Chapter 35
Lana
I was already dead.
My future, my dreams were already taken from me before I even had a chance to fight for them. I could no longer promise or provide Lex with the life we dreamt of. How could I? How could I have a life with him at all? If Morgana survives… I was still dead.
Even if I took Lex and ran, where would we even go? It wouldn’t be a life.
I wouldn’t be able to give him any children.
She would just take them eventually… their souls.
And what a cruel, selfish thing to let happen.
The thought stung, and grief for a future I would never see washed over me.
I would never get to feel their small hands holding mine, see their tiny smiles, hear their cries.
Would never get to see Lex teach them to fight or tuck them into bed.
That wasn’t an option for me, for us, any longer.
The branch rustled as I shifted, leaves swaying on the wind as they floated toward the ground. I climbed up here to watch the sunset, but that was hours ago now. The sun had long since dropped below the horizon.
Tomorrow was the battle. Lex and his men were already hidden within our ranks in the camps below, and I felt he was searching for me through our bond.
I kept the icy barrier between us firm, just as I had since discovering the truth.
I convinced myself that it was better for him not to know.
If I told him, he would have just convinced me to run.
He would have convinced me that there was another way.
I would have seen the hope, the desperation, in his beautiful pale eyes, and I would have run—for him.
But I knew that would have been a mistake, knew I was doing the right thing.
Lex would feel my death, and that’s the only thing I would regret. I only hoped that he wouldn't be exposed when it happened. That he would be safe. Because I didn’t care what happened to me, but he needed to live.
The letter I wrote to him burned in my pocket, and I closed my eyes, letting the wind wash over my face. I wasn't a coward. I would face my fate, but it would be on my own terms. Not hers, not theirs—mine.
A twig snapped, and my eyes shot open. It was time.
I leapt from the branch, landing with a thump onto the forest floor. I stood slowly, a half-grin forming on my face as I spotted the silhouette of a male walking in my direction.
Both kingdoms were at stake, and they sent one person to find me? I nearly laughed.
Broad shoulders and blond hair came into view, and I did laugh this time, finding it amusing that it would be him.
“How did you find me, prince?”
It had been Jaxon whom I sought all those months ago. I had been curious who my half-brothers were. They seemed like good people; their kingdom, despite the daka, was at peace. It was so different from Velra, and I hated that Morgana was going to destroy a place with so much joy and beauty.
While searching for Morgana’s blasted spellbook, I’d stumbled upon plenty of others.
That’s how I learned the portal between realms could only be opened by the reigning ruler.
It’s what prompted me to sneak into one of their castles in the south.
I had sought more books on the matter, explored its massive library while that older male who occupied it was away.
It was how I found that book on ripping souls. Pulled to it as if by fate.
My plan had formed, a way to warn them of what was coming.
I had already met Jaxon a few times at a local tavern in Niverrian, and he drunkenly let it slip that he had been searching for a book. It had been easy to convince him it was in Velra, that his mother was still alive.
I was the reason they even stood a chance against her.
And by some cruel twist of fate, I was the one who had to die.
“Let's just say I have some powerful friends who know things,” Jaxon said coolly. He was on edge, muscles tensing as he scanned me and the surroundings.
“You can relax. I'm not going to run. If I were going to, I'd have already done so. I wouldn't be sitting here in this dreary forest, waiting for you to arrive.”
Surprise danced across his sharp features, but suspicion still glimmered in his eyes.
“You are prepared to die, then?” Jaxon asked, brow furrowing. He was covered in mud, his white shirt clinging to his sculpted muscles. Dark circles were smudged beneath his eyes, and I figured he must have traveled non-stop to reach me, given the clear signs of weariness and exhaustion on his face.
“Are you?” I asked sharply.
“I am,” he said confidently. No hesitation in his powerful voice.
“Then how are we going to do this?”
“We?” Jaxon questioned, and I laughed.
“Aren’t we sacrificing our lives for the greater good? Isn’t that what Fate has planned for us?”
Jaxon stiffened, but something that looked an awful lot like pity crossed his face, and I growled.
