Page 259 of Of Masks and Fury

But Trew’s healing magic wasn’t responding. I could feel it through our bond. His power felt scattered and unfocused, unable to gather itself while his body struggled to keep his heart beating.

Coralee stalked toward us, her blade dripping with Trew’s blood.

“The breach,” Addie gasped beside me, her body flickering rapidly now. “Isi, it’s not working. Our blood isn’t enough.”

She was right. The threads we’d woven into the corrupted pattern held, but they weren’t spreading quickly enough. The breach still gaped wide, Skathes pressing against the barrier from the other side. We’d slowed the tearing, but we hadn’t stopped or reversed it.

Our mother had tried and failed, and we were failing as well. Maybe Velacross was wrong. Maybe his blood couldn’t heal the breach.

It may take more than I’m able or willing to give, yet I would give all, including my life, to protect them.

The force must be harnessed, but how?

The words my mother wrote rang in my mind, and clarity crashed through me.

“It needs life force,” I whispered. “Not just blood. The veil was torn by Velacross forcing his way through while alive and it will take life force to seal it. Someone’s essence poured into the weave.”

Addie met my eyes. In hers, I saw acceptance and fierce determination.

“Then it takes mine,” she said.

“No.”

“I’m already dying, Isi.” She smiled, tears washing her face. “Veil-sickness is eating through me. At least this way, my death will mean something. It will save the world. It will save you.”

“I won’t let you?—”

“You don’t get a choice.” She pressed her hand against my cheek. “I love you. I always have. You’re my sister. But Trew needs you to go to him, to heal him. The world needs you to fight people like our father. And I need you to let me go.”

She pushed more of her magic into the weave, and I felt her essence beginning to drain into the breach. The threads strengthened immediately, spreading faster, knitting the corrupted pattern together with silver-blue light.

But it was killing her. Her body flickered more violently, becoming more translucent with each passing heartbeat. Soon she’d fade entirely, consumed by the veil.

“Please,” I sobbed. “Please, Addie, there has to be another way.”

Trew’s pain lanced through our bond. His heart stuttered, struggling to beat. Gavelle and Pherin were desperately trying to keep him alive with their magic, but it wasn’t enough.

I was losing them both.

My love and my sister.

Coralee’s laugh rang out. “How touching. But even with your sister’s death, you won’t seal the breach in time. My Skathes will still come through. I’ve planned it for a very long time.” She latched onto Lexie’s arm and with Alfred on the other side, started dragging Lexie toward the stone slab. “This sacrifice will do nicely.”

Since they couldn’t reach Fenmark, they’d kill my friend.

The only way to stop them was to seal the veil.

But even with Addie pouring herself into the weave, it wasn’t happening fast enough. We needed more power. More magic. More?—

Velacross’s words echoed in my mind.Twin flames bond twice. When companions choose as hearts have chosen, the weave strengthens.

I reached for Trew through our bond to say goodbye. To tell him I loved him one last time before…

Power surged across our bond, a roaring inferno of combined magic. I didn’t just feel Trew. I felt Gavelle’s fierce determination and fury. Pherin’s wild joy and certainty.

Four souls. Two fae, two companions, connected in ways that transcended normal bonds.

Twin flames bond twice.