Page 52 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)

“Mama.” The single word wobbled in the air, and I held his hand tighter. “I don’t understand.”

When he shook his head, I mirrored him. “Renee,” I pleaded.

“With my magic, I felt your anguish over losing Donnie,” she said, her attention steady on me. “I felt it when you both left our realm to this one. So I made a bargain with Death. My life for Donnie’s.”

“No,” Elias said, his tone desperate and pleading.

“I’m afraid you’ll still lose your magic,” Eiran said. “But Queen Renee has agreed to take his place in the afterlife.”

Elias’s eyes were wide, his lips parted with his refusal to accept this fate.

“I should’ve died the day my mate did,” Renee said, a desolate smile on her elegant face. “I feel like maybe I did. At least, my soul did. You’ll carry on without me, my sweet son, as you’ve done these past few months.”

“No.” He rubbed his palm against his chest.

Keeping my hand tucked in his, I turned to face Eiran.

“You can’t,” I said. “She can’t.” I faced Renee, ready to throw myself onto my knees to beg her to stay. “He still needs you. You have grandbabies on the way. You . . .”

Eiran stepped beside Renee, his black cloak draping over his tall figure while his shadows trembled on the ground around him.

“There is a price that must be paid,” Eiran said. “Before, Nalari paid the price for you in the blood she shed when she killed the humans who attacked you. One of them was destined to get away, but I took his life to spare Brenton’s. Now, in saving Donnie, Renee forfeited her life.”

Gasping, I took a retreating step back. “You didn’t tell us that.

We wouldn’t have—I wouldn’t have . . . You didn’t tell us.

” I stepped forward, pointing a finger at Eiran’s wide chest. “No, Eiran. Choose someone else.” I poked his chest hard.

“You said I had a choice. I choose Elias. I choose his mom.” My nostrils flared as my lungs burned at my words.

I reached for the sword Eiran wore at his waist and pointed the tip against his throat.

“You can’t have her,” I said, my words coming out far calmer than I felt. “You took his dad and his uncle. You can’t keep taking when he’s not ready.”

When Eiran remained quiet, I edged the sword forward and watched the blood that trickled from the cut I made on his throat.

“Teddy.” Elias gripped my hand and forced it down.

When I let out a shuddering breath, the sword I held disappeared. Elias held my face against the palm of his hands. Beautifully haunted, violet eyes peered into me before he lowered his head to rest his forehead against mine.

“Fate chose wisely,” Renee told Elias, and although he stepped away from me, he placed his hands on my waist and drew my back to his chest, where he circled his arms around me.

“Your mate is as strong, stubborn, and gentle-hearted as you are. I will enjoy watching you from above.” Her violet eyes shimmered, and for the first time since I met her, she seemed happy and at peace.

“Your father calls to me.” Her head tipped up.

“Mama,” Elias whispered, his voice hoarse as if he’d been screaming for hours.

“I love you, dearest,” she said, a stunning smile on her face. “We are so very proud of you, for both the male that you are and the king you have become.”

I felt the absence of Elias’s arms when he went to his mom. He hugged her to him.

“Although you will lose your magic, know you are still the true king of Niev,” she said, cupping his face. “Your heart is your greatest ally. Trust it and what it tells you over the doubts of any of your people. You are a king and a far better leader than your father and I ever were.”

He nodded, his hold on her tightening before she stepped away.

When she stood in front of me, her warm palm caressed my cheek. “You’ll take care of my son.”

Although it wasn’t a question, I nodded.

She smiled. “And you’ll take care of my grandbabes, but don’t let Elias do anything foolish like name those little males after his father.

” She paused to glimpse up before she drew her amused attention back to us and winked.

“Thierry is an awfully old-fashioned name as well as his surname that he had insisted on being called, and not suitable for our kingdom’s first fae/mage princes. ”

Elias chuckled and rubbed a hand over his face before he clasped my waist and drew me to his chest again.

“Will you tell Father I love him?” Elias asked, his fingers digging into my sides.

“Of course.” Her smile widened. “But you must know, he already knows this.”

A figure I recognized from my youth appeared beside the queen. My eyes widened along with the crack in my heart as Grandma Richter came into focus.

I turned an accusatory glare to Eiran. “Why?” The single word came out heated.

Before he could answer, a body shimmered, slowly taking form so that Ryenne appeared in front of me.

“Don’t do this.” My pleading words made Eiran shake his head.

But I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t save one friend, only for another to die.

“Ryenne is here as you are,” he said. “Madame Richter requested an audience so she could say her farewell to you and Ryenne.”

Ryenne held a trembling hand to her lips. “I don’t understand. Why are we all here? Is Donnie going to be okay?”

“Donnie will live,” Eiran said. “Elias and Teddy will sacrifice their magic for the healer to absorb and Queen Renee has forfeited her life in exchange for Donnie’s.”

“And Grandma?” Ryenne asked, her eyes too wide as she took everything in.

“It was my time,” Grandma Richter said, taking Ryenne’s hands in hers. “My death wasn’t part of the payment.”

“Payment?” Ryenne’s attention bounced between all of us. “What’s going on, Ted?”

I sighed, my heart cracking. “Donnie gets to live. But right now, you have to say goodbye to Grandma.”

Grandma Richter reached for me, and I took her weathered hand, trying to remember the weight and feel of it. My eyes filled when she turned to Ryenne and hugged her.

“I love you, my girls,” Grandma told us, Ryenne clinging onto her in quiet torment.

“The both of you and Donnie are my greatest blessing.” Grandma Richter pulled away, that same understanding smile on her face when she faced Elias.

“Elias, you sweet, incredible boy, thank you for all you’re sacrificing for Donnie.

You and Teddy keep lovin’ each other the way you do. ” She winked at me.

Renee glanced up again, her form shimmering in and out of focus just as Grandma Richter disappeared.

I searched the ethereal surroundings, and just as I was about to call for Grandma Richter, Renee spoke.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Theodora. It’s selfish and only serves to ease my conscience, but please tell Alastor that we are sorry for what we caused.

I am sorry.” She held a slender hand to her chest.

Before I could reply, her form glowed with a vibrant violet light before she disappeared.

From behind me, Elias stammered out a breath. When I felt the weight of his head rest on my shoulder, I turned to hold him. He wrapped me in his strong arms, caging me against him while I felt his heart shatter once again.

Grief.

So much horrendous and painful grief.

When would we stop losing people we loved?

When would we know any peace?

When would the enemy stop stealing from us?