Before I can think too hard about what to do with Gia, an anguished cry rings through the great hall.
“Don’t do it, Kirian!” Zella yells. “Don’t kill her.” Running over to Gia, she falls to her knees, weeping. “Why do families do this to each other? I’ve seen too much of it. I can’t take it anymore.”
The yellow gown she wears is dirty from being in the dungeon, and it reeks of sweat, urine, and mildew. Although I’ve never been down there, I’m willing to bet it’s pretty disgusting.
Red bands of blisters and open sores decorate her wrists where she was restrained by iron shackles. Judging by the streaks of dried blood on her arms, she was chained up for a while.
Even after this, she begs for her daughter’s life.
I know my mom would do the same for me. Not that I’d ever do what Gia did, but still. The unconditional love of a parent is endless.
“She might not be right in the heart, but I can’t imagine a world without her in it.” Tears drip down Zella’s cheeks as she takes Gia’s hand. “Is there anything you can do to change your vow, Kirian? Anything I can give you to reverse this?”
Zella’s so consumed by grief she doesn’t realize I’m standing here next to Kirian. She doesn’t know her son has already given her what she begs for.
“Mother—”
“Kirian, I have a confession to make.” Without looking up, she interrupts him. She takes a deep breath, as if what she’s about to say is difficult. Prolonging the suspense, she combs Gia’s hair away from her face, fixing the messy strands before continuing, “About ten years after the curse, we found the witches.”
Shocked, Kirian jerks back. “What?”
“They wanted Gia. They said they’d lift the curse if we gave them our daughter, but she was just a child. They wanted us to choose between the two of you, and I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it then, and I can’t do it now. Forgive me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” he rasps. “Why did you continue to let me search for them when you already knew what they wanted?”
“Your father and I hoped you could persuade them. Maybe you had something else to bargain with. After all this time, I thought Gia was safe, but they got to her anyway. Before she locked me up, she admitted she’d been working with them. I’m not trying to defend her—she’s at fault. But they saw an evil in her and took advantage of it. Don’t end her. I’ll do anything you ask.”
“It isn’t my decision anymore,” Kirian tells her.
She looks up at him, and that’s when she notices me. Her eyes go wide. “Oh, Quinn. You’re alive!” Smiling through her tears, she reaches up to grab my hand. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” I tell her honestly.
Kirian’s arm goes around my shoulders, and his gaze flits to me. “My fated mate will make a choice here, and it will be final.”
“Did you just say fated?” Zella glances back and forth between us a few times before finally settling on Kirian’s focused eyes. “You can see.”
A grin stretches over both their faces, and I blink back tears when I see mother and son looking into each other’s eyes for the first time in thousands of years.
Temporarily forgetting about Gia’s predicament, Zella jumps up and grabs his hands. Bouncing, she chants, “You can see, you can see!” Then, she pulls me into a tight hug. “You did it. It was you all along.”
Her affection makes me happy, and I giggle.
“Yep. And don’t worry—no one’s dying here today. I’ve got a better solution. If Gia likes being evil and hanging out with witches, I know a place where she can go.” I share a look with Kirian, and I know he’s thinking the same thing. “But we’ll need a spell to keep her from leaving.”
“Banishment?” Zella asks, hope in her voice. “That would be preferable to death.”
Nodding, I lightly touch her long blond locks. “This sounds weird, but I’m going to need some hair to make it happen.”
Quinn
Kirian cups my ass while we walk through the seemingly endless darkness. It isn’t necessary for him to hold me up; I’m securely strapped into the carrier.
But I like that he wants to touch me. That he can’t keep his hands off me.
The feeling is mutual.
Sliding my arms around his neck, I press my nose to the skin at the hollow of his throat and inhale.
This time, our trip to the Shadowlands was a bit different. We traveled by carriage—the non-explosive kind—and got here in a record-breaking three days.
We didn’t sleep at any of the inns and we didn’t stop to eat. Kirian personally packed up our food supplies and we slept for short periods of time inside the carriage. It was a little weird with an unconscious Gia in tow, but I knew Damon wouldn’t let her wake up.
On our way through the villages, we made time for the announcement that I’m very much alive, but not much else. To celebrate, the gnomes broke out the sugar beet vodka, but the mood was subdued. After all, some of their children are still missing. Fiona, the girl who gave me my midnight rose, is among the taken.
I tried not to let my tears show as I promised I’d get every one of them back.
A day into our journey, we ran into Torius and Kai. Or rather, they flew over us and stopped to talk. Instead of heading to Delaveria, they insisted on coming with us to make sure we had a safe journey.
Ever the faithful soldiers, there were no hard feelings on their part. They were just happy to be back in Kirian’s good graces. They’re currently waiting for us back in Aelustria.
“Almost there,” Kirian says, low.
I shiver,
