Page 103 of A Conduit of Light
BaronHeimlen’seyes lit with the hardness she had seen before. “Hehas betrayed you then.Thatis why you storm in here, isn’t it?Youwere going to tell him, and instead, he told you lies.”
“Youare all liars.Everyone of you.”Shetook a moment to wipe her sleeve across her nose, reddened from sobbing. “Andas soon as theBlightis destroyed,Iam takingClairanniaandFiguerahback home with me.They’llnever train underRevichwhenI’vetold them the truth.Hecan go find new channelers.”Hervoice broke and she took a moment to swallow. “Therewill be new women to lie to.ButFelgrendeserves to survive.YouandIwill see to that.”
“Andwe don’t needRevichto do this?”
Sheflew to him then, her hand slapping across his face.Hisblackened fingers caught her arm in a gripSylvaknew well beforeKaruscould hit him again.
Shewrenched her arm away as if burned. “Youknowwe don’t.Youknow whatIam capable of.Youknow that we have been ready for weeks, and yet you stalled.Why?Whatwere you waiting for?”
“Iwas waiting for this.Iwas waiting foryouto realize you are ready.Lookdown,Karus.Youcan hardly contain your magic.Itflows around you in abundance.”
Theyall looked to her boots, emerald tendrils of power trailing up her skirts, bright and strong, almost tangible.
“Youcannot hold back when we are there.Youcannot hesitate even once, and yes,Inever planned forRevichto be in the final battle against theBlight.Hewould be nothing more than a distraction to you.”
Hereyes wide, she spoke in unhinged amusement, “Well, it’s your lucky day.Andyour last.Wego—now—before the dark settles in.”
Heturned toSylva, taking her hands in his, placing them at his chest. “So, we go, my darling.”
“Iunderstand.Ihave always understood.Kissme.”
ShesawKarusjerk forward as if she could stop them before he whispered, “OsculumVitae,” his lips pressed into hers.
Sweet, succulent.
Shelet him take it all, everything she had left, knowing he would need it.Hewould use it before he himself perished this night.
Itwas so beautiful, her life leaving her body and flowing into his.
Theywere finally one.
Theywere finally able to be together.
Foreverand for always.
Chapter47
Karus
Shecould not mistakethe irony.
Monthsago, he had brought her intoFelgren, and now?Now, she brought him to the place where he would leave it.
Shelaughed aloud, a little mad herself after watchingSylva’slifeless body drop to the floor just minutes before.
Theshock of the last two hours was beginning to wear on her soul, but she found strength in the greenery around her, the soft touch of the breeze, the scent of the summer heat floating warm and heady in the evening air.Thehaunt of night bloomed in the little time they had left with the sun’s gaze along the horizon.
Thesun was leaving her home, and soon, so was she.
Butit would return shortly, and she would not.
Shedidn’t doubtClairanniaandFiguerahwould want to go with her.Shemust find a way to say goodbye toMoiraas well…and as forRevich?
Sheswallowed.Hard.
Asfor theBaronofFelgren, it was best she leave without speaking to him again.Hewould get over it.Hewould move on, no doubt becoming theBaronthatHeimlenhad always wanted him to be.
Shegrabbed her hair hanging on her shoulders and pulled, squeezing her eyes shut for just a moment while she composed her pain.
