43. Chapter Forty-Two #4
Her gaze snapped to mine. “You’re in love with a phoenix shifter,” she said, her tone full of awe.
My hands were shaking—no, I glanced down to see that my whole body was. I didn’t fully process her words, only the ache in my chest. “I can’t lose her. I won’t.”
“If she’s still alive when you return to her, a few drops of your blood will suffice as a sacrifice, something to strengthen her magic as she fades.
But if you’re right and she has already passed…
” Scarlet drew a deep breath. “There’s still time, but it’s much harder.
As long as you take action before a full day has passed since her death, you have a chance.
But like I said…I don’t know if it will work with someone who isn’t a shifter.
If it does, her magic will resurrect you both—your death will be the fuel for her magic to work after her soul has started to move on.
You’ll catch her soul before it enters the afterlife permanently, and in her flames, your bodies will be healed and remade.
Everything will be restored to as it was before Isoria was harmed.
” She watched me closely. “When you take your life, you must speak her name and say: May your magic take strength from my sacrifice and save us both.”
“This isn’t some elaborate plan to kill me off?” I managed to quip. Even my smile trembled.
Scarlet’s expression was unyielding. “You know I cannot lie.”
“I’ll do it.” If I don’t, I’m dead anyway, I thought wryly.
Before Scarlet could say another word, I was gone, racing back the way I’d come.
Archer
Mortius was nowhere to be seen when I returned to my quarters, but I could feel his presence like a stifling blanket. Why he hadn’t already taken Isoria’s soul was beyond me. Did he have an ounce of pity after all?
“I’m going to ask you to put a great deal of trust in me, Orchid,” I told the servant.
“You’ll have to ensure no one enters my quarters for the day, or however long this takes.
Repeat this message: ‘The prince said Isoria was cursed by a jealous female in love with him, and Archer has been tending to her. They have ordered us not to disturb them as she recovers.’” I smiled half-heartedly.
It was a common fae loophole, to give a “message” that had to be repeated word-for-word, so the messenger wasn’t fabricating a lie—they were only following orders.
“Of course, Your Highness. But what are you going to do? Can you save her?” She eyed my dagger nervously.
I forced a smile. “I’m going to try.” For a beat, I hesitated. “And if you can try to be discreet but find out who did this to her…” My voice trailed off as she gave a sharp nod.
That was a problem for later. The who, the why, the what that fae knew. I prayed Isoria and I would both be alive for that later, so I could rip her attacker limb from limb.
I glanced around my room and then at my rug, where I’d carried Isoria back with us.
She lay utterly motionless, her body already cooling, leaving blood all over the plush carpet.
My stomach twisted at the sight, my eyes determined to remind me that she was dead.
If this didn’t work, one way or another, this would be for nothing and I’d be joining her soon enough.
It was a miracle the bond hadn’t claimed me already.
At least I won’t see a world without her in it, I thought.
“You might want to leave now,” I warned Orchid.
“This next part won’t be pleasant.” I hesitated, keeping my tone light, as if I didn’t feel like my soul had been shredded inside me and my bones filled with lead.
“And if it does work, this rug is about to be ruined and you’ll want to kill me anyway. ”
Orchid’s eyes narrowed. “Your Highness—”
“I’ll see you on the other side.”
The maid left uncertainly, clearly terrified and maybe believing I’d gone half-mad. As soon as her footsteps had retreated far enough to be out of hearing range, I lifted my blade.
Maybe all those sliced palms before were good for something, enough to help me override my survival instinct now, which still screamed at me despite knowing this was my only real chance.
“Mortius, I swear you haven’t won yet,” I spoke into the silence, knowing the god of death was listening. “You aren’t taking either of us to the afterlife.”
“Cheers to blood bonds and shared fates,” I muttered, and plunged the dagger into my chest. Pain lanced through my entire body, blood blooming from my wound. I whispered the words Scarlet had taught me: “Isoria Gildmere, may your magic take strength from my sacrifice and save us both.”
Collapsing beside her, I stared at my ceiling, the world turning hazy and my thoughts growing foggy. It was odd, sensing my pain melt into numbness vaster than the emotional kind that had claimed me regularly for so many days. I was growing disconnected from my own body, my vision tunneling.
Isoria’s sparks turned to flames dancing across her skin before leaping toward mine. Smoke burned my nose, my eyes, my lungs. Searing agony consumed me as my body was lit aflame and darkness descended.