Chapter 36
Gaia carried me further through the Grove, the rhythm of her steps lulled my limp body. The haunting cries echoed until we reached the middle. A massive tree stood in the clearing—its trunk engulfed the only opening in the Grove. Every inch of it was covered in black ash and decay.
Lioran lifted me off Gaia. The ground reverberated under us, rolling and pulsing as if it were trying to pull me in.
“You feel it, too?” I asked.
Lioran didn’t respond. With so little strength left in me, my muscles seized. He still held me in his arms. “Aelira, I love you.” He whispered it like a goodbye. “You are my light. My hope. I’ll carry it with me always.”
“I love you, Lioran.”
He kissed me—deeper than he ever had before. “We will be together again. Until then, promise me you’ll create the future you always dreamed of.”
“No,” I clung to him. “Don’t you dare say goodbye to me.”
Lioran’s eyes glistened in the dim light of the Grove. He bit his lip as Fyn stepped beside him.
“Keep her safe.” He placed me in Fyn’s arms, but his gaze was still locked on mine.
“Lioran, no—whatever you’re planning…whatever you think you should do. It doesn’t have to be like this. Please,” I cried.
Lioran kissed my forehead. “Protect her for me, Fyn.”
Fyn nodded as his grip tightened around me—too tight—too desperate.
“Fyn?” I cried through a ragged breath. “Please. Let me go.” I thrashed against Fyn until I couldn’t anymore. He only held me tighter.
“Lioran! Don’t do this!” I screamed, but Lioran didn’t glance back at me. He only continued walking to the tree.
Cora ran after him.
“I will never forgive you, Fyn.” My body weakened with each word—until I could barely move anymore. “Let me go. Now.”
“I know you won’t.” Fyn’s words trembled. “I made a promise—no matter how hard you fight me, I will not break it.”
“The Grove wants me. It doesn’t want him.” I crashed into Fyn.
My sobs echoed. The Grove roared in response.
Lioran placed his hand on the massive tree. His golden light spread from his fingertips. Cora remained beside him. I couldn’t make out her words, but I watched the color drain from her face.
Lioran would not stop. His mind was made up.
“Fyn…please.” I couldn’t fight him anymore.
There was no sign of his cheerful demeanor. I waited for his smirk to settle, but Fyn only stared back at me.
My magic thrashed within me—wild and unrelenting. The golden glow coursed from my fingertips, racing toward the tree.
The Grove didn’t care where I was—it would take from me. Lioran thought he could take my place, but fate never wanted him to.
It wanted my magic—it wanted me.
I would give it—I didn’t even try to stop it. The onyx’s warmth radiated through me.
“You can let me go,” I told Fyn. He struggled to hold me, to bear my weight at all. He fell to his knees, clutching me still.
“No. I won’t leave you.” Fyn’s sharp exhale crashed into me. “Lioran!” Fyn screamed.
Lioran turned to look, but it was too late.
The Grove’s roar stopped.
He bellowed my name—it thundered through the Grove. His magic fizzled, but mine strengthened. The Grove released him from the tree, without question, but it tightened its hold on me.
Lioran ran to me. Cora darted behind him.
Aelira—you promised. The bargain was made.
A melody whispered through the trees. It danced on the wind—it called to me.
“I came to restore Lythira and Bailoc. Take my magic if you must,” I whispered in reply.
It would be the end, but at least I made a choice.
“Aelira…no! Stay with me.” Lioran slid in the dirt beside me. He lifted me from Fyn’s arms.
Each pulse of my magic slammed harder through my veins. I wept as I looked up at my love, knowing I couldn’t keep him.
The Grove claimed me.
Lioran gripped me tighter.
Pain hammered every muscle—I trembled, too weak to move. My body convulsed. I needed it to stop—needed to break free.
“Take me instead! I’ll give my life for hers!” Lioran roared.
Nothing responded.
My eyelids slipped closed. Each breath became slower than the last. Deep within me peace settled, grounding me through the lingering pain as it simmered.
“Please don’t leave me.” His words were a distant hum. “You can’t leave me.”
Darkness had taken hold, the light had vanished.
