galen. I beg you. Let him go. I’ll do whatever you want.I’ll marry you,” I pleaded. Meli was bowing, begging for mercy.
The Queen snapped Odin’s neck in one quick motion and threw him to Galen’s feet.To my feet.I turned away, nearly vomiting. Galen hesitated and I whimpered, pleading to him.
Rafael struck for Galen, appearing inside his shield. At the same time, Galen released a stream of fire onto Odin as Meli dove forward.
“Meli,” I cried. Raf changed course, shadowing to Meli and knocking her out of the way.
My teeth chattered as Meli’s tortured wailing filled the air. Odin’s body was no longer there. All that remained was a pile of ash. It had only taken seconds to disintegrate his body and Meli had barely escaped with her life.
Kaya and Leon were hurrying the last of the people through on Raf’s orders. Wordlessly, Kaya shadowed to Meli, and then to the wall. She ran Meli through the portal before Sylvia could strike. And then Rafael was behind the Queen, holding a knife to her throat.
fifty-six
It was a family standoff. Galen held me against his chest, while Rafael’s knife sat snug against Sylvia’s throat. “Let her go,” Raf growled between gritted teeth.
Galen gripped me tighter. “Never.”
The Queen’s Guard swarmed around Raf and Sylvia like angry hornets, trying in vain to break his shield. Magic ricocheted back at the soldiers as they attacked, thenpoof—they were gone. He’d reduced all six men to dustwithout moving a muscle. Rafael pressed the knife tighter into Sylvia’s neck, drawing blood, and then… it was her turn to disappear.
