by Megan Linski
I spent five minutes in the bathroom, heaving. Nothing came up, but I still felt sick.
The Black Claw was after me. Somehow, someway, they knew I was the Worldweaver— or at least, they suspected. That’s why someone was waiting in my dorm room that night. They wanted my blood so they could resurrect the Dark God and be bestowed with magic beyond imagining.
I brushed my hair back and leaned against the stall wall. I needed someone to talk to about this. I couldn’t carry this on my own.
But the only other person who knew that I was the Worldweaver besides myself (and the Black Claw, obviously) was Ethan.
I got up and headed back to my dorm. I couldn’t talk to Ethan right now. He was in Master Forging Class, and that didn’t end until at least five. I’d have to wait.
I wasn’t able to do anything but curl up on my bed and stare at the wall for the next hour and a half. When it was five, I headed down to the forges outside the school. They were empty— the only person still working there was Ethan.
He looked pretty hot, all dirty and covered in black soot, but now wasn’t the time for all of that. I had bigger issues than getting my rocks out. Mostly, staying alive.
“Ethan!” I cried out as I jogged toward his forge. “I need to talk to you!”
Ethan jumped when he heard me coming. He quickly went to cover something up. His movements were hasty and suspicious. It was like he was trying to hide something from me.
“What are you working on?” I asked curiously as I approached.
“It’s nothing,” Ethan said quickly. He threw a leather blanket over whatever he’d been forging and said, “What did you need to talk about?”
I took a deep breath, but no words came out. Ethan put a hand on my elbow. “Emma, you’re shaking. Let’s go sit down.”
He guided me to a stone bench nearby. I took a few gulps of air before I blurted out, “They’re after me.”
“Who’s after you?” Ethan’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“The Black Claw. Lucien told me. I mean, he didn’t know that he told me, but I figured it out,” I scrambled to say.
“Whoa, slow down. Explain everything,” he said slowly. He took my hands in his. Somehow, the touch of his rough skin against mine made me calm down.
“I was in history class, and Lucien told us this story. A prophecy, really. During the Night of Burning Skies eighteen years ago, the Black Claw was looking for someone whose blood can raise the Dark God from the dead. He said that the Worldweaver is the only one who can resurrect Droga. That’s me.”
Ethan’s expression paled a little, but otherwise, he didn’t react. “I know of the story, but never heard that the Worldweaver is the one who can raise Droga from the dead. I hadn’t heard that name since the hag told it to us. Emma, are you sure Lucien didn’t get his facts mixed up or something?”
My mouth dropped open. “You don’t believe me.”
“No, I didn’t say that,” Ethan said. “But I don’t want you to jump to conclusions. How does Lucien know what the Worldweaver is, anyway? Isn’t this all a little weird to you?”
I wanted to hit him. How could he be so naive? This explained so much about what was happening lately. How could Ethan sit there and try to be optimistic about something that was so obviously true? I needed his help! I needed him to help me come up with a plan. I didn’t want to ignore the truth and pretend like everything was okay, when really, I was in danger of losing my life.
Then I realized that this went beyond what I’d learned today. I realized that I was mad at Ethan. And had been ever since I saw Gabby kiss Eli this morning. It didn’t make sense— I just was. And his denial about me being the Worldweaver was pushing me over the edge.
I popped up from the bench so quickly I was surprised I didn’t get whiplash. “When are you going to get it through your head that all of this is real?” I snapped. “The Black Claw wants my blood, and they’ll kill me to get it. I’m the Worldweaver, whatever that means, and I need you to help me deal with it!”
“I don’t want to think that way, Emma. I want you to be safe,” Ethan said firmly.
“It doesn’t matter what you want! Facts are facts!” I shouted. “Living in denial isn’t going to help when the wolves come knocking at your door! They’re after me. You just can’t admit it.”
“Emma, calm down. We can work something out,” Ethan said as he rose to his feet beside me.
