been their foundation and Wren was the feisty, more emotional one. Wren was her rock that day. She held her hand and as Tracey couldn’t look away from her niece, she continued to smooth a hand down Tracey’s hair and back. She was reassuring her, or trying, but the truth was that no one knew what was going to happen.
Even Lucan, who glanced to Mavic and Brown. Both nodded. Both were ready, but they still waited. Mavic felt the thread-holders arriving. He knew the entire line of sisters was going to show, and he felt another power traveling with them. He didn’t know who or what that was, and he refrained from telling Lucan. There’d be questions he could not answer, but when they were on the outskirts of the Mori, he lifted a hand to Lucan’s shoulder.
Lucan touched Wren’s shoulder, who was already touching Tracey. The Mori nearest Tracey touched her shoulder and one by one, a Mori would touch the shoulder of the next one and so forth. Tracey stopped crying. She stopped feeling so helpless, and her tears dried up. Her hope flared brighter. They were all going to fight. She realized that as all the Mori became connected to each other. When they were done, the only Mori who wasn’t touching another was Suhnah. It came full circle, rounding back until it was Brown’s turn. The last Mori placed his hand on her shoulder, and then they all began to chant.
We are.
We will be.
As one.
Together.
We will
cast out
the imposter.
They repeated those words softly under their breath.
Tracey couldn’t help herself. She called in her mind, “Lily, look at me.”
“I am.”
Tracey’s eyes snapped open. Her niece was staring right at her and there was no fear. There was only happiness. Her tears dried up too and she added to her aunt, “I’m going to see my momma. I am so excited, Tracey.”
Tracey gasped silently. Her mother. Talia. Lily was going to die. That was what she meant and she started to say, “No, Lily. Not that way—”
“Yes!” Lily cried out. She thrust her hand over The Immortal’s shoulder. “Look!”
DAVY
Davy felt them.
She could feel her sisters there. They were with Lucas, who was connected to all the Hunters before him. The Mori were as one being, along with Brown and Mavic. There were so many, but they were all needed. All against one. It was what was needed and as The Immortal turned, distracted, Davy stood up inside of her. She was pushed to the farthest regions of The Immortal’s mind, but she was still there. It wasn’t over. Not yet.
Saren stood beside him, and they strode forward.
They had remained hidden, cloaked from The Immortal until the last second. Everything was set in place. They continued walking forward and he knew the instant the invisible spell fell away. They appeared, a foot, a leg, both legs, the torso, then the arms, shoulders and finally their heads. The full bodies were now visible and The Immortal turned at the child’s cry of ‘look!’ Her eyes first gleamed in amusement. Her top lip curved up in a mocking grin, but her eyes trailed past Saren and soon filled with horror.
“No,” she shook her head, saying quietly.
“Yes!” Saren growled.
Lucas glanced behind him and started. All of the thread-holders were there. They weren’t in their bodies, but they stood as if ghosts. They were there, though. That was all that mattered, and they were standing behind Saren. He realized now what it meant that she was their vessel. He had the Hunters’ power in him and she had all of their power inside of her.
The crowd moved to the left of Saren. The Mori were all still connected, but they were able to maneuver so two that were forgotten came forward.
Brown and Mavic. Lucan followed behind them. Lucas’s eyes went flat at seeing his brother, but that was a battle for another time.
Lucan caught his gaze and wore a mirrored mocking grin that The Immortal had moments before. It was as if to say, “Later, brother. Later.”
Lucas stifled the growl and swung his head to focus on The Immortal again.
She congregated to them. “What is this?” Her eyes trailed over everyone, seeing the touching hands of the Mori before landing on Lucas. She jerked forward, a growl coming from her. “What is this?”
“It’s over.” Saren drew her sword. “That’s what this is.”