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When they finally looked at Alex again, it was Xira who said, “She’ll do.”

Soraya, in turn, gave a quiet woof, apparently echoing his sentiment.

“Now that we’re all friends,” Alex said dryly, “I’m guessing we should get this show on the road.”

She stroked Xira’s scales once before running her fingers through Soraya’s silky coat.

“You know what to do, pretty girl?” she asked Soraya, and the wolf gave another woof.

“You’ve never used a term of endearment for me,” Xira grumbled.

Unable to keep her lips from twitching, Alex said, “I can call you ‘pretty girl’ too, if you want.”

She had to choke back a laugh at the look he levelled her. It was amazing that she was able to feel any humour around the knots in her stomach.

Just as swiftly as it came, her mirth fled. And with one final glance and a quiet demand that they both be careful, Alex reopened the doorway and stepped back through the Library, uttering a quick request for guidance through the labyrinth. Only then did she march purposefully along the corridors until she stood before the path that would lead her to Aven.

‘… we shall meet where this all began.’

That’s what he had told her. And Alex hadn’t needed him to explain. Because she had already known he was talking about Raelia.

The place where he had declared his feelings for her.

The place where he had learned she was mortal.

The place where Astophe had given the order for his exile.

Raelia was where everything had begun, and to Aven’s mind, it was where everything would end.

And so, with a deep breath, Alex summoned A’enara and stepped through the doorway, ready to face him for the very last time.

Thirty-Seven

Aven was waiting for her inside themushroom-circled clearing, just as she had expected. But unlike her, he appeared surprised by her presence.

“I didn’t believe you would come,” he said, his shock giving way to pleased—if scornful—disbelief. “That was foolish of you, Alexandra. You had to know I would never hold to my end of the bargain.”

Alex said nothing.

Moving towards her with lethal grace, Vae’varka already in his hands, Aven continued, “As we speak, my armies are advancing upon this world. By sundown, the taint of mortals shall be but an unpleasant memory. And I won’t stop with Medora. When I’m done here, where do you think I’ll go next, Alexandra?”

Words Kaiden had said as he’d guided her through the future vision swam across her mind: ‘After having razed Medora to the ground, he seeks beyond it, fixing his sight on the humans of Freya.’

“You started all this,” Aven hissed. “And I made a promise to you once, do you remember?”

With him now alarmingly close, Alex sidestepped to keep some distance between them. As they both started to circle each other, the promise he was talking about replayed in her memory.

‘I swear by the stars that you and the others slain tonight will be the first of many. Of that you have my word.’

“Once I’m done with this world, withyou,” Aven spat, “you can be sure I will not rest until I’ve wiped your kind from existence.”

Despite his words shaking her to the very core, Alex had to believe that, should that part of the vision come true, the Tia Aurans would at least step in then. Empress Saefii would have to take notice if Aven sought beyond Medora. She would rally her race and stop him, as had happened in the vision. Alexhadto believe that.

“You can’t defeat me, Alexandra,” Aven went on. “I know all about your prophecy, just as I know where you’ve been for the last seven weeks and what you were seeking to accomplish.”

Alex had already known Signa had read the minds of Jordan, Bear and D.C., and anything he’d missed, Aven would have taken directly from D.C. through their bond. But still, she winced, at least inwardly. Outwardly, she gave nothing away, her face blank and unreadable.

“We both know you failed,” he said, his eyes glinting like molten gold. “We both know I’ve already won.”