Not only did this take patience, it took power. When I finally had the last piece in place, I discovered that my magic was nearly gone. I poured what I had into Time anyway, and pain ripped through my body as the magic tried to cling to me. I had betrayed it. I had promised the time magic shelter and health, and now I was sacrificing it to repair the future. But there was no other way; I pushed it out of me and into the bond of Time.
And it wasn't enough.
As I plummeted back into my body, I saw the spiral start to fray. I knew that it would break apart. But I didn't know what would happen when it did.
It won't hold, Alaric said grimly. I'm sorry, Vervain, but Time will unravel. We've lost this battle; in a very big way.
No!
You tried your best. But Time cannot be left hanging by a thread, Alaric said sadly. We will have to find a new path forward if we still can.
I came gasping back into my body and sat up in Trevor's arms.
“Minn Elska!” Trevor shouted as he moved forward with me. “Thank goodness.”
But my eyes were set before me; on Blue. The ax had been removed, and Teharon was bent over Blue; his hands pressed to the seeping wound. Blue's skin had gone pale and he wasn't moving. Teharon looked up at me; his turquoise eyes full of apology.
“No,” I whispered as I crawled forward.
“Little witch?” Blue whispered as he stirred.
“Blue?” I stroked the hair back from his face. “Blue, it didn't work; I couldn't heal Time.”
“I never expected you to,” he admitted as he drew a shaky breath. “But I hadn't expected to die, either.”
“And you're not dying now,” I declared.
“I can feel my magic draining,” Blue said softly. “I've had to break the ties with my vampires, but I did it too late. I don't have enough power to heal myself, and I don't think your friend can help me either.”
“I'm sorry,” Teharon said. “His heart is cut in two; it's a testament to his power that he's still breathing.”
“Just long enough to say goodbye,” Blue's voice was getting faint.
“No, Blue!” I cried. “Please don't die. Take my blood.” I held out my wrist. “That will help you, right?”
“I love you, Vervain,” Blue said as he closed his beautiful eyes.
“Blue!” I sobbed and bent over Blue as I pulled his head into my lap.
As I cried, the ground started to tremble, and the Gods began to shout. I sniffed and looked up and around me. Nearby, Nyx's body lay broken on the ground; her head severed from the rest of her, and her wings bent at odd angles. A horrific looking Hades stood over Nyx along with Demeter; both of them wearing satisfied expressions. But those expressions changed as the very air around them began to vibrate.
Time is breaking, Alaric said softly. Hold on; it's going to be a bumpy ride.
I reached out for Re and Trevor, and they wrapped themselves around me.
“I failed,” I said to them. “And now Time will snap. I don't know what's going to happen.”
“It doesn't matter as long as we have this,” Re said as he laid a hand to my cheek and kissed me tenderly. “I love you forever and in all times, La-la.”
“And no one can break our mate bond, Minn Elska,” Trevor added as he nuzzled my neck.
I turned to Trevor and kissed him too.
“I love you both so much,” I said softly.
“That's all I need,” Trevor said. “Let Time crumble around us; as long as I'm holding you, I'm content.”
I don't know if we're going to survive this, V, Al said sadly. Perhaps we've finally reached the end. In light of which, I must say that it has been a profound pleasure to have known you and been a witness to your life.
Goodbye, Al, I said simply. Thank you for all you've done to help us.
“Well, this is a fucking mess.” A man appeared on the castle wall and glared down at Aion's body. He sighed deeply as the world began to waver. “Child! Infant! Moron! You can't fuck with Time like that. Time is beyond divine; it is supreme.”
He kicked Aion's body off the wall and then jumped down after him. As he leapt, a pair of white wings unfolded from his back and caught the air so that he floated gently to the ground. Aion's body landed far less gracefully... right before us.
“Who are you?” I asked the man.
The man looked at me and lifted a brow. He was old; which is strange for a god. He had a long, white beard and weathered skin, but his eyes were a piercing, youthful blue—the same color of Aion's time magic.
“Chronos,” Hades said respectfully as he stumbled over. “It's an honor.”
“Yes, yes.” Chronos waved his hand. “Just shut up and let me fix this; we don't have a lot of time to fix Time.” Chronos grimaced. “Okay; stand back, people.”
Trevor got to his feet and helped me to mine. Re followed in a daze and then helped Trevor drag Blue's body back with us. The three of us stood together over Blue—the other gods gathering close—and warily watched this man work his magic.
Chronos spread his arms and his wings lifted until their tips pointed straight to the sky. Blue light shimmered over his brilliant white feathers and then across his arms as he pulled a scythe out of thin air. He lifted the weapon aloft and then swung it down with a forceful motion. Blinding blue light blasted out from the blade as thunderous booms rolled over us.
