Dragath’s eyes grew wide and he backed away. “No one has ever taken their magic back from the Dark Dagger.”
“There’s always a first time for everything, Dragath,” I said, flexing my fingers. My senses sharpened, my strength grew, and power roiled in my veins, waiting to be released. I faced the demon lord.
“No!” Dragath boomed as he flung out his arms and dark shadows speared toward me. “I will not allow you to bind me again, Firedrake.”
A searing pain filled my head as evil magic, dark and twisted, battered at my shield. I gritted my teeth, pushing his magic back. I lifted my hands and blazing white light shot toward Dragath, tearing at his defenses. Sweat formed on my brow as I pushed more magic toward him. Dragath’s dark power met mine, clawing at my magic like a ravening beast.
“Finish it, Aurora. This is what you were born to do,” Abraxas growled in my head. “Your magic is more powerful than his. No darkness can stand before the full light of the Dawnstar.”
My hands started to shake as I held Dragath back and gathered more magic.
“Once I kill you, I will kill your father as I always intended,” Dragath sneered.
His magic impaled me with a tremendous force. It tore through my shield and a blinding pain ripped through my body, bringing me to my knees.
Dragath’s voice filled my head and brought the pain crashing back. It slammed into me, knocking the breath out of my lungs. “It is a shame your mother isn’t here to see how useless her sacrifice was to save you. You are pathetic, Aurora Firedrake. You are no Dawnstar.”
An image of my mother flashed before my eyes. She’d believed I would save the world. She had faith in me long before I ever did. I had seen for myself how she gave her life to save mine. That kind of selfless love and faith could change the course of fate itself. My mother was still trapped in the Dagger; my work here was not done.
I had a destiny to fulfill.
I plummeted far down into my magic and drew on every last drop I could find within me. A great force of white light surged up, hard and fast, ripping out from the very depths of my power, raw and powerful—a primordial magic older than time itself. It waited for me to command it, to wield it as it should be wielded.
Dragath’s eyes widened as he felt the shift.
My body glowed brighter than ever before as I released all my magic on the demon lord.
Dragath screamed in terror. His eyes flashed dark with hatred as white light seared through his skin, tearing through flesh, bone, and magic, scorching him from the inside out. A ravenous, twisted evil fought the light, a soulless devouring pit of darkness, a horrific beast that wanted to consume the world. My head pounded and my mouth went dry as I held on with everything I had. My power tore through him, ripping and shredding away the darkness as the cavern lit up with a blinding light.
My magic exploded.
And the once-dreaded demon lord was reduced to a pile of ash. Obliterated from this world once and forever by the only power that could defeat him—the full light of the Dawnstar.
The dark cavern was still once more, and an eerie silence filled the space as we stared in disbelief at the remains of the demon lord.
Without Dragath, the portal closed. Tristan stood over the headless body of a monstrous creature.
The sound of crying startled me and my head whipped toward it.
Penelope was on the ground, Rafe’s head cradled in her lap. The wound on his chest was a deep hole over his heart. His eyes were closed.
Penelope looked up at me with a tear-streaked face. “I’m so sorry, Aurora. I could not save him.”
It was a moment out of my worst nightmare.
“No!” I rushed over and fell to my knees beside Rafe. Blood seeped out of the wound on his chest, and his face was pale, so pale. “No, no.”
Tears streaked down my face as I searched around with my magic to find a kernel of life to start the healing. It could not end like this. I could not lose him. I could feel Rafe’s life force flowing away. I caught on to it just in time and wrapped it in a cocoon of light. “Please, hold on,” I pleaded. “Rafe, hold on.”
From the corner of my mind’s eye I could sense a host of angry souls trying to push past the barrier, to pull him back, to take his place, but I held on with a force I didn’t know I had. I clutched onto the last spark of Rafe’s life. “Help me, please, someone help me.”
Penelope put her hand on my arm and shook her head. “You cannot bring him back, Aurora. He is too far gone. There is nothing you can do.” Her hand tightened on my arm, and her voice turned to ice. “Remember Lilith.”
