Chapter 16

16

M alcolm pounded on the great wooden door of Corrier's house. He'd left Sofia at Aurora's flat on the university campus. He'd return to help her recruit assistance, but first, he had something to do. This would hopefully only take a few minutes and then he'd be able to return to Sofia with news that would bury their troubles.

Cold wind whipped down the valley, making this part of Norway seem more desolate than he remembered it.

Or maybe, it was his situation.

His heart raced as he waited for the door to open. Now that he'd committed to this plan, nerves and anticipation thrummed beneath his skin.

What if there wasn't a way to forfeit his warlock's power and stop being an Oath Breaker?

The thought sent a chill over his skin.

That was not an option. He'd find a way around this. Once the battle was over and he had no use for his immense power, he'd forfeit it. There would be a way. There had to be .

Finally, the door swung open to reveal the same woman who had opened it on his earlier visit with Sofia. Her green eyes widened at the sight of him.

"You return so soon," she said.

"Indeed. Corrier?"

She nodded and stepped back into the hall. The sense of familiarity washed over him again at being in Corrier's home. He'd spent so long here. Met Sofia. Made stupid decisions.

"Malcolm." Corrier's warm voice carried down the stairs. His cloak flowed behind him as he walked, presenting an impressive figure. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Malcolm nodded. "Could we speak in your study?"

"Of course." Corrier led the way, his steps quick.

Malcolm accepted the glass of whisky Corrier handed him, but ignored it. "I need to no longer be an Oath Breaker."

Corrier's eyes widened and the glass halted halfway to his lips. He lowered it. "That's not possible. Warlocks are Oath Breakers. That's the curse. There's no way around it."

"Then I need to no longer be a warlock." It didn't phase him a bit to throw away his power. Not like it once would have. Now, with Sofia on the line, he'd give it up in a second.

"Ah. It's Sofia, isn't it?"

Malcolm nodded sharply.

"I wondered when I saw you here last. In fact, I wondered when you were an apprentice. I wasn't surprised when she opted out." His gaze searched Malcolm's. "In fact, I was a bit surprised when you decided to break your vow to Sofia to become a warlock. But then, there's your family."

Darkness settled over Malcolm at the mention of his family. He hadn't seen them in centuries, not since he'd really understood the pain of losing Sofia. After that, it'd been easy to separate himself from them. But not before. Not when it would have made a difference.

"I made a mistake," Malcolm said. "A terrible one. Now I need out. No longer a warlock, no longer an Oath Breaker."

Corrier's face fell. At the sight, a cold sweat broke out on Malcolm's skin.

"A warlock's magic always comes at a price. It's a power that is not inherent like that of a witch or a sorcerer. It's greater, but at greater cost. As you know, the strongest spells take something from the warlock. Becoming a warlock took sacrifice and abandoning the path would also require sacrifice. But there's only one way out." Corrier's voice was grave. "The greatest sacrifice."

Death.

"Death," Corrier said.

It was a blow to hear, nearly sucking the wind from him.

"But not just any death. A death in sacrifice. Else you'll be a warlock and an Oath Breaker in the afterlife as well."

Malcolm just stopped himself from crushing the crystal. "Then there's no way I can be with her?"

"No. Not short of death, and then, only if she goes to the same afterworld as you. Her beliefs would have to match yours. You knew this when you signed up, yet you did it anyway."

Malcolm dragged a hand down his face.

This was real. And there was no escape.

"Don't try to be with her," Corrier said. His tone was sharp, as if Malcolm were still his pupil. "It will end badly. You remember what happened to Laira. And to those who came before her."

Malcolm's jaw clenched .

"And Sofia is in danger now, is she not? Her village under a curse by the High Witches?"

Malcolm nodded. "They'll attack in three days."

Corrier gripped his arm hard, fingers digging in. "You must not fall in love with her. Make no commitments. She's already in danger. Fate will take this opportunity to tear you apart. Our world is dangerous. There are many opportunities for a cursed union such as yours to fail, but this is just asking for it."

