Page 72 of The Lord of the Labyrinth

Patch drowning in the morgens’ pool because she was not there to save him. Magda perishing beneath the stones hurled by her own kind because Kate was not there to stop them. The walls of the labyrinth growing taller, the passages darker... the endless lives lost in the winding darkness as the labyrinth stretched forever and ever, covering the land. Roan sitting upon a throne, his eyes cold and vengeful as he watched his lands destroyed by the Seelie. Eudora, Rath, even Babbitt all lay dead, Seelie weapons having taken their lives. All because of a war that never should have come about.

Kate swallowed back a sob as the grim future tore her heart in two.

“No,” she gasped, and the visions vanished.

“You cannot save your mother or change the past... but you can change the future.”

Thalia pointed at the river. “Make your choice, Kate of the Winslows.”

On shaky legs, Kate approached the water. Within the diamond glints of the rushing flow, she glimpsed her mother’s smiling face.

“I miss you...” Kate whispered to the reflection of her mother within the fairy river. “I miss you so much, it feels like I’m dying inside.” The desire to choose her mother, to choose her past, was so strong. She wanted to leap into the water, to go back to a time when she hadn’t lost anything in life yet. Even knowing she’d lose her mother all over again, she wanted those few precious years back.

The enchanted water showed her mother’s face as she spun Kate around in the backyard. Fireflies glowed in the warm green night.“And he shall say, ‘Kiss me, Kate.’”Her mother’s voice drifted up from the water as she spoke of the dashing man that Kate would someday know was her destiny.

Roan. He was her destiny.

Her mother wouldn’t want her to return to the past, to lose herself in it. Not when she could save not only the man she loved but the world that had shown her she was strong, that she was worthy.

“The winds of time will shift soon, Kate. You must choose...” Thalia’s voice came from a great distance now. Kate dove into the water, dagger gripped in her hand as she chose her fate.

* * *

Roan swunghis broadsword in a large arc, slicing the nearest Seelie warrior in half. The labyrinth’s passageways were now filled with the dead—both Seelie and Unseelie. Friend and foe alike stained the soil with their blood. But Roan could not stop, could not grieve, until he killed his cousin and ended this.

He spotted the Seelie king across the arena of fighting warriors. “Culan!”

The Seelie king turned to face him with a savage grin. His fair looks held a darkness that reminded Roan so much of his father. “At last.”

The two men charged at each other, swords raised. They connected in a clash of ringing steel.

Culan sneered. “Where is your human pet, cousin?” Culan shoved hard with his blade, pushing Roan back. “The one you violated our sacred treaty for?” Culan continued. “Perhaps when you are dead, I will take her as my prize. She would suit me well, wouldn’t she?”

Roan knew his cousin was baiting him, but that didn’t mean Culan’s threats didn’t burn like a fire sprite’s rage in his chest. He jerked his blade free and swung at Culan from a different angle. His cousin barely leapt aside, nearly losing an arm.

Around them, the warriors from both lands fought on, their cries a cacophony in Roan’s ears.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in a burst of light just behind Culan. The clash of steel slowed as everyone struggled to regain their sight. Too late, Roan recognized who the figure was. It was Kate, standing mere feet from Culan.

“Kate!” he bellowed.

Her eyes grew wide as she took in the hundreds of dead Fae around her, petrified. Before she could react, Culan grasped Kate by the throat, lifting her up. She dropped the dagger she held as she clawed at Culan’s hand, trying to free herself.

“So you are the tempting mortal my cousin broke our ancient laws for.” Culan’s gaze swept over Kate, whose face turned red as she struggled for breath. “You are the reason for this war.”

“Let her go, Culan. Your battle is with me.”

Culan laughed. “Oh, but this is far too amusing, Roan. To see you squirm with fear. Beg for her life on your knees and perhaps I will let her go.”

Roan met Kate’s gaze, and she tried to shake her head. She would rather die? But he couldn’t let that happen. Roan would give everything to save Kate. His land, his people, his palace, his power, and his life were forfeit if it would save her.

Roan eased down on one knee, and Culan’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected Roan to capitulate.

“Culan, let her go.Please.” The words came out a growl because he feared Culan wouldn’t release her no matter what he did. Just then, a great and terrible idea struck him. He knew how to stop Culan. He knew what he must do.

Roan reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out the cursed ring Andvari had given to him.

He slipped the ring onto his left ring finger. The curse hit him like a thunderclap. Exquisite power surged through him, expanding his control over the universe. He harnessed the winds of time, reversing the deaths of his men. His soldiers, once lying still upon the battlefield, now rose, taking their arms up again, outnumbering Culan’s soldiers as they dove back into the fight. He wasn’t sure how long his hold on time would last, if he’d be able to keep those men alive. The ring’s power was more a mystery to him than he wished it to be.

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