I froze and looked over at Vivienne, who lay beside Rafe. He had dealt her a death blow to the neck. Her blood stained the floor beneath her. Vivienne’s once-bright eyes were devoid of life, but they were clear; none of the soul-devouring blackness remained. Lilith had left her body and disappeared.
I had done this.
This was the consequence I had to face for saving Snow’s life. I had brought Lilith back to this world, and everything she had done since was my fault. All the destruction she had caused, all the lives she had taken—everything, even Vivienne’s death, was my fault. Rafe’s death would be my fault.
The tears wouldn’t stop as I held on to the one small spark of life left in him, hovering just over the threshold of the Otherworld. “Rafe, please don’t leave me. Rafe, don’t leave me.”
“You must let him go, Aurora,” Penelope whispered. “It is time.”
I shook my head and held on for dear life. “I can’t, I can’t . . .” My voice broke.
But I knew she was right.
I had been warned of the consequences of my actions, and I had to pay the ultimate price. I was the Dawnstar, the protector of this world. I could not defy the laws of magic for my own selfish gain. I had learned the hard way. All actions had consequences, and I had to accept the price of mine.
My hands shook and the pain in my chest grew as my heart broke over and over again. I had to do it—there was no other choice. I steeled my aching heart and prepared to let Rafe go.
I bent down and kissed him on his forehead. “I’m sorry, my love,” I whispered, my tears splashing onto his face. “I’m so sorry.”
A shining light filled the space before me.
I looked up through a haze of tears. Illaria Lightbringer appeared, shimmering and resplendent with her crown of pearls atop her head. At that moment, there was something different about her, less otherworldly, more real, as if she were actually here. Behind her more lights started to appear, a line of Ancient Fae queens fanned out around her. My ancestors, queens of the house of Eos-Eirendil—I recognized them instinctively, recognized their magic.
“You have done what no one has ever done before, Aurora Shadowbreaker,” Illaria Lightbringer said with a smile on her ethereal face. “Killing Dragath opened the celestial pathways that kept us from this world. Because of you we can return to Avalonia, and so can ancient magic. You have made a great sacrifice and proved yourself worthy of the guardianship of this world.” She raised her hand and a ray of golden light seeped out of it in a river of pure power. “But you have already suffered enough.”
She directed the golden light at Rafe.
I could only stare with wonder as, one by one, each of the ancient queens directed their light to join hers. The cavern ignited with a blinding glow, and we all had to look away as golden healing light enveloped Rafe in its shining folds. Ancient magic flowed back into Avalonia in waves of undiluted power.
Eventually the light dimmed and went out.
Rafe opened his eyes.
Illaria Lightbringer smiled at me and then looked at Rafe as, one by one, the ancient queens disappeared. “You are now immortal, King Rafael,” she said, as her form shimmered and faded. “Use it well.”
The Last Stand
All the emotions I had been holding back flowed out in a stream of sobs and tears. Illaria Lightbringer had given me a precious gift—she had saved Rafe’s life an
d given him back to me. And now that he was immortal, she had removed my biggest fear: the people I loved getting old and dying while I remained young for all eternity. Now Rafe would be able to share eternity with me.
So much had happened in such a small space of time—meeting my father, Dragath’s defeat, Vivienne’s death, and the reality of losing Rafe forever had nearly broken me. But I had survived. I had won. My body shook with relief and sadness as I hugged Rafe fiercely.
We just clung to each other as the others looked on in disbelief.
After everything I had been through, all the years I had spent on my own wishing for someone to love me, I finally realized I had never been alone. I had friends and family who loved me and would risk their lives for me, waiting for me, even though they never knew if I would return. What’s more, my parents’ love was always with me no matter which world they were in. Now we were finally together.
There was only one piece missing.
My father coughed and snapped me back to reality.
