Page 116 of The Mating Quest

The power was inside you allalong.

“Gideon’s talisman contains so much magick, my love. So much! We can absorb it together and bestrong.”

Ilana remembered the past, how she’d held the talisman only for a moment, marveling at its beauty and then fearing its power. Knowing it was not for her. But in that moment… had she absorbed Gideon’spower?

Her eyes widened as the truth hit her.I was the one who held the power all along.Cormac was a Dark Fae, but his magick was simple. When she’d gone to the Fae Winter Court to beg the king to free the ogres, she’d met Cormac and overheard…damnit what did she hear the other courtierswhisper?

Cormac is the king’s aide because Gideon felt sorry for him. Cormac is a Dark Fae who has littlepower.

He siphoned the power from me. Made me believe I was the weakone!

The Dark Fae used Gideon’s talisman todestroy.

She wanted the power to mend andheal.

The revelation stunned and relieved her. Ilana felt free for the first time in years. Laughing, she pointed her sword at her formerlover.

“Never. I follow the light. You are only about the darkness. And you always were weak.” As a final taunt, she added, “And the worst lover I’ve ever had. Besides I bet your breath stillstinks.”

Screaming, Cormac lunged at her and caught her off balance, his talons raking furrows on her cheeks, barely missing her eyes. The stinging pain almost threw her off focus, but recovering, she ducked his nextblow.

Had to kill him, cut off his head so he could not harm others. Not the helpless, sweet sprites or the fairies that sang at dusk of love and laughter. Nor the gentle shifters who came to these woods for refuge and peace. Or the funny little mushrooms that told silly jokes all day long. Cormac was violence and blood and death. Notpeace.

Yet she still hesitated at lobbing Starsong, delivering that final blow. The throbbing pain of her broken ribs and torn flesh echoed the deeper pain in herheart.

Why couldn’t you loveme?

Cormac turned and ran, the feather in hishand.

Chasing him through the burned meadow, knowing if he reached the trees, Ilana feared losing sight of him. Every muscle burned with the chase. Pain exploded in her ribs. She could almost feel the jagged shards poking her insides. Furious.Let the angerflow.

“Cormac, you afraid ofme?”

As he turned and then went to charge her, Ilana threw her dagger. It slammed into hisstomach.

He dropped the feather. Working through the burning pain, the broken ribs making it a struggle to breath, she raced to thetalisman.

Cormac was writhing on the ground, struggling to reach thefeather.

“Not on my watch,” she told him, kicking away hishand.

Then she sank the tip of Starsong into Gideon’s talisman. The feather turned bright red, then exploded into a shower of gold sparks, drifting on thewind.

It wasgone.

Cormac screamed and then lay still, moaning. ButEthan…

Horror filled her as she turned and saw a gray mist advancing toward Ethan. In the mist were gray translucent figures with snapping, tiny mouths filled with sharp teeth. Long, stringy tentacles emerged from theirbodies.

TheAnam Cailltewas coming to drain his magick. Ethan mentioned he avoided the Dark Kingdom for this reason and now he would pay the ultimateprice.

Screeches split the air as the mist whirled closer. On the ground, bleeding from his wounds, Ethan struggled to stand. Cupping his hands to his mouth, heyelled.

“Run Ilana! Saveyourself!”

Rising, he faced the mist, barreling straight at him. Then he ran, in the opposite direction of her, drawing themaway.

Ilana cried out as the mist enveloped Ethan. They fell upon him, the tiny mouths gnawing and gashing him, sucking away his magick. Ethan tried to bat them away, but his arms fell to his sides. He screamed, a heartwrenching cry of pain anddefeat.