I shoved him back, hard. “Screw you! If you’re not going to help me figure out a way to stay alive when these psychos are clearly looking for a way to kill me, then I don’t need you.”
I whirled around and headed for the tree line on the border of the academy grounds. Ethan took a step after me. “Emma, wait—”
“Leave me alone! I need a break.” I headed into the woods as twilight fell. Thankfully, Ethan kept his distance and didn’t follow.
I knew not to head too far into the woods. There were monsters out here, though I wondered if getting eaten by one of them would be a better option than allowing the Black Claw to use my blood to bring an evil god back from the dead.
I walked until I hit a stream. Then I kicked a tree and let out an angry yell. This was impossible. Ethan was being such a douche. Why couldn’t he just face reality?
I sat by the edge of the stream and put my head in my hands for a moment. I felt exhausted. All this stress was only making my condition worse. The little amount of energy that I had each day was being sucked up by all this fear. I didn’t know if I could make the walk back to the school without passing out. Shit, maybe I should’ve let Ethan follow me.
I sighed. I stared down at the rushing water and wondered if there was a way out of this. The thing was, I wasn’t even that scared of the Black Claw. Or dying, really. I’d come to terms with that when I got my diagnosis.
I was afraid of living in fear. Of constantly having to be on guard and looking over my shoulder. That was far worse than anything the Black Claw could do to me. I didn’t want to be afraid to live.
“I just want to be brave,” I whispered.
Slowly, I stood up. The world wavered a little, and the ground beneath me shook, though it had everything to do with me and not the earth. I put a hand on the same trunk I’d kicked to steady myself, took a few deep breaths, and turned around to head back.
My jaw dropped open as I witnessed an incredible sight before me. A deer stood directly ahead, in the middle of the woods. Intuitively, I knew it was a female. She had white fur that was purer than freshly fallen snow, and winding golden antlers that sprouted out of her head like tree branches. The antlers grew tiny emerald leaves, and there were dozens of points, twisting together to make a complicated mess of root-like art. The doe had a small, dished face, and a golden mane around her ears and head. Her cloven hooves were made of pure silver, and the air shimmered around her, as if sparkling. Butterflies and birds hovered around her form, landing upon the collection of antlers. She was huge— nearly the size of a small elephant. Though the sun had set by now and it was supposed to be dark, the entire forest was lit up with golden light. The dead trees and grass grew new green shoots, like we were in the middle of spring and not late fall.
Great, now I was hallucinating. But this seemed entirely real. When I breathed, the air felt cleaner, more new. The doe took a step toward me, and I stumbled backward into the stream.
Do not be afraid. Do you know who I am? the doe asked. Her voice was like silk gliding across skin, or the taste of warm honey on a cold winter’s night. It was motherly and friendly and home. I wanted to sink into it.
I shook my head quickly. I’d lost the ability to speak.
I am Milonna, the goddess of your foremothers. I am the White Doe of Peace, good death, fertility, romance, and love, she spoke gently. I am here to guide you on your quest, Worldweaver. It was I who sent the hag to you, to foretell the prophecy.
I slowly came out of the water. “Why… why are you here, goddess?”
To tell you th
at I have chosen you as my champion. She blinked her eyes, and her long eyelashes fluttered.
“Me?” I gaped. “Why would you want me? I’m sick. I can barely do magic. You should choose someone else.”
Do not question why. The Dark God is coming, to ravage souls and destroy the world of the Arcanea. Only you can stop this, Milonna said firmly.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked in a stuttering voice. Finally, some direction.
The answers will come in time. But more important is the journey, she replied. Know that when you are at your greatest need, I shall be there to show the way.
I swallowed. “The Black Claw wants to kill me. I’m afraid.”
It is they who should be afraid of you, for I have bestowed in you a power even the gods fear, Milonna spoke.
She took a few steps toward me. I did not dare to move. Milonna stretched out her muzzle, and the tip of her velvet nose brushed against my fingers. A white light glowed from my hand as she drew away. As it dimmed I felt a powerful and strong warmth hum throughout my soul.
