Page 71 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“None of that matters anymore,” Nona said. “Ara has tempted us for the last time. She’ll be in the Underworld before any of you leave this island.”

Ryvin pulled out his sword. “Threatening my mate was the wrong move.”

“No, wait.” I ran in front of him, stepping between Ryvin and Nona. “She’s not threatening me. She’s telling you the truth.”

Ryvin lowered his weapon. “What are you talking about?”

“Ara, what are you saying?” Vanth asked.

Nona watched us with a wicked smile on her lips. I looked away from her, not wanting to see her entertained expression. “It was the final challenge from Nyx. She poisoned me.”

Rvyin’s hands were on my cheeks in a heartbeat. He tilted my face up so I was looking into the swirling silver depths of his eyes. “No. That’s impossible. You’re fine. You’re here, you’re talking to us, you saved us in the cave.”

I set my hands on top of his and fought against the rising tears. “I made a choice. I could go for the antidote, or I could save you.”

“No.” Ryvin rested his forehead on mine and I couldfeel his warm breath on my face. “Please tell me this is some dark lie. Please tell me it’s not true.”

“I’m so sorry.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I couldn’t let you die.”

“I will die without you,” he said.

“No, you won’t. You promised me you’d look after my family. You promised you’d look after Athos,” I said, suddenly remembering what he’d told me. When I made my choice, none of that came to mind, but now that I was here, I remembered everything we ever said. All our stolen moments, all the times we’d been together. It had been far too short, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“Touching, really,” a new voice said.

I looked over to see another woman standing near Nona. She had the same dark hair and deathly complexion. Her cool green eyes reminded me of the first sprouts of spring.

Ryvin grabbed me, shoving me behind him. “You can’t have her. This is Nyx’s doing. It’s not her time.”

“It was her time long ago, princeling.”

Vanth drew his weapon and stood next to Ryvin. “Morta cuts, not you, Decima.”

“Morta has been compromised,” Decima replied. “Ara was supposed to leave this world as soon as she entered it. She’s had more time than she should have already.”

“Where is Morta?” Ryvin demanded. “Call her here. I know you two can do that. Get her here now.”

I set my hand on Ryvin’s arm. “It’s going to be alright.”

“It will be once I ensure that your thread can’t be cut,” he said.

There was a popping sound and for a moment, the space next to Decima was blurry. I thought maybe I was imagining things until I saw Morta materialize next to her sister.

“So many calling my name,” she said as she floated toward us.

“You can’t have her,” Ryvin said protectively.

Morta frowned, and I got the sense she wanted to speak but was holding back.

Ryvin and Vanth both moved in front of me and I shoved my way through them.

“You can’t fight off the fates.” I turned and faced them, then reached for Ryvin’s hand. “I made my choice. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

“I can’t do this without you,” he said.

“Yes, you can. You must.” I reached over and took Vanth’s hand. “You two are going to win this, then you’re both going to find happiness.”

A tear streamed down Ryvin’s cheek and he quickly brushed it away. I released their hands, then turned to face the fates, focusing my attention on Nona. “You will remove whatever extra power you bestowed on the Fae King.”

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