“You heard the Fates. You can't expect me to let you live, can you? I won't risk you making a mistake and having children one day,” I snarled, sliding into a defensive position. “We do this together. Or I will end you myself before taking my own life.”
It’s what I had written to Lex about, among other things. I hadn't been sure who was coming for me, and I had put contingencies into place. When I died, I needed him to finish what was put in motion. To promise to end this fucking bloodline for good.
Understanding seemed to dawn on Jaxon, and he shook his head, his hand sliding into his pants pocket. I pulled on my magic sharply, my arms rising, preparing for an attack, but he only pulled a crumpled piece of paper out and stared at it.
“I was prepared to die, Lana. Would have gladly let you kill me.” He laughed, shaking his head again.
“You know,” he held up the piece of paper, waving it at me.
“I wasn’t supposed to read this letter.” Jaxon ran a calloused hand through his hair and back over his face, another chuckle rumbling past his lips. “Not until after the battle.”
I lowered my arms, and got startled as he started to laugh louder. I stared at him, bewildered, unsure what to do.
“Fate has used us like puppets, giving us orders, telling us what to do, where to be. It’s felt like they have been using us to benefit them. So, I thought, fuck them. That my destiny was my own, that I could make my own damn choices.”
His laughter died down and his sharp golden eyes crashed into mine. “And now I'm thinking they knew I would read this.”
“What are you going on about?” I said, frustrated by his ranting.
“I’m not actually your brother.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Is this your pathetic way to get out of this?” His fucking nerve.
“I’m only telling you what I know.”
“And what is that?” I snapped.
“That the Fates convinced my aunt and father to alter their memories, making them believe I was his nephew and she my mother,” Jaxon spat, his words dripping with venom. “That my brother isn't actually my brother but my cousin.”
“Sounds convenient,” I hissed, and Jaxon snarled.
“It's all here in this fucking letter.”
My temper flared. We didn’t have time for whatever lies he was trying to spew. We would be discovered soon, and we needed to end this. Now.
“Read it then,” he snapped, and on a gust of wind, the parchment flew toward me.
With a flick of my palm, the parchment ignited, and Jaxon lunged forward, but it was already ash. A barking laugh escaped my lips, and it sounded just as deranged and cruel as Morgana’s.
“All my life, brother, I've been tricked, poisoned, experimented on, and cut open. And you're trying to convince me. Tell me. That you get a happy ending while I'm destined to be the sacrifice, the martyr. Where's my happy ending? My happy anything?!”
Light shot from my palms, and I was ready for this to be over. I was tired. So, fucking tired. Bright, hot light speared for his chest, and I saw his eyes blow wide as he shadowed out of its path, appearing a few feet to his right. I shot again and again.
Jaxon moved each time, avoiding my blast. His angry growl reverberated through the air, echoing off the trees. “Have it your way then.”
Jaxon appeared in front of me, tackling me to the ground.
I roared, but the grip he had on my arms as he tackled me prevented me from stabbing him with my dagger. A grunt of surprise tore from his lips as he was thrown backward.
Lex loomed over me, glaring down as Jaxon plummeted through the air, branches and limbs snapping as his body crashed through them.
No, what was he doing here?!
“Get up,” Lex ordered, and he pulled me up beside him. “What is he doing here, Lana?”
Jaxon rolled to his feet, confusion etched across his face as he took in Lex, who was now standing in front of me, snarling. Movement to my left had me spinning, but it was only Rasha, appearing through the dense trees, her large yellow gaze fixed on Jaxon.
“Did she tell you?” Jaxon demanded, and Lex clenched his fists at his sides.
“Tell me what?” Lex eyed me but kept his full attention on Jaxon.
“Nothing,” I interjected, but I could feel Lex's suspicion.
He wasn't supposed to be here yet… not before…
Lex slammed into the icy barrier between our bond, trying to break through, and I flinched, my eyes burning with betrayal as I kept it tightly shut.
“What is he talking about, Lana?” Lex questioned, his focus still on Jaxon.
“I told you, it is nothing,” I breathed, trying to think, to plan.
Vines shot up around Jaxon as I held him in place, and he cursed, fighting to break free.
