Page 77 of A Fate of Ice and Lies (Fated #1)

“Kill your parents,” Leanora said, licking her lips. “Spill their blood, and my people’s vengeance is met. I won’t destroy your world or this one.”

My mother’s eyes, so much like mine, held me. A soft smile curved the tips of her lips up, and she nodded in permission, understanding.

In my hand, my sword shook. I clenched it tighter and ground my teeth together. I took a step to my mother and heaved in a gasping breath.

My father called out, and I jerked my attention to him. He shook his head, a silent no forming on his lips.

These were my parents. Imperfect in so many ways, I’d come to learn, but still my parents, who had never shown me anything but love.

My mother stretched her hand to hold my father’s, and when she went to her knees, he followed her.

“An unbreakable bargain,” I gritted out to Leanora as I kept my focus on my parents. “Tell me, on your word as a mage, that this bargain is unbreakable. ”

“Yes, whatever.” She waved her hand, unbothered by what she required of me.

Emotions swelled in my throat, and I swallowed hard in the hopes of pushing it down. But this . . . was I really going to kill my parents? Was I willing to bind myself to a bargain that would kill me if I didn’t keep my word?

I thought of Teddy. Of my friends and the fae in the dungeons. Of Nalari who’d stood and fought by my side. Of the humans, although not blameless in many ways, who shouldn’t have to die because of my parents.

I could do it for them. I had to do it for them.

“Once my parents are dead”—my voice broke, but I refused to look away from them—“you are done. No more killing. You leave my realm and the human realm in peace. That is the deal.”

And damn another realm with her torment.

“A deal, a bargain,” Leanora said with a roll of her eyes. “Unbreakable, yes.”

At her agreement, the magic binding our bargain zapped between us. Leanora stared at her hands before her surprised gaze slammed into me.

“What did you do to me?” Her temper rose with the rapid beat of her heart.

“A bargain with a fae is permanent,” I told her. “If you go back on your word, the magic binding our deal will kill you.”

Except we hadn’t agreed on terms—on when my parents had to die. It was a stupid tactic that freed me from having to kill them. It distracted her enough that I hoped it’d buy me time to figure out our next move.

Magic flashed from her fingertips, and when she lifted her hand toward me, I used my magic to block her surge of power. Pushed my own magic further, testing the limits to see how much I could strip from her. She answered my push with even more force.

Snarling, I bared my teeth at her, giving myself completely to the primal instincts that lurked beneath my skin.

I fought her, magic to magic, throwing everything I had at her but the fervor, the determination that lived within her was relentless.

I felt the fae outside Leanora's barrier trying to claw their way in. Felt George and Everly as their magic joined mine. Felt it when the lirio and nyxx attacked my friends trying to help me.

I fought Leanora. With every fiber of my being, I fought her. To save my parents, to save Teddy. To save this world. It wasn’t enough. Like Alastor had said, she was too powerful as she had hoarded and stored away magic for thousands of years, making her unbreakable.

“Your bargain,” my father said, voice clear.

Leanora began to call back her magic, still using it to shield from my attacks before I summoned mine back as well. At her silent command, her creatures settled while Everly and George caught their breath. The energy around us pulsed with anger and pain and so much hatred.

“It is our death you seek,” he continued.

I snapped my attention to him, and the anguish I felt at his absolute calm almost brought me to my knees.

“The bargain must be fulfilled,” my father said. “If either of you reject it now, it’ll kill you both.”

Believing his lie, Leanora shouted—her face turned up to the sky while the veins along her neck pulsed.

“Get your vengeance and leave my son and his people alone.” Still on his knees, my father looked every bit the king he’d always been in my eyes .

“We love you,” my mother, also on her knees, told me. “We’ve made many mistakes in our long life, but you have been our greatest joy.”

“Save our people,” my father said. “Be the king you were born to be. A king far better than I ever was.”

He bowed his head, and before my mother did the same, I saw the tears that streamed down her face.

“I love you both,” I said on a broken sob.

Just as I lifted my sword to bring it over my father’s neck, my uncle jumped to his feet. He rammed his shoulder against mine and took my sword that he used to sever my father’s head. My uncle shouted something I couldn’t make out, not with the way my heart pounded in my ears.

