by Bea Paige
“Save her!” he bites out.
I look at the woman who brought me up. She didn’t love me the way a mother should love their child, but she doesn’t deserve to die, not like this. I look at her face, tears leaking from my eyes.
“Mum,” I implore.
Her eyes flutter open and she gazes up at me. The light in her eyes is dimming, just like Ether’s. Her gaze moves from my face to my wings, the tiniest of smiles pulling up her torn lip.
“I’m so sorry, Fern,” she whispers, her voice rasping. Her breath rattles but, somehow, she finds the strength to speak.
“I can hear you?” I say, the voice of my mother filling my head. I look at Lissa, who’s still clutching my arm.
“It’s my magic,” she explains. “Listen to you mother, Fern. She has little time left.”
A sob rises in my throat as another death rattle releases from my mother’s mouth.
“All this time I’ve blamed you for your father’s death…” A wheeze is followed by a cough.
“Don’t…” My voice breaks at the countless memories of her harsh words and coldness over the years.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she continues. “I was wrong and I’m sorry for every awful thing I’ve done and said since…” She coughs again, blood darkening her pale, cracked lips.
“I hope you can forgive me. My little girl, my angel.” The sound of her voice softens as the light from her eyes dims further.
“Fern, you must choose now. If either dies before the other, your magic won’t work, and you’ll lose both. With you, there has to be a balance,” Lissa reminds me.
“I can’t…” My voice breaks, tears pouring in earnest now.
“You must. There’s no time left.”
She’s right. Like sand dripping through a timer, the last seconds of their lives are fading from both their eyes. So, I place my hand back on the chest of the man I love and the woman who brought me up and make the only choice I can. Lissa removes her hand from my arm and sits back.
“I’m sorry. I love you.”
The moment my mind is made up, a force unlike any other erupts from my chest and spreads out across my arms until it reaches my fingers. Both of their bodies arch off the ground as light fills one of them and an inky darkness the other. In a matter of seconds, it is done and I’m utterly heartbroken.
My hands fall away as huge wracking sobs erupt from my mouth. Screaming into the night, my anguish rips through my body. The pain fills me up until I’m choking on it. The need for revenge takes over my body, I can hear nothing now apart from the white noise of my rage. I stand, seeking out the monster who caused this. A hate so dark, so broiling, centres on the monster who hurt the people I love. Turning on my feet, I fly towards Abanthe, who is still battling against Accacia and Ezra. It takes me less than a couple of seconds to reach him. Without any consideration to the danger I might be in, I pull out Tillan’s knife and wrap my legs around Abanthe’s back.
“THIS IS FOR MY MOTHER. FOR ETHER!” I scream, then with a strength fuelled by darkness, I take his head off with my knife.
His body falls to the floor as I leap free, Abanthe’s head clutched in my shaking hand. Accacia and Ezra stand back in shock.
“Fern?” a rasping voice says.
With a heaving chest and covered head to foot in black, viscous blood, I turn to face the person I chose to save.
“Come here, angel.”
Dropping Abanthe’s head, I run into the shelter of Ether’s arms. Behind us my mother lies still, her cold body shrouded in death.
Epilogue
“People of Utero. My brothers and sisters of Clan Vitae. May I introduce you all to Fern, daughter of Eos and Celeste, slayer of Abanthe and our newly appointed leader,” Noah says, standing on the raised mountain ledge. Mihr signs for me, Noah’s words given life by the movement of his hands.
Ether reaches down and holds my hand in his, squeezing it tightly. On my other side is Gabe, both give me comfort and strength as I wait for my turn to speak. Noah turns his body to face me and drops to his knee, bowing his head. Behind him, all the members of Clan Vitae do the same.
“What do I do?” I whisper, feeling uncertain.
“You address your people, Fern. This is your clan now,” Ether says.
The air hangs with tension as I move towards the ledge. I rest my hand on Noah’s shoulder.
“Please stand. You do not ever need to bow me,” I say.
In one fluid motion the members of Clan Vitae get to their feet. Five hundred sets of eyes all look at me expectantly. My mouth goes dry. It takes me a moment to gather my thoughts enough to speak. Just twenty-four hours ago my mother was laid to rest in the womb of Utero, pulled into the ground and absorbed forever, held safe within its womb. Not long after, a decision was made to give me the choice to lead this clan to a new future. I’d refused at first, uncertain as to my ability to be a successful leader, but then I remembered why I was here, who I had to support me, and how far I’d come.
“This position bestowed upon me is not something I take lightly. I understand the importance of this role and the trust you have given me.” I take a deep breath, steadying my racing heart.
“My whole life I have felt disjointed, alone. There was always a yearning deep within me. Standing here, looking at you all, I’ve finally come home, and that yearning has been replaced with belonging. You are all my family now.” I turn to Ether, Mihr and Gabe, urging them to come and stand with me. They move forward, taking up their positions by my side. My equals in every way.
“These men are my angels. Death and darkness do not define them, and it will no longer define you. Queen Adrielle’s curse does not rule them, and it will no longer rule you. These men are my heart, my body and my soul. I will not lead alone. Together, Ether, Mihr, Gabe and I shall lead this clan to a new, brighter future where life is delivered and not taken.”
I draw in another steadying breath, gazing out at the sea of faces. There is an air of hope hovering over us. It gives me the strength to continue.
“You, people of Clan Vitae, are the future. Every decision we make will be done so for the good of you all, for the good of this family and for all the people of Ever Vale. The time has come to step out from under the shadows, to break free from the chains Queen Adrielle has bound you all in for far too long. Now is your chance to regain what was stolen from you. It won’t be an easy fight. It will be arduous and full of pain, but it will be worth it.” I lift my chin, defiant, strong, and look out to my people, knowing already the answer to my next questions. My heart swells with pride, and strength born from unity.
“So, I ask you all. Are you ready to fight back? Are you ready to go to war?”
THE END
Read the conclusion to Fern’s trilogy in Fern’s Flight
https://books2read.com/FernsFlight
Author’s Note
I’ve had a blast writing Fern’s Wings. Fern and her Angels of Death have certainly made an impression and reintroducing Accacia and her Dark Knights has been so much fun! Expect more cross over in Fern’s final book.
Whilst each sister has their own trilogy that is self-contained and can be read out of order, the overarching story intertwines and links the five trilogies. The Sisters of Hex series has been quite the undertaking and very much a labour of love. I thank you all for the support you’ve given to me in my writing journey and hope you stick with me (and with each sister) as you uncover their story too.
The order of the series will be as follows (though can be read out of order):
Sister of Hex: Accacia (Accacia’s Curse, Accacia’s Blood and Accacia’s Bite)
Sister of Hex: Fern (Fern’s Decision, Fern’s Wings and Fern’s Flight)
Sister of Hex: Clover (Clover’s Wish, Clover’s Promise, Clover’s Sacrifice)
Sister of Hex: Danika (Danika’s Star, Danika’s Mark, Danika’s Pack)
Sister of Hex: Zinnia (Zinnia’s Crown, Zinnia’s Rule, Zinnia’s Decree)
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nbsp; Thanks for all your support and interest in the Sisters of Hex series. If you want to keep up to date with all my releases you might want to sign up to my newsletter here:
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