Page 87 of A Petal in the Crown

"A portal," Emma breathed.

Evangeline nodded. "I can hold back death. That is my gift. I’m to meet her when she calls for me. I can give her the time she needs to take Alaric’s magic, and end his life.”

Thomas was still pacing, ten long, sharp strides each way, his hands fidgeting. "You’re a witch, right? Witches can take magic too, can’t they?" Thomas asked.

“I’m a witch, in that I hold magic of the witches. But it is not who I am. I can’t take magic any more than you can. I’ve tried.”

“So Henry’s right, then? This will kill Lea? You said you can hold death back, give her time. But you can’t keep it away forever.”

Evangeline nodded. "I’ve asked her to funnel his magic into me. To allow me to pay the price.”

Emma’s breath whooshed from her lungs. What she was offering her daughter… it was unthinkable. And yet, Emma knew without a doubt that Elise would do the same for her.

Thomas stopped his pacing. “What? You… Even if that was a viable solution, Lea would never do it.”

"I’veseenher alive. She must be at least considering it. I will convince her when it’s time. I’m confident I can."

Thomas shook his head. "There has to be another way. And even if we find it, Alaric still has an entire army at his disposal. And who knows how many more from the villages he’s recruited. Men and women willing to join him to save their families’ lives. You two could be walking into a trap to be slaughtered."

Evangeline smiled, and Emma froze as she sensed a wave of relief washing off of her. "All of this… it was your plan, wasn’t it? You knew we’d come? You saw it?"

Evangeline nodded. "To speak it aloud was to risk the fates changing. But yes, I knew you would come. I’ve seen Lea live. I’ve seen all of you live, but you’re right. We must bring our army. In every vision we succeed, our soldiers are with us. I’ve been working on this portal for some time, knowing we would need it. It’s capable of allowing them through," Evangeline explained.

"I’ll gather them now," Thomas said, determination pounding off his skin and against Emma’s. A plan of action. That was what he needed to calm the absolute terror he’d been feeling moments ago.

"No. Not until Lea is there. The army will need to be behind her, so they don’t alert Alaric. But it will be soon, I think." Evangeline closed the portal with a wave of her hand. "Ready our army, and meet me outside. Emma, do you have the potion?"

She nodded, her hand going subconsciously to her pocket.

"Keep it with you. If we are to fail..." Evangeline swallowed. "If for some reason Lea doesn’t survive taking his magic, shestillhas to be the one to kill him. We need you tethered to the other side to allow her to make that blow."

Emma’s voice felt far away as she whispered a quiet, “Okay,” her body suddenly numb. Was she in shock that it was actually time? That she was so close to once again taking the potion that had almost ended her life before?

She pushed a shaking hand into her pocket, her fingers touching the cool glass of the potion. Shewouldtake the potion, had decided that long ago, but as she squeezed the vial tightly in her fist, she sent up a prayer to the goddess that Lea wouldn’t fail, and that she could kill Alaric before anyone she loved would need to use its power.

Chapter 56

Lea

Thunder boomed in the distance, and Lea's head snapped up, searching between the trees for any hint of what had caused it. It couldn't be a storm... Surely the god of the sun wouldn’t allow them reprieve from the punishment of trying to cook them alive. Yet, above the tree line were deep gray rain clouds. Massive and intimidating, flickering with lightning and billowing toward them at an unnatural speed.

"Look. Up ahead," Henry said, pointing toward the darkening horizon.

Lea didn't know whether to be upset, frustrated, or thrilled. After all, she would do anything for relief from the stifling heat. But they were nearing the army encampment, and her panic about what she was about to have to do was easing in.

Every few minutes, Gray looked over at her, counting the white flowers on her crown. But Lea didn’t have to look to know they were running out of time. Only two remained. It didn't mean much—it could be hours, it could also be days. But one thing was for certain.

They needed to hurry.

Lea urged Luna to run faster, leaning down and sending healing magic into her body as her muscles worked to their limit to get her to Alaric.

Just south of the town of Pontor,Genevieve had said, but even that was vague.

"We can't keep up!" Cole shouted. "Our horses need rest."

Lea turned her head to see them lagging behind, their horses clearly exhausted, but she couldn't stop.

"We have to keep going, Gray," she said.

---