Penelope and I ran over to help him; he had lost a lot of blood, but the wound hadn’t damaged any internal organs. Penelope laid him down on the ground, and I knelt beside him, putting my hands on his chest. Slowly, I released healing magic into his wound, joining flesh and muscle until the gash on his chest healed. The skin joined together, leaving a scar over his chest.
Penelope helped Azaren stand, and he clasped me by my arms and gazed at his only child. “No father could have wished for a better daughter,” he said, pride showing in his eyes. I let the tears flow as I hugged him, and I knew in my heart everything was going to be all right.
Tristan came over to me and unexpectedly hugged me too. “I’m glad you are all right, Aurora.”
I smiled faintly at Tristan, Vivienne’s death preventing me from feeling the joy I should have in this moment. “Thank you for always having my back.”
Tristan nodded, his face serious as usual. “Always.”
I walked slowly to Vivienne’s body, my heart constricted with sadness. I knelt beside my best friend and gently closed her eyes. She had tried to fight Lilith, but in the end she was not strong enough. I couldn’t save her, and I would have to live with the knowledge that I had failed her, for the rest of my life.
I hung my head and held her hand for the last time. “I’m so sorry, Viv.” I turned to the others. “We need to get her back to Eldoren for a proper burial.”
Rafe came over and put his hand on my shoulder. “We will.”
Ashara walked over to gently pick up Vivienne’s body in her arms. The witch warrior was stoic and unfazed as usual, but her gentle handling of Vivienne’s body told me she was not as indifferent as she tried to portray.
“The war is not over yet,” said Penelope as I stood up. “Silverthorne’s forces will be decimated by Morgana’s army if we don’t do something about it. Dragath has been breeding demon creatures for years expressly for this purpose. Their forces outnumber ours ten to one.”
Rafe’s face hardened. He checked his weapons. “Silverthorne will be holding the fortress at the Eastern Pass in the Cascade Mountains. As long as we can defend it, Morgana’s army cannot get through to Eldoren.”
Penelope shook her head. “We cannot defend it for long. The army Aiden described will destroy our forces.”
“If Santino’s army and the witches can get there in time, we might still have a chance,” offered Ashara.
“Maybe,” Penelope nodded. “But they are going to need our help.”
“And I know just how to give it to them.” I picked up the Dagger of Dragath from the floor beside the pile of ash that was once the Dark Lord’s body and secured it in a holster in my belt. Dawn was already strapped across my back. “Let’s go!”
Once we were outside the Dark Fortress, a wave of relief flushed over me. I took a deep breath. A burnished pink glow started to flood the horizon as sunlight touched Mount Khatral for the first time in five thousand years.
Penelope glanced at me. “We need to open a portal directly to the fortress at the Eastern Pass,” she instructed.
Tristan scowled. “You do realize we will be opening a portal right in the middle of a war? I would rather summon the griffins to take us there.”
Penelope’s eyes were set like stone, and she shook her head. “Griffins will take too long. This is the fastest way. If Morgana’s army takes the fortress, all will be lost.” She turned to me. “Can you do it?”
I gave her a small smile. “Absolutely,” I answered, and there was no doubt whatsoever that I could.
Vivienne’s death had changed me, and I knew now the consequences of my actions were very real, affecting the ones I loved. But with that realization came a strength I didn’t know I had, and with that strength a clear sense of who I was and what I was meant to do. For we create our own destiny with the choices we make, and I had a responsibility to all of Avalonia to make the right one. I had come to realize we live in a world of our own creation, and I was going to create mine.
I gathered the threads of my magic, separating my spirit magic from the rest. In my mind’s eye, I could see a clear map of Avalonia. I concentrated on the fortress that defended the pass at the Cascade Mountains. I waved my hand and opened a portal. Mist swirled within it as the magical gateway began to grow.
Ashara stepped forward and glanced at Tristan, inclining her head. “You first.”
The dark prince’s face lit up as he drew both his swords. “Of course,” he said and plunged into the portal.
Ashara went after him, holding Vivienne’s body cradled in her arms, her staff strapped across her back.
