Page 108 of Bright Soul

He drew aside a confused, scowling Ben to the other side of the room while Phaeron sat next to me to walk me through the blessing. It needed a kick of librarian witch power, something I did easily enough through drawing a rune over it with the tip of Flame, which functioned just as well as any of the other silver swords I’d used for spellcasting.

The scale crackled with power, each of its runes glowing from within with purple light. “I knew the scale could do it,” he said. He picked it up and held it to my ear so I could hear how it thrummed at a deep frequency, awaiting an occupant.

“What about the other half of her soul?” I asked.

“For right now, you will have to hold it within yourself. After we kill Myuna, I am assuming it will be a simple thing to acquire a crystal heart from our Crystal Court allies. Prince Orthus seems the sort who would give it freely, even if he knows what it’s for,” he said.

Even though we were in private, Braza made herself known with a crackle of her electric presence over my shoulders.“I assume you will have to draw upon a significant portion of my power to fight Myuna. If it all comes from the half attached to you, brightest of souls, you’ll barely notice me clinging to you while you all seek a second heart.”

“Hmm. Who are we lying to, then?” I asked.

Phaeron dipped his head in acknowledgment of the unspoken intention. “Most everyone. The death of a powercore is a monumental event, nearly unheard of, but Myuna will be an easy scapegoat for Braza’s disappearance. From there, it will take years to construct her gargoyle body with the proper intentionality that will be required to hide the suddenness of her second life from this modern world.”

My brow furrowed. That would be nearly impossible, considering most everyone had a social media trail that started with their parents photographing them in diapers. “We should at least get Madigan and her men in the know. My coven, too. They’re good at keeping secrets.”

“Agreed,”Braza said.“I’ll want some friends who know who I am.”

With a sigh, Phaeron rubbed his face and thought it over, replying after a while, “Yes, perhaps with the assistance of a fae deal. Grant’s identity has been the only well-guarded secret amongst us.”

“I’m sure Áine would help us with that.”

I trusted her a hell of a lot more than Grant, even though he’d done nothing to earn that other than exist as a changeling from a dangerous court. His scouting and spying had really come in handy, but sometimes I couldn’t help but wonder what his ultimate angle was and who he served back in the Autumn Court. Áine didn’t have that kind of potential baggage behind her intentions.

“She would. And while no plan is foolproof, I will do everything in my power to return your sister.” He took my hand in between both of his and searched my face for forgiveness.

I smiled back sadly. It was clear he sought the kind of absolution I couldn’t offer him. “Carly will forgive you when she’s returned to herself. I’m sure she knows you were as much a victim as she is. Hell, judging by the other torchbearers we’veencountered, this whole time may be as memorable to her as a long nightmare.”

He brought my fingertips to his lips to kiss. “I hope so, bright soul. She is family now. The thought of her warped into undeath like my brother was is unthinkable. I have to save her now, like I wish I could’ve saved him then.” He released a ragged sound of grief.

“We will,” I said. We had to. My sister deserved nothing less.

38

CRESS

My sister’s fate had me throwing everything I could into our final day of training. I stood toe to toe with Madigan, the two of us brawling like juggernauts with the combined backing of all of our men. As evening fell, I covered myself in healing blood runes to recover from all my various hurts and spent what was left of the night before the battles ahead with my coven and friends.

We’d taken over the staff break room in the library, dragging in extra chairs from elsewhere to fit everyone. Roe was rolling a water bottle between her hands, looking pensive. Her moods were usually contagious, and considering she seemed concerned, tensions were high until one of the Furies, Grace, arrived and plunked a few wine bottles on the table toward the back of the break room.

“To take the edge off,” she said, starting to rummage in the cupboards. “Surely this place has got some cups.”

“Hey, not to spoil your fun, but most of us are underage,” Grant said.

She shrugged and started stacking plastic cups in her hands. “I won’t snitch. It’s the end either way, might as well enjoy it.”

The other Fury, Tish, glanced up from her laptop where she’d set up in a corner. “Besides, that’s about enough for one glass for each of us,” she tittered.

Phaeron stood to help Grace pour and distribute. “On the eve of big battles, I’d drink with my men and discuss what we’d dowhenwe’d win. It helps to focus on goals, not fears. We all have lives to return to once Myuna dies and we leave Cerris City at last,” he said.

“That sounds like a good idea. Who’d like to go first?” Roe asked, accepting a cup partially filled with wine and downing a careful sip. She winced at its taste.

Bianca was the one to break the silence first. “First things first, I am going to fight to the bitter end. I’m not running away through the ocean gate.”

“You’re not?” I asked, surprised.

“No way.” She toasted me with her cup. “I haven’t run from a fight yet and tomorrow won’t be the exception.”

“There was that one time before Samhain—” Ben began to say.

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