Chapter 28 #2
He whimpered again. A small sound like one a puppy would make when it wanted to go to its master but couldn’t.
“Yes, but even if I’m wrong, he deserves to have the bond broken.”
Deities bless it, she hoped he did.
The tiniest of changes crept into Stula’s expression. It hardly even counted as a smile, but the hint at a change was enough for Finley.
“I don’t only rule over death, you know,” Stula said. “But change, sacrifice, illness… if you want something from me, what are you willing to give up? There’s only one way to break the bond between he and I.”
Finley hadn’t gotten as far as to how exactly she was going to save Rafe.
There hadn’t been time. Not that this had ever stopped her in the past. The pulsing from the dagger was stronger than ever now, and she placed her hand over it.
Rafe finally moved away from Stula and toward her.
His cold nose nuzzled against her leg then nudged at the dagger.
Then, stepped back again and lay on his side leaving his chest open and vulnerable.
Her stomach sank.
Oh no. They didn’t expect her to… no. It was too cruel. Too risky. What if it didn’t go the way she wanted it to?
“Goddess… please… you can’t mean…”
Stula stretched her arms out to either side but didn’t say anything.
The silence was the answer. Finley pulled the dagger out from its hilt with a shaking hand.
It had to work. If she’d learned anything from Myra, it was that Stula might have been just and mysterious, but she was not cruel. Finley prayed this was true.
Then, before she could think about it and change her mind, she plunged the dagger into Rafe’s heart.
Rafe let out an ear-piercing howl that rang through the forest and streams of dark shadows poured from his body.
The ground trembled, and spirits swirled around them in cold clouds, crying and wailing.
He shook and twisted as the magic released itself from him.
The necklace glowed even brighter than before, illuminating the whole space, and the dagger grew warm in her hand.
“The wound Rafe received had already started the process and weakened him.” Stula paced around them, the spirits following in her wake as her servants.
“But he could only be truly freed if someone who loved him used a Shadow Slayer or I removed them from this life. For love is more powerful than any curse. But there needs to be a replacement.”
A replacement? That sinking feeling returned to the pit of Finley’s stomach, and her hands continued to shake. Oh. Oh, no.
“And if I don’t provide a replacement?”
Stula remained silent, but she didn’t need to answer. Regardless of what her answer was, Finley knew it wouldn’t mean anything good for Rafe. She’d survived one curse before…
Finley nodded. “Do it. If you’ll take a part sorceress as your servant.”
Stula stood in front of Finley as the clouds and spirits made a circle around them like a hurricane of death and magic, with them as the eye of the storm.
The goddess placed her hand on Finley’s head and stroked her hair the way a mother would calm a frightened child.
“I think you and The Mystic are exactly what the worlds need in Death’s Princess. ”
Not quite the same as being a pirate queen, but she’d take it.
Stula covered the necklace with her palm and pressed it against Finley’s heart.
A strange cold burning sensation filled her body, and she gasped.
The swirls of darkness emanating from Rafe now poured into Finley through the necklace.
The chill of death mingled with the minuscule bits of water magic that still lingered within her and ran all the way to her bones.
The scales across her skin remained but turned white and silver, and her hair glowed then turned pure white.
Dark circles formed around her now glowing eyes and light shot from her fingers and toes.
All at once, it stopped. The shadows and spirits vanished, and the light was gone as though someone had snuffed out a candle.
Finley’s skin returned to its normal shade, and her hair was blonde once again save for a few strands of dark purple.
But inside, she knew she was different now.
The cold and darkness swimming with the water magic through her veins was evidence enough.
Rafe stood, no longer a wolf but a man shrouded in a robe that looked like shadows. His eyes were a dark blue and not the golden Finley had become so familiar with. He was pale and strong, but the power of death no longer lingered on his person. He was alive. And he was human.
Finley let out of gasp of relief and ran to him, wrapping him in her arms, not caring that the goddess still stood there. “You’re here. You’re safe.”
“Why did you do that?” Rafe asked, but there was no disguising the awe in his expression and voice. Without another word, he deepened their embrace and kissed her as though they were the only ones in the world.
Behind them, Stula cleared her throat and they pulled away from one another to gaze upon the goddess.
“If you don’t mind, I would prefer for Amelia to not have control over my spirits. Let’s go close that rift, shall we?”
Finley smiled. Right. That tiny thing they had to deal with.
“And I’ve made some changes to your bond,” Stula said.
Finley furrowed her brow. “Changes?”