Page 286 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

I knew he would. “Keep our homes safe.”

His face twisted with pain. “You’re my home. I just found you and I’m losing you again.”

My chest hurt—everything hurt.

Visha returned, her face was stolid and unafraid. As if she’d known. Perhaps she had. Perhaps she’d seen it all. “Remember, my queen. Nothing in the trace of our miserable fate is unmeant and unplanned. You’re Nubil’s second, the heavens are on your side. Use what your father does not know and will never understand about you.”

I took the sceptre pieces from her, bright white light flashing when they met my skin and all magic in my body began drumming against the seal. A loud symphony of power and control surged through every corner of my body. Kneel before the power flashed over the metal. It was not a call of obedience. Not a call for me to kneel to. Not one competing against mine, but one complementing mine. One that searched for a master not a slave.

Kneel before—

Hells.

The Elding could control the sceptre. The Elding had defeated and locked Aurora. Only the divine could control the divine.

Kneel before the power.

I’d found Aurora’s weakness.

Though my body had seized with fear, my mind still did not fail me. “When have you known me not to use a good opportunity. And this time, he’s inviting me inside his lair himself.” Looking up at her, I said, “If they do anything funny—attack. To kill, Visha.”

She nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kilian’s face was steel beaten with rage and sorrow, and I prayed that this wasn’t the last I remembered of him.

“Don’t mourn me, darling. Till my last breath, I will try to return to you.” With that, I began retreating toward the edge of the veil. So little time. We’d had so little to celebrate what we’d found. I’d barely tasted it before it was ripped away from me.

I was not alone. I’d never be alone again.

I was not…alone. And…and I’d never be alone again.

I was going to be my father’s weapon again.

I was going to be his to wield again.

Chapter forty-five

Sanguis

Kilian

I watched as my wife faced her father, a look full of threat and promises creased her golden stare as she aimed it scathingly toward him. “Let them go. And you shall have me and the sceptre pieces.”

Her. Have her. I was letting him have her again. To hurt her again.

He nodded to his soldiers and they all pushed the Lords and Nia forward, holding my brother back. Snow didn’t take another single step. “Him, too.”

“Guarantee for any petty trick of yours,” Silas said. “He’ll join the rest when you are in my hold.”

Snow shot Visha a look over her shoulder and stepped toward them.

Oryn’s grip on me tightened when she reached outside of the veil, holding me back. Holding me up from crumbling to the ground. No, I wasn’t going to lose her again. Not when I’d just barely found her. “She’ll return, my king. You will see her return.”

The two Crafters raised their glowing palms ahead, waiting for an unwanted move from Silas and I rose darkness all around us, scorching earth and melting ice. Clouds of black mist crashed against their shields, crawling over them and their soldiers flinched back. Demir…no, Vas hissed and took a step back, shooting a look at Melanthe who raised a hand to solidify the protection around them.

Dark magic against dark magic. The more mine raised, the more hers faltered and she struggled to keep up with it. She was fed from death, but I was made from it.

I stood there, helplessly watching as Snow crossed the threshold of safety. I watched as Nia and the rest brushed past Snow to our side—to safety.