Daegal’s face flashed before my eyes. That was the only reason I was allowing this to happen. If there was even the smallest chance that he and Ryllae were still alive, I would do whatever it took to help them.
Even so, my lungs tightened as Myhhena continued to call more magic from herself. Anticipation thickened the air until breathing was nearly impossible.
Then, the pitch of Myhhena’s voice changed. It deepened, holding echoes of dozens of beings within it as she cried out in the Common Tongue, “Thelrena and Kydona, hear us now: If there is any hope of restoring the balance, we need to know if these Chosen still live.”
The golden ribbons vibrated, and Myhhena shifted back to the ancient language. She spoke so quickly that her words sounded like a babbling stream of water. Extending her twiggy hand into the center of the circle, she closed her fist.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then, the halfling cried out, grabbing at her breast. “What?” Purple ribbons burst forth from her chest, filling the air. Moments later, Maiela inhaled sharply as silver magic slid out of her, joining her wife’s magic.
The bitter taste of alarm flooded my senses as Aileana jolted. I grabbed the hilt of my sword, snarling as green threads rushed out of the center of my mate’s body, joining the golden ribbons swirling around us all.
All three elves fell to their knees, but Myhhena showed no signs of stopping. The curtain of golden magic was so thick, I could barely see through it.
A burst of pain came through the mating bond.
“That’s it,” I growled. “I’m putting a stop to this.”
No,Aileana said through our connection.It’s okay. I’m fine.
I turned to look at her. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she was far too pale. Her hands trembled where they rested on her knees, and Myhhena continued to yank green ribbons from Aileana’s chest.
It’s not, I seethed.
“I promise, I’m fine,” Aileana rasped out loud.
She didn’t look fine. She looked like she was on the edge of Fading. The dragon shifted within me, and red edged my vision. I could feel my grip on the beast loosening as an inferno ran through my veins, and I snarled.
“Stand down, dragon,” Myhhena snapped. “It’s working.”
What good was her magic if it killed my bonded mate?
Trust me, Aileana said through gritted teeth.
Those words echoed in my mind.
Trust me.
I trusted my mate with all my heart. It was the duplicitous Spirit of the Woods that I did not trust. But for Aileana, I would stand down. For now.
Green, gold, purple, and silver magic churned in a maelstrom as Myhhena chanted. A low moan left Aileana’s lips, and the sound was a dagger to my heart.
The hilt of my sword twisted in my grip, the metal turning malleable beneath my anger. As if she knew how close I was to shutting all of this down, Myhhena interrupted her chant to pin me with her mossy green eyes.
“Be still,” she said. “It’s almost over.”
Her words were meant to placate, but they did nothing for me. I growled, moving to rise, when Aileana gripped my knee. Her knuckles turned white, those markings on her hands standing out even more.
“I’m okay,” she said.
Forcing myself to hold on to her words, I breathed deeply. Aileana was Mature. She was strong. If she said she could do this, then I believed her.
Fighting every one of my instincts, I waited.
And waited.
Each second felt like an hour, but eventually, the Spirit of the Woods stopped chanting. The ribbons hung in the air for a long, eternal moment before they melded together. A flash of white burst forth, and then Myhhena shuddered.