21. The Power of Love

21

THE POWER OF LOVE

(RIVEN)

“ G et on this altar and surrender your powers to me.”

My heart skips in my chest. “No. Rowena!”

Rowena doesn’t look at me. Instead, she stares at the altar as if contemplating Morgath’s words. Fear grips me. If I lose Rowena, there’s nothing left for me in this world. I have never loved anyone as much as I love her, and I’m willing to do anything for her.

“Okay,” Rowena says in a small voice. “I’ll do it. But there’s something I want to know.”

The whole room plunges into silence as Morgath tips her head back. “What?”

“Tell me about my father,” Rowena says, her eyes full of curiosity. For a moment, I pity her. How hard will it be to know you have a father, but he’s just like an idea to you? Rowena doesn’t know who he is, his name, what he looks like, nothing about him.

“I guess that’s fair.” Morgath shrugs. “Since your mother didn’t tell you, I will.” She chuckles darkly and returns to her seat at the head of the council. I hate that Rowena is so far away from me, but the only reason I’m not attempting to go to her is because I’m not sure what Morgath will do. My main priority is to keep Rowena safe, and for now, she is.

“Your mother fell in love with a fae sorcerer,” she says. “His name was Thandor, and he was the most powerful man in all the factions.”

Rowena gasps, and so do I. Anyone alive has probably heard the name Thandor, and legends said he was the most powerful being ever to exist. No wonder Morgath wanted Rowena’s power. If the magic of Thandor lived inside her, it meant Rowena was more powerful than she thought. No wonder she’s always been different from the other witches. No wonder she could live unaffected in the Forest of Herbs. She has Fae in her blood.

“I’ve heard of Thandor,” Rowena breathes. “He’s my father?”

“Yes,” Morgath smiles. “He was also madly in love with your mother; he gave up everything to be with her.”

“That’s why you want my powers!”

Morgath laughs. “Thandor’s magic lies dormant inside you, Rowena. You haven’t unlocked it yet and don’t know how.”

Rowena frowns. “My mother didn’t tell me. She?—”

“Because she feared what you could become if you reach your full potential. The world will be cruel to you, Rowena. You don’t need that on your hands.”

“Rowena, no!” I shout, but neither Rowena nor Morgath pays attention to me. Rowena looks like she’s hanging on to Morgath’s words, and I’m so afraid for her.

“When your mother fell in love with Thandor, the faes and witches were sworn enemies. That is why we had to banish her. Do I regret it? No. I became queen because of it.”

Rowena glares at her. “It would be a betrayal to my mother if I gave you my powers,” she said, finally realizing herself. I almost jump for joy when she shakes her head and steps back from Morgath.

“My mother’s magic lives inside of me; it will be a betrayal to give it to you.”

Morgath growls, her eyes flashing furiously. “What choice do you have, child?”

“You’ve always wanted everything my mother had,” Rowena fires. “You were never as good as she was, so you lived in her shadows, fantasizing about her life and hoping it would be yours. That is why you rallied everyone else and got her banished. You were the worst sister!”

Sister? I gape at Rowena and Morgath in shock. Rowena’s mom and Morgath were sisters?

I expect Morgath to flare up at Rowena’s accusations, but she doesn’t. In fact, she’s been all too calm; it’s almost worrisome.

“You’re right, Rowena,” Morgath says in the calmest voice. “My sister had the perfect life. She had everything, even though she didn’t deserve it. I deserved it! I was the good kid!”

Morgath shakes her head, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “Everyone praised her for her beauty, for her powers; her magic was one of the most powerful in the given; she truly had it all. Everything I wanted, she had it on a silver platter. Even the man I wanted the most in the world.”

Rowena gasps. “What do you mean?”

“Thandor,” Morgath answers. “I loved him first. I saw him first. I wanted him first!” She growls. “He was supposed to be mine, but like everything else, my sister got him instead.”

“You were jealous.”

“I wasn’t jealous. I was angry. I was furious. She took the man I wanted. He was supposed to love me. He actually liked me until he saw her. Then he forgot I even existed.”

“Were you willing to face banishment for being with Thandor like my mother did?”

“Thandor could mask himself,” Morgath replies. “He was a sorcerer. No one would have known. The same with your mother,” she smiles at Rowena. “He came to the coven all the time because he could mask his scent and identity. No one would have known if I didn’t rat her out. She took everything from me, and no one said anything. I do the same, and I’m the bad one?”