Rafe followed with my father and Penelope.
As I held the portal open, I glanced at the fortress looming over the Darklands, and my eyes narrowed. It was a place of so much pain and heartache, and had served as my father’s prison for the last fifteen years. I had to let it all go, to allow Dragath’s memory to fade into the mists of time.
Bending down, I touched my hand to the ground, sending a wave of earth magic through it, powerful and ancient magic that had been long forgotten by this world. A crack appeared in the rock as my power speared toward the mountain.
Mount Khatral shook. A rumbling sound filled my ears as the dark, twisted stone fortress that Dragath had built started to crumble to dust before my eyes. I shot one last look at the Dark Lord’s last resting place, then stepped through the portal after my friends.
The clash of swords rang all around me when I emerged from the portal, shutting it instantly behind me. I had indeed arrived in the middle of a war, and it was still raging.
I swiftly took in my surroundings, my fae senses on full alert.
We were on a balcony overlooking the battlements. The great White Fortress loomed over the valley that lay beyond. Morgana’s army had spread out across the Valley of Flowers as far as the eye could see—a massive horde teeming with dark creatures, monstrous abominations with rotting flesh and flashing red eyes. Black-hooded Drakaar led the ranks, an evil writhing mass of darkness that swept across the plains, destroying everything in its wake.
Gorgoths flew over the horde, teeming like an army of locusts as they battered themselves against the wards and shields the mages had created around the fortress. I knew these wards would not hold for long against the combined magic of the Drakaar.
Already some had broken through and managed to make it onto the battlements, causing havoc among the Eldorean ranks. All around me soldiers and warrior-mages shouted, nocked, and fired arrows and magic one after another at Morgana’s creatures creeping up the ladders on one side of the fortress walls. Gorgoths flew at them from the skies, ripping out throats and felling soldiers and mages alike. Bolts of mage fire exploded around me as Eldoren’s mage-warriors defended the battlements, preventing Morgana’s hordes from getting into the fortress.
I spotted Uncle Gabriel on the balcony in full battle armor, swinging his great sword with one hand and blasting Morgana’s soldiers off the ladders with
the other, all while trying to keep the gorgoths from infiltrating the fortress from the skies.
My head whipped to Ashara and Penelope as I drew my sword. “Keep my father safe.”
Ashara nodded, and the stones in her staff came to life.
My father’s emerald eyes locked with mine as he picked up a fallen soldier’s sword and twirled it deftly in his hands. “Be careful.”
I flexed my fingers as magic roiled in my veins, ready for battle, and my sword lit up. Tristan, Rafe, and I rushed into the fray.
Uncle Gabriel’s head whipped toward me as I ran to him, and his eyes widened. “Glad to see you made it.” He couldn’t help the smile that streaked across his face.
I nodded and flashed him a grin. “Right on time, it seems.”
Silverthorne blasted a creature back from the massive walls.
Tristan leapt off the balcony and onto the battlements, not even stopping for a moment as he hit the ground in a sprint. Shadows formed around him, and his swords blazed with silver fire as he darted at the Drakaar. The magic of the night shielded him from the enemy. He became a blur, slashing and cutting through oncoming creatures like the angel of death.
“Make sure they don’t get through the gates,” I shouted to Rafe and leapt off the balcony after Tristan.
I landed in a crouch, sure-footed and nimble. It was a relief to have my fae powers back. Flames erupted from my hands as I blasted the ladders away from the walls. Morgana’s creatures screamed and tried to hold on while the massive iron ladders crashed to the ground, crushing a host of scrambling monsters. I continued to burn a whole line of them as I ran along the walls of the mighty fortress.
Soldiers screamed and heads were already rolling as Tristan cleared the walls of threats.
A black-haired fae stepped off a ladder and onto the battlements. Slowly and steadily he turned to me, his eyes red and soulless, canines flashing as he bared his teeth. He raised his sword, and it burned with a deadly red fire.
The Return of the Dragon Queen Page 30