Page 141 of Song of the Dark Wood

“Rowan!”

She spun and found Sarai, who was gesturing wildly. A flood of people was making its way up the street. “New refugees! Several boatloads! Give them a good show!”

Rowan nodded, turning her attention back to Conor and the Mother, who were trading vicious magical blows. Conor’s glowing blue magic clashed with the Mother’s golden light.

On the far edge of the square, several elders knelt, their heads bowed in prayer. Rowan tugged on her magic and had them strangled with Dark Wood vines, but it was too late. They’d given the Mother the advantage, and she had her hands around Conor’s throat. She was pulling the power right out of him.

“Sorry, Con. It’s been a long time coming. This is a whole new world, and there will be only one now,” the Mother said with a vicious smile.

Rowan charged toward her, her dagger in hand, and the Mother laughed.

“I’m doing you a favor. What on earth am I taking from you, you ungrateful little brat?” she growled.

“You’re trying to take my husband,” Rowan said.

“Husband?” the Mother said as her eyes snapped to Conor.

One moment of disorientation was all Rowan needed. She plunged the dagger into the Mother’s chest. The goddess let out a keening wail.

“Now, Sarai!” Rowan shouted over the noise. She tugged on the Dark Wood, and it pinned the Mother in place with roots and vines.

Sarai dashed forward with her mother on her heels. She placed a hand on the goddess’s back and the other on the former Crone’s chest. Conor scrambled beside them, pressing his hand to Sarai’s back.

A loud, sweeping symphony of magic whirled up through the air, drowning out everything else. Rowan stumbled back as she covered her ears against the assault. Conor steadied her with his free arm as they watched the transfer of power unfold.

The Mother howled as Sarai spoke in a hushed tone, pushing the goddess’s power into her own mother. A golden light grew around the three of them, pulsing until it was so glaring Rowan had to shield her eyes.

After a few long, blind moments, the melody of the magic ceased, and Rowan blinked her eyes open. Conor stood panting next to a wide-eyed Sarai and a glowing Crone Mother.

The former goddess appeared to collapse in on herself. She aged before their eyes, crumpling inward as if her bones were deteriorating right beneath her skin. “How?” she rasped as shewrithed on the ground. “I should have just been able to use you. How did you figure it out?”

“Death is just the pause before life starts again. Life and death were always made of the same magic,” Rowan said. “It made sense that if you could create a new Wolf, he could create a new Mother.”

With one last huff, the goddess disintegrated into ash before their eyes.

The new Crone Mother looked to Conor.

“The nightmare is still gone?” she asked.

Conor closed his eyes and a blue aura swelled around him. After a long moment, his shoulders relaxed, he opened his eyes, and nodded.

The Crone Mother’s relief matched his.

“Did it work?” Rowan asked Sarai. “Did we break the world?”

Her friend grinned as her gaze fell on the former Crone. “I think we broke it. What do you think, Crone Mother?”

Sarai’s mother, the new goddess, the Crone Mother, turned to look at Rowan. “It seems you could see what the rest of us couldn’t. Thank you for not giving up on us, even when we gave up on you.”

“Now what?” Sarai said. She turned and tipped her head toward the wide-eyed refugees filling the square.

“I think you’re supposed to tell us that, O wise one,” Rowan taunted. “What’s the new bargain? How do we rebuild?”

Sarai took a few breaths, turning to face the murmuring crowd as Conor made his way to Rowan.

He stood in front of her, looking bruised and exhausted, but he was still standing, and so was Rowan. She threw herself into his waiting arms, and he rained kisses all over her face and held her close.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rowan saw the confusion of the crowd gathered in the streets. They seemed shocked to see theWolf showing such tenderness, especially toward a Red Maiden. They gave her and Conor a long look, their eyes narrowing in puzzlement as they took in her tattered red cloak and Conor’s ominous presence.

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