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I knew I was playing into her hands, she had wanted to take me alive the other night for some unknown reason. She did not want me as her daughter’s Catalyst, however, she wanted me for her. I didn’t want to know why.
“I can face anyone who attempts on her life.” I spoke slowly, my eyes narrowing on her.
“I am sure you can.” The queen stepped before us once again, those icy eyes looking me up and down like meat as more whispers rumbled through the crowd in the wave. I wanted to look away from her, to where I knew Lyani and Ryndle were standing, but I couldn’t force myself to do it, not when I knew what was coming.
“Seeing as we are at the Temple of the Sister, we should make it official before the altar of the Goddess.” The Queen stepped close enough I could feel her ice wrap around me, the buzz of her magic strong and unfamiliar, I had felt this strength in her son before, that odd taste of blood that mixed with the power, but it was stronger in her, it was wrong.
Everything about her magic tasted wrong.
I recoiled, struggling against the guards that still held me as she stepped closer, one of her long spindly fingers dragging its way down my jaw.
“Make what official?” I tried to keep the snarl from my voice.
“The binding of Requisite and Catalyst. One celebration certainly calls for another,” she whispered, licking her lips as though she was tasting me. I would cut the tongue from her mouth before she even got close enough to try.
The bright light in her eyes was too hungry, that same greediness screaming at me.
“Grab them,” she whispered as she stepped back, smiling. The guards rushed us as they grabbed Elara and doubled their hold on me. “Search him.”
Shit.
I was sure I could face Dalyah without my blades. I had trained enough to fight in any way needed, but if she took my blades it would not be as it was with Ryndle. I would not see them again.
I had very little time left. I had pulled life from the red trees, but the thickness of it was harder to use. I wasn’t sure if I could rely on it, even though I could still feel the strength enough to jump more than once. I would need that, but this was important. I closed my eyes, blocking Dalyah from seeing anything as I pulled at the tree’s time, everything freezing to a stop as I pulled myself into the Ether, moving as quickly as I could to conserve what little time I had left.
Getting out of the guard's weak holds was easy enough when time was moving as it should, but easier there, where bodies were like stone and glass. If anything, I had to be more careful to stop myself from breaking their precious little fingers.
Stepping away from the guards, I raced toward where Lyani and Ryndle stood, both of them staring at the spot where Elara and I were, or rather where Elara was. Lyani’s face was broken and streaked with tears as she leaned into Ryndle, his hand firm on her back.
Pain and loss was painted on her face in streaks so dark, I had never seen their like, nor had I seen such desperation directed at me. She had been so firm about me promising to return, but somehow, seeing her there, it was as though she didn’t expect me to. As though she was saying goodbye.
I could have sworn that crack I had felt split across my chest so many times in my life both cracked and healed at the realization.
No one was behind them, and it took only a brief amount of pressure to lift Ryndle’s hand where it was placed against Lyani’s back, to place the jeweled hilts of my blades beneath his palms before I turned away, ready to race back to the guards, toward the fate that was screaming my way.
I only made it one step before I stopped, before the wreck of my heart beat heavily against my chest and I turned, facing Lyani and her tear streaked face, her gaze still plastered forward.
“I will see you again,” I promised, even though I wasn’t sure I could keep it, even though I wasn’t sure what Okivo would look like after this. Careful not to touch her too much I pushed her hair behind her ear, pressing my lips against her forehead in the softest touch.
It wasn’t more than a whisper.
It wasn’t near enough.
I wish I would have realized what she was before now.
I wish I would have kissed her.
But now it was too late.
For everything.
In five steps I was back to the guards, my wrists back in the slimy grip of their hands, my blades safe in the one place I knew they would be protected. Closing my eyes, I released my hold on time, letting everything piece back together as the sharp intake of Ryndle’s shock mixed with the near scream from Elara as the guards rushed her, the crowds whispered gasps cracking as sharply as the queen's smile as she turned.
“Sound the horn. There will be two more celebrations tonight.” I didn’t like the way she was smiling. I really didn’t like the way she said ‘more’. “To the Temple.”
Elara fought them the whole way. She did not stop fighting as the guards dragged us up the Temple steps. She didn’t stop fighting as they kicked us both into that large room I had chased Vaelar through what felt like only minutes ago.
Except where there were ribbons of light beaming through high windows, now there were only large torches and hundreds of candles that flickered over every surface, casting light and shadow over everything until it looked as if the snakes were truly slithering over stone pillars, smothering the glowing light of the caspyn lilies.
