Alterant (Belador #2)(31)
“Because he would cut his arm off before he’d hurt you.”
Brina enjoyed a thrill at Macha’s having to admit just how much Brina meant to Tzader.
Macha added, “And I believe he would relinquish immortality without a second thought to be with you.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“If he has suffered a life-threatening wound from Noirre majik while immortal, the majik may still linger in his body. If so, and I remove his immortality, he may suffer the aftereffects of that wound, possibly even die immediately.”
Brina couldn’t speak. Breathing hurt.
Tzader had fought countless battles against the Medb and been wounded more than once in the past four years. He’d almost died when the Medb had trapped him, Quinn and Evalle in Utah. A Medb warlock had stabbed Tzader with a spear tipped with the only substance that could kill him.
The thought of Tzader risking death just to be with her sickened Brina.
“But,” Macha continued, “let’s say he survives becoming mortal. Then he has to give up being the North American Maistir to live here, which sounds like a non-stop honeymoon, but eventually a warrior needs to battle because that is who he is.”
Macha sent her a pointed look and continued in lecture mode. “If he manages to get through all of that, Tzader would then face turning old and dying while you age in tiny fractions of the same time, still looking young and beautiful when he has one foot in the grave.”
Brina had considered many possibilities, but in the back of her mind she’d always thought they’d end up immortal together. “You paint a sad existence for us.”
“I only wish to know for sure that what you two have is more than a passing infatuation before I irrevocably change Tzader’s life. And if he did give up his immortality, it would be permanent. Can you in good conscience ask him to make that choice never knowing whether he could be happy without you?”
Brina fought a trembling chin and watched her dreams crumble beneath Macha’s onslaught of reality. She clamped her jaw and stiffened her resolve to find a way to make this work.
First, Tzader deserved to have a choice.
But now that Brina had said she was ready to have a child, Macha would not let that pass. There was no going back. Brina told the goddess, “I accept your proposal. I could never ask Tzader to make a life-altering decision without allowing him the opportunity to choose without limitations. I will set him free.”
Macha’s lips curled pleasantly and the fire around the grate settled down.
For the first time in three years, Brina smiled in earnest. When Tzader had first found out he couldn’t pass the warding and she couldn’t leave Treoir, he’d told her nothing would stop them from being together.
She believed in the depth of his love and in their ability to find a way to make this work, but right now Brina hoped she could depend upon Tzader to forgive her later on for the pain she would cause them both by accepting Macha’s offer.
Macha moved faster than a thought, one minute atop the mantel and the next standing in front of Brina. Pearls sparkled across her breast and twittered in delight all the way down to where the gown swished around her bare feet. “As part of this agreement, you will end this relationship today.”
“Why today?”
“Because he is on his way to see you.”
Now? The goddess had dropped an impossible choice in her lap only moments ago and now expected her to be prepared to face Tzader this minute?
“Are you already reconsidering your agreement, Brina?”
Brina knew better than to break a deal with Macha. “Of course not.”
“Good. In the interest of producing an heir within a year’s time, you have two moon cycles to choose a suitable husband.”
Huh? “Sixty days?”
“Dragging this out will make it more difficult for both of you.”
Macha vanished before Brina could say another word. How could the goddess expect her to select a husband when she’d had no chance to mourn losing her soul mate?
If she lost Tzader.
Macha’s voice ghosted through the room. “Once Tzader leaves today and believes you are no longer interested in him, he has the same time to convince me he will have no other than you even if it means remaining alone. If you give him any hint of our discussion, this deal is off, and if you fail to end this today, don’t bring his name up to me again.”
Brina glanced around, anticipating Tzader but not ready to face him yet. Her heart thudded, anxious at the possibility of winning him and frightened she’d never see him again.
Brina, I need to talk to you, Tzader said telepathically in her mind.
Her heart burst with a sudden rush of happiness at being alone with him for the first time in so long.
Not truly alone, since Macha had just made it clear she intended to observe the meeting.
Brina closed her eyes, searching for the strength to do this. Could she push Tzader away and risk losing him forever?
Brina? he persisted.
She believed in him. Believed in them.
Much as Brina hated to agree with the goddess, Macha had a point in that Tzader deserved a chance to make a decision that wasn’t based on a teenage vow. If he still came back to her, then Macha had to uphold her end and consider a solution to their problem.
But Brina would not leave everything up to fate.
A warrior always had a plan.