Page 77 of Oak & Ember

Cyrus had given his entire soul for her.

She had known, in the Realm of Gaia, the lengths he would go to to save her. She’d fallen down the mountain, and he had used the soul magic inside him to save her. “How could he have done this?” she moaned.

“Wouldn’t you have done the same?” Lagos prompted.

“Of course I would have,” Prue said at once, her voice strained. And she froze.

She already had. This was the same sacrifice she had made for Mona. She would have done anything to bring back her sister. Even give up her own magic, her own soul.

And if it had been Cyrus instead of her who lay dead from the destruction of Pandora’s magic, then Prue would have done it all over again to save him.

Her thoughts turned to Gaia, and the pride and sorrow shining in her eyes. She, too, had sacrificed everything to save her daughters. She’d had a glamorous life in Elysium. A throne. A husband.

But she’d given it all up to keep Prue, Mona, and Pandora safe.

Now that third daughter was coming for her because of a price she had never meant to pay.

Tears stung her eyes, falling freely once more. She pressed a kiss to Cyrus’s temple, cradling his head in her lap. She sat there, holding him as if she could breathe his magic and power back into him.

Her head snapped up as Gaia’s words returned to her once more: I know with our magic, the magic of the earth, we are able to breathe life into beings.

“Holy shit,” she whispered, her eyes snapping to Lagos, who cocked his head at her in question. Still watching him, Prue lifted her hand and summoned her earth magic.

The ground cracked beneath her feet, and vines, roots, and brambles burst from the fissure, springing to life beneath her.

Lagos stumbled back a step, grunting in surprise.

Prue huffed a breath that was half relief, half shock. Her magic was here, and it was more powerful than ever. She wiggled her fingers, and white sparks danced between them, lighting the dark space around her. The power came effortlessly; she only had to will it to life, and it was there.

Her gasp melted into a laugh. “How is this possible?”

“You died,” Lagos said slowly. “Magic changes with death.”

Prue stared at him. Had Mona experienced the same thing when she had returned? They hadn’t been together for long enough for Prue to notice.

“It’s still earth magic,” Prue said. “The magic of life. I can bring his magic back.”

A grunt mingled with an animal-like growl as Lagos strode toward her. “Are you sure that’s wise, my queen? Tampering with this kind of magic has untold consequences, as we’ve already seen.”

“If this works, do you know what this means?” Prue’s tone sharpened as she looked up at Lagos. “This means I can rebuild the Underworld. Just as Gaia created the mortal realm.”

Lagos stilled at her words. “Are you sure?”

“No. That’s why I need to try it with Cyrus first.”

Lagos lifted a hand and scratched the top of his head, another snort puffing from his snout. “Yes. I’m beginning to see you and Cyrus are much the same in that respect. I cannot honestly say I’m surprised.”

Prue laughed weakly and sat up straighter, still holding Cyrus’s head in her lap. “All right. How do I do this? Goddess, Mona was always the better one with spells…”

“I don’t think it’s Mona you need,” Lagos said slowly. “She has never restored a person’s magic before, has she?”

Prue’s eyes darted to his. “No,” she said. “But my mother has.”

“Gaia cannot come here,” Lagos said at once. “The magic—her magic—forbids it.”

“Then I will use her magic to allow it,” Prue said through gritted teeth. She sucked in a deep breath and spread her arms wide around her. With all her energy, she focused on that space between worlds, where she had last seen Gaia. She remembered the light in her mother’s eyes, the despair in her voice as she told her tale, and the hope in her smile when she spoke of Prue and Mona.

In her soul, she knew the words she needed to speak. After all, Gaia’s earth magic flowed through her veins. The very magic that was the key to breaking the curse. Perhaps Gaia could not free herself… but Prue could.

---