Go, now. Those who seek your life shall not claim it until the proper time, Milonna said. And do not be afraid, for I walk beside you, Worldweaver. Now until the ending dawn.
Milonna faded away before my very eyes. With it, she took the daylight and the spring, until I was left shivering in the cold darkness once again.
Something inside me had changed. I could feel it. I wasn’t as afraid as I once was.
Courage was building up inside me and growing stronger with every passing second. I had Milonna to protect me. She had chosen me as her champion. I didn’t know why, but it had to be for a reason. She was the goddess of my foremothers, and had chosen me, an outsider, over all other Arcanea to save the country. She wouldn’t have come to me unless whatever she had planned for me was of vital importance.
And whatever she’d ask of me, I’d follow. No matter the consequences.
Chapter Seventeen
Ethan
It was the end of November. The King’s Contest was two weeks away, and I still hadn’t declared a mate.
I didn’t know what to do. I was stuck. The crown, or Emma? An unbearable decision.
Elijah hadn’t stopped gloating since he’d bonded with Gabby. Every day in class he smirked at me, like he’d already won. I’d had enough of his ridiculous behavior and wanted to smack the smug look off his face. Couldn’t wait for my chance during the King’s Contest.
If I ever got there. I didn’t have any more time. It was now or never. Time to make a decision.
I stood outside Emma’s enchanting class and waited for her to emerge. She’d ignored me in Monster Hunting class the day before and was obviously still mad about our argument.
It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her about being the Worldweaver. That wasn’t it at all. If anything, I believed her wholeheartedly. If her blood could bring back the Dark God, then she was in a lot more danger than I thought. I just didn’t want to accept that she could be at risk. It was painful to consider that she might be the one thing the Black Claw needed to regain power.
When Emma came out of class, she immediately went to go the other way. But I hurried to catch up with her. “Emma! Emma, I need to talk to you!”
She rolled her eyes. “Not now, Ethan.”
“Would you slow down and let me speak?” I grabbed her arm, forcing her to a halt. She turned around and narrowed her eyes, giving me a fierce glare that shook me to my core.
Damn, it turned me on when she looked at me that way. I pushed aside the fantasies in my head and got straight to the point. “I’m sorry about the other day. You’re right, I wasn’t listening to you. And maybe I am living in denial.”
“You didn’t even want to hear it,” she snapped.
“I know. And that’s wrong, but did you ever stop to think it’s because I care about you?” I asked.
Emma tilted her head. She seemed… surprised. “If you care so much, why don’t you help me figure out a plan instead of running away from the obvious?”
“How are we supposed to plan this, Emma? We don’t even know what we’re up against.” I leaned inward and dropped the level of my voice. “Look, it’s pretty clear that you are the Worldweaver. I get that. And the Black Claw may be after your blood. But if we don’t have information, there’s nothing we can do except keep you safe and try to investigate as we go.”
She gave an impatient huff. “I know you’re right.”
“Always am.” I elbowed her playfully, and she shoved me away.
“I’m still mad at you,” she said. “You’ve been acting weird ever since Eli bonded, and I hate it.”
“I know I’ve been a grumpy asshole. Can I make it up to you?” I asked. “We could go out tonight.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Are you asking me on a date?”
My stomach flip-flopped. “Do you want it to be a date?”
She peered at me suspiciously, and said, “Let’s go. Where are you taking me?”
I put my arm around her shoulders. “Wherever your heart desires, my lady.”
She stared out the window. Outside, the snow was falling in thick, heavy chunks. In the gardens, the pond had completely frozen over. I smiled slightly. “I think I have an idea.”
We headed back to our dorms and changed out of our uniforms. I grabbed my skates, and she grabbed hers. She came out of her dorm wearing a thick woolen sweater, skinny jeans, a knitted hat… and Gods, leg warmers. Leg warmers were so sexy.
“You’re just going to wear your hockey jersey? Aren’t you going to be cold?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Companions run pretty hot even in the most frigid of conditions.”