Rowena shakes her head. “And now you want her magic?”

“I not only want it, I deserve it. I’ve waited years for it, and I’m not letting you leave with it.”

“Rowena, no!” I yell a little louder, and her head snaps toward me. “Rowena, no. Don’t do it.”

I raise my arm, and the air around me warps in reprise to my magic. A translucent bridge appears, closing the gap between Rowena and me. I sprint over to their side and take her in my arms. ”Rowena, your father is always with you,” I tell her. “You carry his magic and the magic of your mother. You can’t let Morgath have it after everything she has done.”

Rowena’s eyes water. “I know, Riven, but they’re dead. You’re alive, and I don’t want to lose you, too. She can save you.”

“I don’t want to be saved if it means you lose your magic to her,” I growl. “She’s evil. She will desecrate your parent's beautiful magic.”

“I’m hurt, Prince Riven,” Morgath says from behind me. “I’ve been kind to you, and you say these hurtful words about me?”

I turn to her. “Kind to me? You’ve been anything but.”

“You’re alive, that’s something. You stepped into my turf; I should have killed you like your father kill the witches who go into the fae kingdom. An eye for an eye.”

I stand in front of Rowena. “You’re not going to kill me because my father will have your head!” I’m not sure about that, but I hope she doesn’t see through my bluff.

“The only reason you’re still standing is because Rowena is in love with you, and I’m making a bargain with her. Her powers for your life.”

“She will not give you her powers, you monster!”

“She will, or you’ll turn permanently into stone.”

“We don’t know that,” I argue. “It’s Kaelith who said that, and her words are as untrustworthy as yours.”

“Well, she was telling the truth.” Morgath takes a step toward me. “And there’s no reason to wait until the lunar eclipse tomorrow. How about I show you now?”

Morgath touches a finger to my forehead, and I open my mouth to call her off, but a chilling frost engulfs me, and I feel my body solidifying like it always does at midnight. Fear grips me, and I push Morgath away, but it’s too late. The frost covers my body, turning me into a block of granite. The only difference is I’m aware of my surroundings, even though I can’t move.

“Riven!” Rowena rushes to me, her eyes wide with pain and distress. I wish I could tell her I’m alright, but I’m stuck behind the frost.

Rowena turns to Morgath. “Release him immediately.”

“Only you can do that,” she answers. “Get on the altar and surrender your powers to me.”

No! No! No!

Rowena turns back to me, and I see the indecision in her eyes. I know deep down that she’s going to do it. It won’t be her first attempt to sacrifice herself for me.

Rowena wraps her arms around my stony body, her cheek resting on my chest. The hall is silent as a graveyard as they give her the space to make the decision herself. It’s obvious to them, too, that she will do anything to save me. I’ve never felt so hopeless and useless. I vowed to save her, but look how helpless I am. I am not worthy of her. I do not deserve her.

“Give me your word,” Rowena says shakily, glaring up at Morgath. “Give me your word that you will set him free if I give my powers to you.”

Morgath grins. “You have my word,” she says easily. So easily that I don’t believe her. “Riven’s healing is right there on that altar as well. You just have to trust me.”

Rowena glances at me again, and I want to scream for her not to do it, but my body remains frozen. She suddenly nods and turns to the altar.

“Okay. What do I do?”

There’s an excited buzz amongst the council, and Morgath raises her hand to silence them. “Quiet!”

When they obey, she smiles at Rowena. “All you have to do is climb up the altar and place your hand on the rune.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

Rowena takes a deep breath and walks toward the altar. With every step she takes close to it, my heart pounds. She climbs up the steps, her back straight, and without another backward glance, she reaches the altar.

“Put your hands on the runes,” Morgath says with gleaming eyes. “Both hands.”

It feels like I’m suffocating behind the stone, but there’s nothing I can do other than watch Rowena slowly lift her hands and place them on the rune.

“You gave me your word, Rowena,” she says, refusing to glance in my direction. “Set him free.”

“You have my word.” Rowena drifts toward the altar and stops only a few feet away. The hall goes silent as she drags in a deep breath and bursts into incantations. At this point, I know nothing can be done, and I’m about to lose Rowena.

With every note Morgath speaks, her voice rises higher until she hits a crescendo. The earth beneath us trembles, and a dark shroud hangs in the air. Rowena looks terrified, and my heart breaks seeing her like that —alone and helpless. Suddenly, a bright light bursts through the room, forcing me to close my eyes.