25. Chapter Twenty-Five

Iam horrified.

How did I possibly miss planning for mortum se? I should have kept Anellah away from Andras. He would not have been able to call the magic unless she was near him. This is my fault—I have let my goddess down, and now she struggles to fight.

I cannot help her, nor can I move. The magic forces me to watch my goddess get repeatedly hit by Andras, as he seems to maintain his stamina while hers weakens. I understand she is trying hard; maybe harder than I have ever seen her fight. It hurts me to know that she is not fighting for herself…but for me, Casmir, and Emrys.

The fae males mutter next to me, unable to figure out what is happening. I suppose I should explain what Andras has done…I just did not wish for them to know they could speak to me through the bond.

They do not ever cease speaking with their mouths, so I know my peace would be disturbed regularly from their ridiculous thoughts. Anellah is right to refer to them as insufferable. Though they do feed me well and play with me when I can stand their presence…

I do have a responsibility to them. Just as I do Anellah. I sigh deeply and attempt to adjust in the magic's hold. If it is going to keep me here for an indeterminable amount of time, it could at least not press my wings at such an angle. The muscles along my back strain, but I refuse to let the magic hold all of my weight and relax. I must stay alert, regardless that it no longer matters.

"If I reach for my blade, perhaps I can cut through the magic." Emrys chuckles at the prince in a desperate, defeated sort of way. "Maybe it will work, Em…it almost feels sentient—it's worth a shot."

I roll my eyes and reach for their lights. Stop wasting your energy. There is no way out of this until one of them kills the other.

Casmir tenses next to me, attempting to turn his head in my direction. "Xamira." I do not respond. "Did you just speak to us?" There are times I wonder how he was chosen to be a prince…then I am reminded that the royal title is inherited, so all makes sense again.

Who else would speak in your head, prince?Perhaps I am being rude. I have good reason to be. My goddess slams into the transparent wall, coughing up blood before pushing her trembling body up. There will be no magic allowed inside. She will not heal and was already weakened when Andras called the magic.

But she is strong. I must believe she has the strength to push through. Movement near the opposite side of the magic catches my eye. Hale watches his daughter with hopeful devastation, his head tilted. He is much like me. He wishes to believe in Anellah, though we both understand that the probability of all on our side dying today is quite high.

"Why haven't you told us you could do that?" I snort, though it sounds more like a deep growl.

You can be fairly annoying at times.Emrys belts out a laugh loud enough to garner the attention of the enemies and allies around us. You should not be laughing, captain. It is you who does not stop whining about things. The irony of that behavior is not lost on me. This time Casmir laughs, both of them earning angry looks and words.

I have reason to speak with you both. You do not comprehend what is happening here.

"Obviously," Emrys mutters. We all seem to be on edge.

"Yes, what do you mean ‘until one of them kills the other'?"

I briefly explain what Andras has done, careful with my words when I describe what happens after. Against my attempts, they both seem to grow more agitated.

"You're telling me that if Nell dies, not only do we go with her, but so does every one of our people here?"

Correct.

"But if she's able to take Andras down…" Casmir continues for his captain.

Correct.

They fret over that information for several minutes before Emrys speaks again. "You are not very talkative, Xamira."

I am not. He laughs and babbles on about how he will talk even more if we make it through this.

I should have let them sit in their own worry. This is the price I pay for being generous to my goddess's soul bonds.