“Hm.” She cocked a slight grin. “The better to keep me warm, then.”
I liked that. I took her gloved hand in mine and said, “We should hurry up. Before it gets dark.”
She squeezed her hand in mine. I liked how it felt— like there was no other person I’d rather have by my side right now than her.
When we got to the pond, we sat on a fallen log and slipped on our skates. My one skate was specially made to fit my prosthetic. It wasn’t much more than a blade that fastened onto the prosthetic, in the area where the foot would be. I could interchange the foot and the blade so I didn’t need to remove the whole prosthetic in order to skate. It’d had a nice price tag, that was for sure. I thanked the gods I was a prince and could afford it. I couldn’t imagine if I was poor and didn’t have the money to pay for a specialized prosthetic so I could skate again. If I couldn’t play hockey, I think I’d wither up inside.
As I fastened on the blade, Emma glanced over in interest before she ducked her head. She wanted to see how it worked, yet desired to give me privacy.
I wanted to show her. But at the same time, I wasn’t ready. So I just fastened the skate onto the prosthetic and tested out the pond before I skated onto it. I gestured for her that it was safe to follow.
Emma carefully stepped out onto the pond. Once her blades hit the ice, she grinned. She instantly took off, though not as fast as she did on a clean surface. The pond was rough, unlike the rink’s even edge. Still, she did jumps and spins like it was absolutely no effort for her whatsoever.
She was so beautiful on the ice. I loved watching her. It was so clear that skating was where she was meant to be.
I skated toward her and extended my arms. She didn’t see me coming as I wrapped my arms around her waist, picking her off the ice and spinning her around. Emma laughed as I lifted her upwards, carrying her around the pond in my arms.
“Put me down, asshole.” She slapped my chest and laughed again.
“Not so fast.” I spun a few circles before I let her back down. I took her hand, and she twirled in a circle underneath it, like some kind of fairy tale princess.
The snow was so dense. It made a veil in Emma’s red hair and coated her eyelashes as it came down. She leaned back and caught them with her open mouth, giggling.
“Wa
tch this.” I lifted my hand. My magic began to form an illusion. The snowflakes falling in the air formed together into figures. All around us, hundreds of ice dancers made of snow took form on the pond’s surface. Snow men and women danced in each other’s arms, performed lifts and twists on blades that were made of ice just like the pond’s surface. Emma’s mouth opened in wonder as the skating couples twirled and leapt around us in a dazzling display.
I took Emma in my arms and began to copy them. We spun together, my arm wrapped around her waist, her hand in mine as we made our way around the pond, whirling with the snow dancers.
“You know how to ice dance?” Emma asked in surprise.
“A bit. I took a few figure skating classes. In Malovia, it’s required for all hockey players. Teaches you to have better balance and to skate faster,” I told her.
“The hockey players back home think figure skating’s for girls,” Emma remarked.
“That’s because they’re wimps. Figure skating is a very difficult sport. Why do you think I chose hockey?” I laughed.
“Probably because you like hitting people,” she suggested.
“You got me there.” I let her go and changed into a wolven. I backed up several feet, then ran at her full-speed and pushed my head into the small of her back. I picked up the pace, my nails digging into the ice, and Emma squealed as she glided ahead of me. I ran until we were going circles around the pond, the trees flying by in a blur. We blasted through the ice dancers sending them exploding into nothing more than snow dust.
As I slowed to a walk, Emma turned in place. She took my face in her hands and said, “I’m so glad I’ve finally found someone who likes being on the ice as much as I do.”
I stared up at her. She appeared radiant. This was her element. Nothing bad could touch her here, it seemed. Nothing bad could touch us. It was like we were in our own little world when were were on ice.
I changed back into a human, and we skated around for an hour or so before Emma started to get tired. I noticed she was almost panting as she performed spins and jumps. We held hands as we lapped the pond a few times, but at this point, I was pretty much pulling her along instead of her doing the gliding. What was wrong with her?