Ari grabbed his hand and rushed him through.
The surface of Old Earth’s moon was a true wreck. Pieces of the dome clung to the frame high above them. The litter of Mercer’s medieval abomination was floating into space. The surviving tourists were streaming into Amal’s docking hangar in a series of escape pods. Error sat in the middle of the post-battle scene like the most misfit victor in the history of humankind.
Merlin resealed them both in magical space suits, pulled the chalice out of his robes and knelt by the puddle he’d created, which was now a small skating rink of black-hard ice.
“So this is why Arthur wanted us to go back in time for a cup,” Ari said. “To access her water anywhere.”
“I told you he grew into a wise and helpful ruler.” Merlin tipped the chalice, and a bit of Nin’s lake water poured out—and kept pouring. He closed his eyes and sang the song of the spheres, a strange collection of notes that represented the movement of the planets and stars in the heavens. Ari hadn’t heard it since she was a child.
Merlin’s fingers coaxed every atom from wherever they hid in the water stores throughout the known galaxies. He didn’t stop when the bubble was as big as his body this time. From all throughout the universe, the waters of Nin’s lake gathered. They rained down through the dome, filling up the crater of the abandoned theme park, smoothing over CamelotTM until it was one more bad memory to add to Ari’s store.
Ari watched for Nin. She found the blue sword called Kairos and cleaned off her own blood on her pant leg. When she finished, she found Merlin on his knees. The lake stretched out before him. The cold of space had already frozen it solid.
“Every single atom present,” Merlin said, breathing hard.
“And how do we destroy it?”
Merlin huffed. “Now what do you think I made that sword for if not destroying closed temporal loops?”
Ari blinked hard, but she didn’t need to be told twice. Together they walked onto the slippery, mercury-silver surface. When they reached the very center, the ruined dome above gave an unfettered view of the stars. Ari held up Kairos, the sword catching the light and turning into a wonder of glittering blue.
Ari stabbed the sword into the lake at the same time that Merlin sang a note so high and clear that it seemed to turn into pure energy, shattering the surface into millions of shining pieces. The waters of time lifted around them—gently floating, finally freed. They sublimated somehow, turning from shards of seconds into the wisps between heartbeats.
And then they were gone.
Merlin slumped to the lunar surface, legs folded beneath his robes. His magic was fading with exhaustion, and Ari felt the flicker of the bubble that kept the air in and the cold out.
Ari was still radiating with adrenaline from the first-aid pill, and she shoved the sword in her belt and scooped Merlin up in her arms. “My gods, you’re a lot heavier than you were a few weeks ago.”
“No ‘you were a baby just yesterday’ jokes.” Merlin rested his head on her shoulder, and Ari didn’t care if he was twenty times the size he’d been the last time she cradled him; this was their Kai. But he was also her Merlin and connecting those dots stung in the best way. “Ari, you were fatally injured moments ago. How are you carrying me?”
“It’s either this or punching everything in sight.” Ari took slow, long steps toward Error. She locked eyes with Jordan through the cockpit and moved toward the airlock entrance to the ship, waiting for it to open.
“I can stand,” Merlin said. Ari hesitated, and he added, “I’d like to be standing on my own when I see him again.”
Ari put Merlin down on unsteady feet. The outer door opened, and they wedged themselves into the tiny space designed to be a sort of waiting room between outer space and inner home. “Last time we were in here together we were fucking with those Mercer ships, on our way to Troy. Remember?”
Merlin nodded, his reddish-gray hair falling in his eyes. “I got loose. I thought I was going to be lost to the cosmos forever and you grabbed me and hauled me back in.”
Ari squeezed him, hoping that the airlock took extra seconds to fill with air. “That’s what moms are for, Merlin.”
Merlin locked bright eyes with Ari in the tight, small space. He didn’t have to say it.
“I know, old man. Me, too.” She wrestled him into a hug, and when the inner door swung open, they blinked through tears at Jordan, Val, and Gwen.
Gwen rained her hands over their faces, kissing both of their cheeks and adding her own tears to the party. Her hands found the bloodied slice in her shirt, and she swore until Ari wrapped her up in her arms.
“I’m okay, lady. I’m okay.” Ari pulled away.
“I’m never going to forgive you.”
“Really? I thought this one was pretty good payback for the time you kidnapped yourself. Get it? I knew I had to die so I set my own parameters. You inspired me.”
Gwen’s eyes flared. “You didn’t know I had that pill.”
“True,” Ari said, kissing her. “But I knew both of you would save me. Sorry, I don’t want to miss this.” Merlin and Val were meeting each other all over again, and Ari turned Gwen’s chin with a soft knuckle so that she could watch, too.
Merlin held both of Val’s hands. He was trying to find words and failing miserably. Odd nouns were just popping out. Val leaned in to kiss Merlin, and Merlin leaned back a little. “I have to tell you something! It might change your mind about… me.”
“If this is about you being the magical time baby, and the fact that your moms are my best
