Page 179 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“She said…” He squinted. “The gates and rifts must be destroyed.” He curled his tiny hands into fists. “And that… she has to deal with Dad to do that. It’s the only way.”

I had a feeling when Syera referred to dealing with Dad that she actually meant murdering him.

Wild bent close to the toddler in my arms. “Your mama said not to enter the demon realm?”

Adeuto shook his head. “Not yet. Oh! Here.”

I put him down so he could shove a chubby hand into his robe. He drew out a slip of parchment.

“Was meant to do this part first,” he muttered.

I took the message and unfolded it. I couldn’t read a single word of it at first because I was staring at my sister’s handwriting. Her hideous fucking chicken-scratch handwriting that Grandmother had hated.

“Syera wrote this,” I hushed, touching the words with trembling fingers.

There weren’t many of them. Trust my twin to feel like I’d just put together the story from a few lines.

But she’d written these words, and I finally let myself believe that Syera had lived. And possibly gone through hell ever since. I mean, why else would she be trying to kill the father of her child?

I read the letter in silence, considering the presence of my nephew.

Dearest sister,

I am alive.

Wait until I send for you. Do not come now.

Be ready to fight.

If he is not defeated, then all supernaturals will fall.

Please look after my heart. I would trust him with no one else.

My love, my apologies, and my hope,

Syera

45

“We are ready for you,” Winona said from the open doorway.

I was sitting in my original esteemed quarters where Varden had moved to in the weeks before his death. “Did you have any idea what he’d planned?”

Varden entered the battle with the demons with an agenda. I’d strung together a series of his past comments that may have hinted at his intention, but that he’d sacrifice his life had never once crossed my mind.

“No, none of us did.” Winona took a breath. “He was keeping a secret from us all.”

I placed the gold magnifying glass back on his desk. “He was?”

“He’d sworn Serene to secrecy.” Winona’s voice softened. “Varden was dying. He lingered too close to the demon gate for too long. The injuries he’d sustained were irreversible.”

Oh, Varden. Why didn’t you tell me? Had he intended to? Spyne had interrupted him during one of our last conversations. Did Varden mean to tell me then?

“I don’t know if that makes what he did better,” Winona remarked. “But I, for one, am happy he chose his end and protected those he loved. That sits better with me.”

I nodded. “Me too.” Then I sighed. “Let’s go.”

We walked toward the eating chamber, and I felt the weight of my relics on me. Their weight was calming in a storm that was anything but. The fallout of the battle had proven a harrowing and confronting and grieving process.

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