Page 94 of Princess Avenged

She shakes her head, but then sighs, as if she doesn’t see the point in fighting me on this. Good. Neither of us can prove we’re right. And I like that Ember’s being reasonable about it. She knows when a debate can’t be won.

“So, for arguments sake,” I say slowly, “let’s say we find the sword, does it really need to be Ana who wields it?” That part of this yarn seems ridiculous. I’ve already been planning to stab Phil for Ana. Doing that would kill her.

“It has to be Ana,” Ember’s eyes fill with sorrow. “Only the marked one, wielding the marked weapon can slay this demon.”

“Fine.” I still don’t believe that.

She shifts her position. She’s frightened. “But that’s not everything.”

“Tell me then.”

“Let’s say we go along with your list of hypotheticals.” She shakes her head like that part is already impossible. “Let’s say you three survive the crossing. And let’s say, by some miracle, Ana stumbles onto the sword that she needs, or that the dagger does work…”

She looks down, then back up at me again. “Let’s say all those highly unlikely things do happen. And then, let’s say she manages to get close enough to Phil to stab his liver.” She pauses and looks directly into my eyes. “Even if Ana does slay this demon, Phil will die too.”

My entire body freezes, but I quickly thaw the fear. “Phil is a vampire. The wound’s gonna hurt. He might go down, but he can survive liver damage.” He has before.

“I’m not talking about the liver damage.” Ember draws a long breath. “I’m talking about the stake he took through his heart.”

My own heart stops beating. Everyone, including Phil, believes the stake only nicked his heart, but I was there. I know. As much as I’ve been trying to talk myself out of it, Phil was dead.

“Once the demon stops keeping Phil alive,” Ember continues. “Once the demon no longer needs Phil’s body…”

I stiffen, trying to control the tremor rising inside me.

“Phil saw what happened to Rasputin,” she says softly. “The moment the demon chose Phil’s body over Rasputin’s, his form reverted to what it would have been naturally. Rasputin—his body—was a hundred and fifty years old. Without the demon’s help, he was instantly dead and turned into dust.”

“But Phil is a vampire.”

“A vampire who was staked through the heart.”

Turning, I lean on the balustrade and look out at the lights of Paris, trying to process everything Ember has said. If I hold any of this back from Ana, she’ll never forgive me, but that’s basically where things stand between us anyway.

And I’m starting to agree with Ember. Ana can’t know this.

“Promise me you won’t tell her,” Ember says, as if reading my mind. “She needs to get Phil over there. And I need you to make sure she gets back.”

I nod, stiffly.

“But I also need you to understand that it’s very possible that none of the three of you will ever return.”

I turn back toward her.

“I’m sorry. I wish I could offer you more assurances, but we really have no idea what you’ll face over there. I know the mechanics of how to open and close the portal, but not much beyond that.”

“You’re still learning magic.” I remember Ryker’s words from earlier. “Call someone. We need a more experienced witch.”

She shakes her head. “No living magic keeper has experience with portals. I made the same argument to the council, and they assured me that I have all the tools I need.”

My hands grip the balustrade so tightly I worry the sandstone will crumble.

Ember touches my arm. “Please, Crusher. Phil is doomed. No matter what, you can’t save him. But it’s essential you get him over there and get Ana back. She won’t return willingly without him.”

That’s for fucking sure.

Pushing back from the balustrade, I stand straight and turn to face the witch.

“Let’s do this. When do we go?”

---