Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“ B rother?” I repeated, disbelief clouding my thoughts. Did Ambrose just refer to Ronan as his brother? I turned to Ronan, drawn to his silver eyes, which seemed to search my soul with urgency. The possibility of it all made my head spin even more. If that was the truth, then Ronan was a prince. No, that couldn’t be true.
I cursed, not knowing what to do next, as I scanned Jesse’s unresponsive body. I pressed my still-shaking fingers against his neck, seeking his heartbeat. It was faint but there. He was still alive. I kissed his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against my lips.
“Hold on, Jesse.”
The room erupted into chaos with the clash of spells and steel. Amidst the frenzy, Nicolias’s figure flickered in and out of view as he teleported, striking guards with swift, unpredictable attacks. Nearby, Brennan’s axes whirled with deadly precision, cleaving through the king’s guards with brutal force. Around them, Ronan’s shadows whirled, tendrils of disorienting darkness knocking people down. Silas fought alongside Henry, who gritted his teeth through the pain yet battled unwaveringly despite his injury. Prince Ambrose’s commanding presence rallied their forces, his magic enhancing their efforts as spells flew like arrows—each one a deadly dance of power and precision.
I squared my shoulders, ready to join. My own magic pulsed within me, desperate to be unleashed. I reached for my necklace and closed my eyes.
“End this, now,” I pleaded, sensing the hearthstone stir beneath my fingertips.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I whirled, my breath catching in my throat.
There stood King Theon, alone, his face a mask of icy determination. In his grasp was Arnica, her eyes wide with fear as he pressed a dagger against her throat.
My hands shot up in surrender, trembling. My mind raced, a whirlwind of terror. Arnica, you damn fool. How did you get yourself into this mess? Every fibre of my being screamed to rush forward and rip her from his grip, but I was paralysed, rooted to the spot by the chilling threat of that blade. My eyes fell to the shackles around her wrists, cruelly preventing her from using her magic. I clenched my fists, feeling the fire flicker and flare within my palms. The familiar crackling of flames whispered in my ears, begging to ignite.
“I’m so sorry, Jaynie,” Arnica whispered. “I snuck in to find Jesse, but they caught me off-guard—” She squealed as the dagger grazed her skin, a thin line of blood trickling down her neck.
“Please, stop!” I cried, my eyes locked onto hers. Each drop of blood felt like a stab to my heart, and the fear in her eyes was mirrored by the terror surging through me.
A menacing growl erupted beside me. Kaelan was at my side; foam dripped from his fangs as he locked eyes with the dagger threatening my sister.
“Stay back, dog!” King Theon commanded, but Kaelan’s growl only became louder and more threatening. The fire within me surged, but I held it back, fearing for Arnica’s safety.
“Give me that now!” he motioned to my neck, and I tugged at the metal chain without hesitation, the broken pieces scattering as they hit the ground. I dangled it from my fingertips, my hand outstretched. King Theon watched me wearily. “Throw it to me, here!”
I looked around. The courtyard was a blur of motion and sound—clashing swords, the wounded’s cries, the crackling of magical energies. Every second and moment until now was to protect the hearthstone.
Three words echoed in my mind, carrying with them a promise of protection and power—silent whispers in the recesses of my thoughts since childhood. Now, amidst the chaos, I spoke them aloud.
“Virella, Somnus, Aeternus.”
“What did you say?” he demanded, his voice a menacing growl. I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. The weight of the hearthstone’s power surged through me, filling me with newfound strength. I felt the eyes of my companions on me, their hopes pinned on this one desperate act.
“Virella, Somnus, Aeternus.” A shimmer of magic surged from the hearthstone, and I felt its energy ripple through the air, enveloping me in a warm, tingling embrace. It felt like tiny little sparks danced across my skin, setting every nerve alight. Inside the castle, time stilled, frozen in an eternal pause. I looked down, confused. Ronan’s shadows stretched across the ground, unmoving. The sounds of battle faded into a distant hum, as if I were underwater, surrounded by a deafening quiet. Even the air itself hung motionless, as if the world collectively held its breath.
I studied my hands and ran my fingers over my arms. What’s happening to me? I glanced up, watching myself from a distance, outside of my body. Jesse lay on the floor while Arnica stretched her arm, reaching for me. Each second felt like infinity, a timeless moment of suspended reality. It was as if the very essence of existence had halted, capturing everything in a delicate balance of motion and stillness. The hearthstone buzzed, sending waves of energy through me, and I clung to myself, half here, half elsewhere.
“So, here we are again,” the Seer said as I spun to confront him. The frail man with an air of ancient wisdom stood motionless, his hands clasped before him. I clenched my fists. “Relax, child. I mean you no harm,” the Seer announced, his voice low and steady. His eyes softened. “You won’t remember this, but we’ve met before.”
I glanced around nervously. “No. I haven’t seen you before tonight.”
“Actually, you have, my dear. But you can’t recall it because it was the moment you died. Let’s just say it was in a past life. Yet here you are now, very much alive and standing before me.” I looked at him, confused. “I am here to guide you. I am the last representative of the fates on Earth, and I guided your mother years ago.” The weight of his words settled over me.
“My mother wielded the stone?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“She protected it for years and kept it hidden until she no longer could. She left it for you, Jayne. She trusted that one day, when you were ready, you would take over the burden,” he explained. Fear twisted in my stomach as I met his gaze.
“Is my mother alive?” He nodded slightly, and my breath caught in my throat. I turned to my brother and sister, hope sparking within me. Our mother was still alive, and yet she never came to find us. Why? Why hadn’t she come? My chest tightened, and I squeezed my eyes shut to hold back the flood of emotions. For so many years, I wished she would come back and rescue us. Knowing she was out there somewhere hurt even more.
“What’s happening here?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“We are in a place between places, neither here nor there,” the Seer replied, his voice calm and steady. He gestured to the room, a space that felt both familiar and strange. “You are in the in-between. The hearthstone has paused time, granting you a moment to choose your path. Jayne, you hold the power to save your brother and sister but using the stone’s magic comes at a cost. It demands a price for its power, and it will take something from you in return.”
A choice. Save my siblings, but at what cost? What could be worth losing if it meant saving them? I glanced at my brother and sister, their faces pale and scared. “What kind of price?” I asked, my mind racing with possibilities. My life? My freedom? Something worse?
“The stone requires a sacrifice,” he said. “When you last used it to send your brother to Faerie, you were dying, so it claimed your life as payment. This time, it will ask for something else. You must be prepared for that.” My heart pounded in my chest. For them, I would pay whatever price the stone demanded.
“I’ll do it,” I said, my voice firm despite my fear. “I’ll pay the price.”
The air became heavy, charged, and electric; the hearthstone buzzed once more—a warning that time was slipping away. The Seer nodded, his eyes reflecting a deep, solemn understanding. “Prepare yourself, Jayne. The path ahead will not be easy. Hold fast to your memories; otherwise, you, too, might become lost in time. You must go now, child!”
As his words settled in, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I looked at Ronan one last time, frozen in time. His dark hair, tousled from the chaos and framed eyes that burned with an intensity that made me feel truly seen. The way his lips tightened into a thin line, the flicker of fear he tried to hide—everything he had done for me.
Ronan, I whispered his name. I promise I won’t forget you.
I had to remember this, remember him. I etched every detail of his face into my memory before returning to my body and the destiny awaiting me.