Page 147 of Eternal Light

Vowing, as Their Chosen persists through blistering skin, that They will never let him suffer cruelty again, in this life or next.

As much as it is in Their power, he will be blessed.

“It is time.”

They begin to draw the tainted souls through the corrupted one’s flesh, one after the other. His soul is so bloated with death magic that several have been set free before he finally resists.

“Hey! No, that’s mine. I earned it. It’s mine!” he shouts as They release even more into the ether, the destroyed souls returning to the magic from which they were created.

Each is judged in the freeing for their transgressions—some to be reborn as Their gift for unwitting sacrifice, in hopes they will atone in a new life. Others, however, meet their last incarnation, feeding The Plain and never to be reborn again.

“We unravel your corrupted soul, Aleksander Withers. You are Unmade.”

Their corrupted child screams as They strip his evil down to the molecule, until nothing remains.

There is grief and remorse, but also relief that—finally—it is done.

They allow Their gratitude to overflow, and They let Their blessing fill Their words:

Thank you, Nix. You are Our Chosen; Our gift. Live well, child, you are blessed.

Nix feels Them go—feels the softest hand through his hair, and lips on his cheek right where They had kissed him as a child.

They may be gone from his mind, though never fully from him.

As he clings tightly to his bonds and with Jamie’s steady arms around him, he can finally let go.

***

“Back off, Fuzzball,” a woman’s voice says firmly, and it’s met with a responding growl from Rowan-wolf.

“Give him some air. I could have stayed home with the lovely Tsuki if I’d wanted to smell dog breath, Rowan.”

“Mom, Ro, be nice, please,” Nix mutters.

It’s decided: being a wolf has done no good for Rowan’s manners. It’s as if all his human niceties have been scraped away or buried under his fur. It’s not like Lauren can’t handle it, but still—what will everyone think?

There’s a chuckle and a squeeze, followed by a flood of patchouli, basil, and vanilla billowing out from beneath him. “I think they can handle it, Angel.”

It’s enough for Nix to open his eyes as the rest of his senses come online.

The sun is high over the water, slicing through the clouds in streamers of bright shades of gold, yellow, and orange. It’s ethereal. Almost divine, casting the rampart in alternating pockets of light and dark.

“I’m happy to see you in one piece, my dear,” Lauren says warmly, one of her rare smiles gracing her face. “Though I’m sorry I missed the showdown.”

Her hand moves gently over his hair, smoothing it with care, before tilting his chin up slightly, her touch gentle.

“He was epic,” Luca chimes in from beside him, wrapped in a gray blanket and sitting between Finn’s legs.

He’s holding Nix’s hand in a firm grip, but Nix can feel Finn’s fingers resting on his pulse as well.

“I have no doubt about that,” she says with a smile, then stands from her crouch. “Come on, Gideon, we best make sure things aren’t going to shit.”

Gideon’s eyes go wide at being included, but he only runs a hand over Nix’s hair before following after.

“When did she arrive?” Nix asks no one in particular, watching her walk away in her black tactical gear, her graying black hair tied in a high ponytail.

Rowan heads off in the other direction without a word.