Page 58

D onika paled, her lungs filling with one last gasp before her head fell against the stone terrace. For one brief moment, right as Donika took her last breath, her eyes had turned as blue as the sky.

It was as if the dark magic had bled out of her, leaving nothing but the innocent girl she had once been behind.

She was still.

I slid Stormslayer free, and the ichor continued to pour forth as the life force left her. I stood, letting the rain cascade over me and cleanse the ichor from my skin. It stung where it flowed over my open wounds before it fell to the ground.

I could hear the roars of the battle below us.

“Donika is dead!”

“Long live the queen!”

“Queen Diana!”

“Long live the queen! ”

I had thought I would feel victorious when this was all over. What I felt was nothing. I was hollow. I didn’t have the heart to turn from the terrace to glance at the battle below. I was sure it was coming to an end now that the Black Heart was dead.

But not all of her.

My gaze met Annelise’s, and a tear slipped down her cheek, mingling with the rain that still fell from the sky, cleansing us all. Zion stood first, gripping Annelise and tugging her with him. He held her for a long moment, and I glanced away.

I couldn’t imagine what it felt like to watch your own daughter die…

and by your other daughter’s hand, no less.

There was no helping Donika if even the Mother couldn’t save her, but that didn’t make it any easier.

It didn’t erase the memories of her when she was young, her hair flowing out behind her as she swung from the old oak tree outside of the Siraleth cottage.

Her death didn’t erase the feelings of failure they must be drowning in.

I turned towards the doors and Tess rushed forwards, enveloping me in her arms before I could fall. I sent a beat of energy through the bond and felt Nik respond in kind. He was still down below, but he was coming. I didn’t have the energy to go down to the battlefield to find him.

Tess held me up, her arms gripping me tightly as she ran her hand across my wet scalp, soothing me. She hushed into my ear, telling me it was alright, when it most certainly didn’t feel alright.

I turned to Annelise, a question in my eyes.

What do we do now ?

Donika was dead, but a piece of her still lived in Annelise because of the spell she had performed. She could find a way to resurrect herself if we didn’t manage to kill that piece, too.

“I’m sorry, Diana.” The words that left Annelise’s mouth were barely above a whisper.

My brow creased in confusion.

Sorry for what? We had all known what a burden it would be to wield the blade against Donika. I had been prepared. Or I had thought I was…

Zion pulled away from her, a hand on her shoulder. He pressed his mouth to hers, capturing her in a passionate kiss. When he pulled away, Annelise met his gaze with a fierce nod.

Before I could even register what was happening, before I could free myself of Tess’s arms and stop them, Zion had grasped both sides of Annelise’s head with his large hands, placing one last kiss against her forehead.

In a movement so fast I almost missed it with my tear-stained eyes, he snapped her neck.