A cursed union.

Sofia sat on the plush red couch in Aurora's flat, Kitty at her side. Malcolm had gone to do some kind of errand and she'd been too distracted to ask. He hadn't seemed like he wanted to share. As soon as he'd left, she'd felt the tattoo connection between them break. She'd grown used to it and really only felt it when he arrived in her vicinity or left, but it was still odd.

She bounced her knee as she waited for responses to their requests for help. Most were made by phone, though in some cases, allies needed to be tracked down via aetherwalking. They already had Esha and Warren's promises of help, now she awaited assistance from Aurora's other colleagues.

Gods, how she prayed that the council members were having luck convincing their factions. There were so many Weres, vamps, and fae in the world, but they weren't all a united front. They couldn't count on the entirety of the Were or fae population to come to their aid, but those Mytheans who lived in her village often had friends and family in other places who would step in to save those they loved.

And fates, it was so necessary now. Every Mythean in her village had a target painted on her head. A target drawn by her own ancestor. Her own blood.

It made rage sizzle in her chest, fighting the despair that tried to drag her under. It would not win. They had a lot on their side.

Aleia was in Aurora's bedroom, sitting on the floor and using her seer's vision to try to get a glimpse of the battle to come. Though she wasn't all-seeing, her visions were the most reliable of any seer's. Though it was almost impossible to circumvent fate, Sofia believed in being prepared.

A moment later, Aurora appeared in the living room, three people at her side.

"Found them!" she said. "Loki and Sylvi were in Mnemosynia. Vivienne had to take me to get them."

"Mnemo-what?" Sofia asked.

"Mnemosynia," said the tall, dark haired man with a wicked smile. "A place of memory on the abandoned afterworld of Moloch. It's for lost souls waiting to be reincarnated. I'm Logan. Though everyone insists on calling me by my better-known name."

He stepped forward and extended his hand. She shook it.

"I'm Sylvi." The tall blonde at his side smiled, then tipped her head toward the statuesque brunette standing nearby. "This is Vivienne."

"Hi," Vivienne said. She extended her hand. "Nice to meet you. Sorry you're in a bind."

"I am. But if you're here, I assume you're willing to help?" Hope fluttered in her chest. Logan was a full god, Sylvi a demigod. They were powerful. And Vivienne—whatever she was—looked willing to help, and that's exactly what Sofia needed.

"Yes," Logan said. "Aurora helped us once. We're happy to return the favor. And I don't like what the High Witches are doing."

"Bitches," Aurora said. "Can't keep their greedy hands to themselves. That's the problem with Mytheans whose magic comes from destruction. They're wild cards. They play by the rules for a while, but eventually they pull something you don't expect."

"Thank you," Sofia said. "Really. Having a god and a demigod on our side will really help."

"Andrasta will help too," Aurora said. "And her man, Camulos. Ana and Cam, they prefer to be called. That's another god and demigod. Esha just told me the news. Ana is her best friend, so she's got pull there. And Vivienne here is a Sila Jinn. She can access afterworlds."

Ah, so that's why she'd been the one to get Logan and Sylvi out of Mnemo-wherever.

"I'm pretty new to the world of Mytheans, but I'm good with a sword and have some other nifty powers, like traveling to afterworlds. And frankly, I like a good battle." Vivienne grinned.

"Thank you, so much," Sofia said.

"Okay," Aurora said. "At least a dozen powerful Mytheans associated with the university have agreed to help. There's one more that I want to check with. I'm headed out to do that. I'll let you know if I have any luck."

Aurora left, along with Vivienne, Sylvi, and Logan .

Sofia was about to get a drink from the kitchen when Aleia appeared in the doorway to the bedroom, her face white and her eyes stark. She supported herself on the doorway.

Fear shot through Sofia. "What did you see?"

Aleia opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She tried again, whispering, "Your—your death. In the battle."