Lex turned to me sharply. “Why won't you let me in, Lana? You have kept me out for days now. Something is clearly going on. Tell me,” Lex snapped, but I could feel his pleading through the bond despite it being shut. Powerful emotions had a way of doing that.
Jaxon tore out of the vines and took a step forward, but Rasha let out a menacing growl, making him pause.
“Tell him, Lana,” Jaxon yelled, and I shot him a glare. He simply crossed his arms, and I could tell he wasn’t going to try to advance again. Not yet.
Lex placed his hands on either side of my cheeks, his bright blue eyes locking with mine. I couldn't stop the tears from falling. “What is it, baby? You can tell me.”
“You weren’t supposed to be here. Not yet,” I said on a breath, and I could tell he could see the anguish in my eyes.
“Lana.” Lex stepped closer, his voice low. “Tell me what is happening.”
I shook my head, and Lex growled deep and low in the back of his throat.
Before he could say anything more, I whispered, “Tell me you love me.”
Without hesitation, Lex’s mouth crashed onto mine, and a sob broke through our kiss, but he didn’t seem to care. He broke the kiss, his forehead resting on mine, as he said, “Of course, I love you. You are everything to me, Lana.”
I closed my eyes, trying not to fall to my knees.
“Then forgive me.”
My thoughts reached out to Rasha, and her tail wrapped around Lex's waist, flinging him toward a nearby tree.
Lex's jaw dropped in surprise, disbelief and pain warring on his face as he hit the trunk.
He groaned, and another sob escaped me as I stole his air, rendering him unconscious.
I couldn't bring myself to look. Not wanting to see what I had just done.
Jaxon cursed, and I locked my gaze onto his.
“This needs to end now,” I growled.
My dagger flew through the air, but Jaxon had been prepared for it. He ducked, and the dagger embedded itself into the large oak behind him. He shadowed again, appearing at my back, and I spun, ducking as I kicked out his feet. Jaxon landed on his back in the dirt, a painful grunt passing his lips.
I had trained with Zara my entire life. The whole shadowing thing was a little overdone.
A blast of water made me choke as I inhaled it, but then again, I was used to this.
Instead of fumbling backward, I lunged forward, my fingers wrapping around his throat.
His magic faltered, and I forced a shield into place, wrapping it tightly around myself, rendering his attack useless.
The water slid over my skin, but it no longer choked me as it had before.
Dark mist swirled around Jaxon as he prepared to vanish, but he wasn’t fast enough as the hilt of my dagger slammed down onto his head.
Jaxon went limp, his magic fading as water surged around us, hitting the ground.
“We go together,” I yelled, a storm of pain and anger boiling inside me. At having to do this, at having to do what I needed to do next. This dagger would pierce his heart, and then it would pierce mine.
I couldn't think, couldn't second-guess myself. I couldn't allow myself to hesitate. I gripped the dagger with both hands, raising it high above my head. With a vicious cry, I plunged it down, straight for his heart.
Something slammed into my chest before the blade made contact, and the force of it sent me flying backwards. A scream of pain left me as my back crashed against the ground.
I sucked in a wet breath, blinking as I looked down at the long black spike that now protruded from my chest. Green sludge dripped off it onto the forest floor, mixing with the blood that was pouring from my chest—my lips.
I slowly raised my head, meeting Rasha’s intense gaze. Her usual large yellow eyes were now a brilliant glowing blue, and my vision darkened as I shook my head, not understanding.
He was telling you the truth.
An ancient voice boomed in my head, and I gasped, choking on more blood.
A fucking Fate.
I attempted a laugh, but my head just thudded back onto the forest floor.
We will meet again. Try to control your temper when we do.
I looked in the Fates direction again, but Rasha’s eyes were no longer glowing blue.
Rasha blinked and a raw mournful whimper left her lips as she began to crouch and crawl slowly in my direction.
My vision blurred, and I turned my head, desperately searching for my mate.
My eyes found his still form, but he was too far away.
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes, and a strange numbness spread through my body.
I barely felt Rasha’s nose probe against my side.
I tore down the barrier between Lex and me, but felt nothing but fear as a glittering darkness appeared in my vision.