Then I saw it—the Grove glimmering with brilliance, its verdant display fresh and new. Fae traveled down the paths just as we had. They hummed and laughed as if nothing had happened at all. A flash of white light cascaded over everything and then everything turned red.
King Ardyn darted through the border, commanding his army to take down every fae. Blood spilled. Screams echoed. No mercy was granted. Amber flames engulfed the trees. I smelled the smoke, my skin seared with the heat of the fire. Death washed over the land.
My mother screamed as Ardyn tore her from a fae’s arms—I saw his features how they matched mine. How he fought to the end to defend her.
The stars had no mercy. I pleaded with them to make it all stop. I didn’t want to see the rest.
You feel the pain that was felt.
So you may learn the truth.
Only then will you rise.
“Stay here—with me, beside me. Don’t let go.” I heard each painful word Lioran spoke as he gripped my hands in his. I wanted to tell him I was still here, but my voice wouldn’t respond. I couldn’t call out to him at all—I couldn’t even squeeze his hand.
Remnants of my magic seeped from my veins. Deep within me something desperate pulsed. It felt whole.
My pain ceased.
Lioran wailed—it was a war cry to the heavens. It echoed throughout the grove, through me. He gripped me, he shook me.
And then I heard nothing—no wind or traces of his breath. I no longer felt him cradling me—I felt nothing at all.
My final moments weren’t with him. They were taken. I screamed inside—desperate to come back to him—to come back to the life we never got to live.
Light seeped into the darkness.
Warmth ran over me, cradling me.
The land’s cries have been answered.
A sacrifice made.
Fear did not break you.
Weakness did not topple you.
Still, humanity failed you.
You must transform.
The stars have chosen.
You both will reign.
Starwoven and bound.
Hope carried within.
Blood pumped through my veins, magic coursing beside it.
Trembling beneath a force I couldn’t describe—my body renewed and strengthened.
A steady inhale filled my lungs. The scent of something familiar greeted me—like leather and oak—like Lioran.
The sound of leaves rustling in the trees—the sound of his sobbing.
I blinked as golden rays of light shone through the leaves of the trees overhead. Lioran hovered over me. His body convulsed as he roared in agony. I tried to reach for him, but my fingers stiffened.
“Lioran...” My voice sounded more melodic than before. He shook his head in disbelief. He scanned me. Horror etched into every line in his face.
He went rigid, his breath barely escaping his lips. “How?” Tears spilled down his cheeks.
I heard another murmur—a low voice I knew. I turned to see Fyn holding Cora—they were both watching me.
Cora gasped.
Lioran held his hand out toward them as he choked on tears.
Cora nodded, not another word was spoken between the three of them. Fyn guided Cora to a nearby tree, where they watched and waited.
Lioran set his hands on my abdomen and his lips parted. His chest heaved as he cried.
“What did it do to me? I don’t feel like me anymore…”
All color faded from his cheeks.
I tried to sit, but the sky whirled over me. My body felt different, like something had been taken from me—like I was no longer whole. Panic gripped me as his fingers trailed my ears. My hands pressed to my ears. They were altered, completely pointed like his.
“You’re fae…”
I didn’t want this, didn’t ask for it.
“The stars did this…to save me.” I remembered their words. “Humanity failed you. You must transform. The stars have chosen. You both will reign…”
“Both…will reign…” He barely uttered the words. Lioran’s hand slid over his lips, and his bloodshot eyes widened.
Terror lingered in his gaze.
It undid me—my tears tumbled freely.
He pulled me into him, his fingers settling on my tattoo.
Black lines formed beside the vines—wildflowers bloomed into a point. I reached for Lioran’s arm. New ink settled on his skin—thorns angled upward from the vines.
“Does that look like—” I started to ask.
“A crown.” His throat bobbed as his voice cracked. “You will both reign…”
“Maybe I misunderstood.” I hope I did—I didn’t want that life.
He kissed my hand. “If the stars ask it of us—we will serve them, but right now—you’re alive. It is the only thing that matters. We’re going home.”
“Can we go now?”
As he lifted me, green greeted me from every corner of the Grove. My body felt heavy again, and I crashed into him. “I’m so weak.”