Something inside me fractured at the sight of my father, lying limp on the blood-soaked snow.

His head. . . Guardians help me, his head rolled only for his dull, unseeing eyes to land on me.

Damning me for allowing this, for letting Leanora have my father when only an hour ago, I’d told her brother she couldn’t have him.

What other promises wouldn’t I be able to keep before the day was over?

My mother’s wail cleaved through me as Uncle Hudson raised his sword to kill her too.

I pulled out my dagger and crashed into my uncle.

When he fell onto the ground, his back sinking into the thick snow, I pierced his chest, digging my dagger into his heart and twisting until I pulled it out, ready to stab him again.

He grabbed the back of my head, and when I pulled back, his eyes were wide. Not with terror but a plea.

“I couldn’t let you kill them,” he rasped out. “I couldn’t?—”

Realization of what he’d done for me plowed into me .

He’d killed my father, his brother, for me...so I wouldn’t have to.

Power had seemed to corrupt him in the human realm, but I had seen more of his motive now.

His choices had been taken away from him when my parents made the pact so many years before.

But he was still a warrior intent on saving his people.

And he’d just shown that in killing his own brother. For me. For our people.

He would’ve killed my mother, too. But now, now the remainder of the bargain sat heavily on my shoulders.

I couldn’t do it. I would rather fight Leanora than kill my mother.

Blood poured out of Uncle Hudson’s open mouth as he gasped for his next breath. I lowered my head to touch my temple to his. His grip on the back of my head loosened, and his hand fell to his side. Even from the distance, I heard Sama’s roar and felt the earth tremble beneath my feet.

On shaky legs, I stood, staring at my father and uncle. Both dead. The bloody dagger seemed to weigh in my hand. I dropped it. Would’ve dropped to my knees too if it weren’t for my mother’s screaming sobs that somehow held me together.

“Such theatrics,” Leanora said.

I waved a shaking hand toward them. “They’re dead.” I ignored the pang that followed those words. “Their blood spilled. The debt is paid.”

She lifted a single brow. “I said your parents. Your uncle’s death of course is a nice bonus. Kill your mother, Elias.” She angled her head to the side and waited.

I couldn’t do it. Couldn’t kill my mother. Wasn’t sure I could’ve killed my father either. Not even to save Teddy.

My shoulders hunched forward, and I couldn’t stop the tears that fell down my face .

“Please,” I said, begging for a mercy her people hadn’t been shown.

“Did you know my mother died at the hands of your father?”

With my attention on Leanora, I didn’t see my mother lunge for my dagger. I didn’t have enough time to stop her from punching that dagger into her chest. She let out one soft, final cry before her body slumped to the ground.

“Mother!” I shouted in a terrified cry.

That fractured part of my soul, where my magic lived, ripped open. Magic erupted from within me, shattering the barrier. Incinerating the creatures closest to me, all while shielding George and Everly from the worst of it.

The dragons were the first to reach us, with the thunderbirds close behind. Shots rang out from Teddy’s gun while fae carved their way through the mass of creatures. I left my sword and extra dagger for George and Everly to use while I pummeled my way toward Leanora.

Plumes of hot smoke burst from Brenton, but he kept by Teddy’s side. Not shielding her but fighting alongside her. Her eyes blazed with unrestrained anger.

Nalari’s snarl was vicious as she and the dragons unleashed themselves on the lirio and nyxx. Fiery arrows shot out while swords and daggers found their marks.

But it was Leanora I sought. Her scent I hunted for.

My fingers curled into fists, and I was upon her before she called her magic.

I slammed my fist into her face, hearing the satisfying crunch of something breaking.

Her eyes flared wide, and when her hand found my temple, black burning magic slammed into me, sending me spiraling back.

Jumping to my feet quickly, I lunged again, my magic clashing with hers.

Hers dark and powerful, mine a bright light of hope.

Of love. Something Leanora had never felt.

I ran my fingers against my palm, my magic sizzling with the promise of her eventual death twined around my magic.