Dylan
Keeping one eye on Hildi and the other on the blood-thirsty soldiers, I let my heart guide me to Morgan. It seemed impossible when we first entered the field—the platform too far away—but now a sea of black uniforms covers the ground and my Queen is in reach.
I’m not a fan of this plan, allowing the Morrigan to live. Casteel isn’t to be trusted and I doubt the gate can truly be closed. Nevis obviously agrees, which is why she waited for us at the tunnel entrance.
But what none of us understood then and what I’m barely grasping now is the immense power Morgan yields now that she is complete. She’s an entity of glorious energy, equal to if not dwarfing the Morrigan next to her. I’m not sure she’s even aware. When she moves, the earth trembles under my feet. My heart clenches with love. And my body aches to be possessed by her.
She is the true goddess…almost. There is one final move.
“Kill her,” I say under my breath. “Take her life. Claim the throne.”
Her ebony eyes connect with mine.
The blades of the soldiers still fighting drop to the ground. They fall to their knees and the Morrigan’s face freezes, her expression caught in that moment.
The ten other members of my army stand ready. Even the Immortals feel her power. We wait to see where she leads us.
“Your army has fallen,” Morgan says, walking across the platform and facing the Darkness. “Your court has abandoned. You have nothing now.”
“Nothing?” The platform shudders. The grass shrivels under my feet. “I will eat you alive.”
“No,” Morgan says. “You will submit.”
“Never.”
“Submit and I’ll spare your life.” The sword hangs in her fingertips.
The Morrigan smiles—no, laughs. “Little girl, you’re nothing in this world. A speck. Once the heady glow of your mates wears off, you’ll understand. Once they leave and betray you as I’ve been betrayed.”
Morgan points her blade at the Queen’s heaving chest. Black smoke swirls at the Queen’s feet. Morgan raises her other hand and white light shoots to the glass rooftop.
The Guardians and Immortals are now surrounding the stage. Rupert stands next to me, watching the scene unfold. Hildi is between me and Armin. Rage vibrate
s off her body. I don’t know about the others, but I feel the immense, conflicting power churning in the two goddesses above.
“Do you see this light? This power?” Morgan says, drawing it back to her and cradling it in her hand like a pliable ball. “It didn’t come from the Darkness, it came from a well of hope. Of love.” She glances down at us, making eye contact with each of her guardians.
“Love is for fools.”
“Turning your back on it is even more foolish,” Morgan replies. “I know what you did. You tell the story of your betrayal, but what about your own? How you scorched me and Macha into the ground. How you rallied an army to destroy everything before you.” She moves inches away from the queen and I take a step forward protectively. Morgan holds her hand up, telling me to stand down. “You had love, Anand. You had it all around you and you gave it up for a bastard demi-god who wanted nothing more than to use you.”
“Cu was my everything.”
Morgan shakes her head. “Gods that is sad. Pathetic. As much as I hate Casteel, you really don’t deserve him.”
The queen frowns. “Casteel?”
“Are you truly unaware of his dedication to you? His loyalty?”
“Of course I am.” She’s barely holding on to her rage but Morgan has kept her interest. The words of truth will do that.
“He loves you, you know, but if you do this—continue this desperate crusade and cross realms, you’ll lose him forever.”
Footsteps sound on the stairs to the platform and Casteel emerges from the field of bodies. I tighten my grip on my sword. One false move and I’ll end them both.
“Tell her,” Morgan says. She certainly isn’t afraid of the Commander, not anymore. The soldier stands before the queen.
“I love you, Anand. I have since the days before, when this land and the people on it flourished.”