Percy shook his head. Slowly, he showed me the mark on his wrist, reminding me what the bloodbond meant. Ardax and Percy couldn’t attack her either. They were bound to her in life and death.
Percy’s nostrils flared, and he raised his chin again in the barest of nods. He was giving me permission to kill her . . . and him by extension.
My eyes flickered to Ardax, and he gave me a slow blink. Another yes.
Grace smiled. “Okay. Ardax, Percy, hold her.”
Ardax grimaced as he tried to fight the order, but he grabbed my left wrist, Percy grabbed my right, and I was forced down onto my knees. Grace walked back over to Nathin’s body and pulled the dagger out of his chest.
She stared at the bloody blade in awe before bringing it close to me. “Drag her down there. Her life will be the last sacrifice needed to open the portals. We don’t want her death to be in vain, do we?”
She looked toward the portrait hall. “Where have my armies gone?” she seethed. “What have you done?”
I raised my head as the shimmer grew closer. “I did what I was supposed to do, Grace. Distract you.”
“I’m going to kill you,” she said, spit covering her lip. She raised the dagger, and I flinched.
The air around Grace shimmered as Lorn appeared out of thin air, his short sword plunging deep into my sister’s back.
The dagger fell from her hand and she gasped, slipping to her knees, and staring at me wide-eyed in disbelief at the blade that was coming out of her front. “Y-you, stabbed me?”
“No, I didn’t raise a hand against you. My godfather did.”
Grace coughed, and a gruesome smile crossed her face. “You weren’t the one to kill me. You’ll never be whole or all-powerful.”
I reached for Percy’s hand, and he threaded his fingers through mine, then I turned to Ardax and held out my other hand. He didn’t hesitate to take it. “I am complete,” I said.
Grace choked, and I could see her life fading. “I’m the more powerful sister.” Her gaze settled on the paintings. “I almost did what he could not. My armies would’ve been strong enough. I did it. I could’ve taken the seven kingdoms. They would’ve been proud.”
Allemar and King Leonel never valued her. They used her. I felt pity for a girl who had two fathers and couldn’t gain their love without resorting to destroying herself and others. She was trying to fulfill two family legacies, and neither one would have loved her, no matter what she did.
“No, you wouldn’t have gained the kingdoms. My sisters and I would have stopped you.”
“Your. . . sisters?” she choked out, confused.
“We are the daughters of Eville.”
Her eyes widened with understanding, and she let out a humorless huff. “I never stood a chance then.”
I reached for her hands and clasped them in mine. “Grace, you had the chance to be the greatest sister, but you chose power over love. Be at peace.”
Grace’s eyes flickered, and I saw a tear in her eye. “My sister.” She clutched my hands and then breathed out her last breath.
I turned and buried my face into Percy’s chest while he held me close.
“How are we not dead?” Ardax asked Lorn.
“Because Honor is still alive,” Lorn answered. “One twin survives. So half of the bond is still intact.”
Ardax’s lips pinched together, and he glared at me.
“Oh what? Did you want to die?”
“It would have been a glorious death.” Ardax turned his back to me and placed his hands on his hips. “Now, I’m indebted to you.”
“I can’t believe you,” I snapped. “Are you complaining about being alive? Instead of moping that you’re not dead, why don’t you celebrate? You can go kiss Rulah now.”
“It’s not worth it if she doesn’t love me back.” Ardax turned and pointed a finger at Percy.
“Oh, I think she does,” Percy countered, and the two of them argued.
I walked away from them and stared down at the dais. Underneath it was the ley line. The one tainted years ago by a sorcerer of my bloodline and an elven king that wanted power. This was what bound Percy and Ardax to be Denizens of the sacred hollow. This was what bound all southern elves into a reclusive life of guardianship.
“I wonder.” I took the steps down and was surprised to see that all that remained of the dead was dust. It appeared the repercussions of Grace using the deviated magic from this ley line turned the fallen princesses and elves into nothing more than ash.
“Honor, what are you doing?” Percy called down to me as I kneeled onto the dais. “Stop! What are you doing?”
I turned to look up at him. “Righting a wrong.”
“Don’t!” he cried out.
I closed my eyes and reached for the tainted ley line and pulled it into me. A flashback from when I was young filled my mind. I had seen the gold lines of magic. It was so beautiful and warm, but the magic here was broken.
I knew what I had to do. Deep in my heart, I had the answer to fixing it. It had been there in my mind ever since I’d taken magic from Percy. His magic was of this hollow. It called to me.
The earth rumbled beneath me, and the last few remaining pillars fell.
Percy grabbed me to him, clasping my face in his hands. I opened my eyes to see his fear. “No, you can’t, Honor. Hundreds have gone before you, and all of them have died trying. They turn to dust.”
I smiled, my cheeks pressing into his palms. “That’s because they were mages. I’m not.”
“Don’t risk it. It’s too dangerous. You can’t fix this alone.”
“But that’s the thing . . .” I smiled as more tears filled my eyes. “I’m not alone.”
A clear and forceful melody echoed across the water, and I knew the magical voice of my sister, Meri. She added her power into me with her song, singing a thread of magic. It floated through the air and into my chest.
A raven flew down and landed on the dais next to me, then shifted into my dark-haired, spitfire sister, Maeve. “Did you leave any fighting for us?”
“How are you here?” I whispered.
“We’re daughters of Eville. We find a way. Meri is singing and controlling the lake, bringing the others over. Lorn is already at the bank. I bet you they’ll be here in three, two . . .” She counted down her fingers just as Rosalie raced down the stairs, followed by Eden, Aura, Rhea, and Rosalie, whose serious face softened when she met my gaze.
“We’re here.” Rosalie touched my back and added her magic, not to the ley line—she poured it into me. Her magic smelled of roses, and I felt my heart flutter. One by one, they touched me and fed me their magic. Maeve’s magic was electric and sent a shock through me. Eden’s tickled like a feather across my neck. Meri’s was thunderous and angry, like the ocean, and I swore I tasted salt. Then came Aura’s, and when she touched me, I felt peace.
Rhea hung back, unsure of how to help.
“Don’t just stand there! We need to add our magic!”
My head snapped up as Rumple chastised Rhea.
“But I don’t have that kind of magic?” Rhea said.
“I’m all the magic you need,” Rumple growled at her.