Destroyer (The Elemental Series #7)(65)

“You don’t.” Frost whispered the words, his face twisting with pain. “You finish what she started, Lark. You must take my power. You must be the one to stop her. Mattie will give you her life and power next.”

I bowed my head. I’d known all along, much as I hated it. “And what happens if she kills me?”

Frost opened one eye. “You cannot let that happen. It is not her death that you seek, but a remaking of the world.” He drew a slow, careful breath and the blade shivered. “Her death is only the beginning, Larkspur. There is more that this world will face.”

“More?” Talan spoke gently to his brother. “Frost, how can there be more?”

“This world is dying, little Talan.” Frost winked at him. “And while Vivica brought on some of it, some of the damage can be laid at the feet of the humans. Their wars will wipe us all out. They must be stopped. A reset… Lark must reset the world.”

I bit my lower lip. “Frost, maybe we can save you, yet.”

“No.” He took my hand and put it on the hilt. “I see Olivisha’s flame in you, and the power of the ocean behind your eyes. You are strong with the earth already; my power will open a whole new level to you. Use it with love, use it with compassion. My life will seal this to you as my siblings also gave up their lives.”

“Wait!” Talan cried out as Frost pushed my hand downward, forcing the blade the rest of the way through his heart.

I jerked as a rush of power slammed into me, and for just a moment, I could see all the world. I could feel it like the breath in my lungs and the blood in my veins. I could see the animals and the plants and feel each one of them as they fought to survive every day. And more than that, I felt the humans… creatures of the planet we were created to protect. They were destroying everything, and no power on earth would ever convince them otherwise.

I blew out a breath and the power pulse in me eased. I bowed my head. “I’m sorry, Talan.”

“Do not be. It… none of this is your fault.” He bent over his brother and pulled the knife out. “You are the one, Lark. I knew all along, but fought it because I knew it would mean the end of my family. The end of my life, and I am a selfish bastard. Even I know that.”

I turned to him. “What are you saying?”

“You need to complete the five elements. I can give you my strength now, and then you must find Matarrah. Mattie. Tell her I love her, that she was my favorite sister.” His violet eyes were full of sadness as he placed the tip of the blade against his chest.

Peta let out a soft mewl. “No, Talan.”

“Yes, Nepeta. You know I am right. She is the one. She will find a way to save this world. Though I did not realize it would be this way. Viv will never expect it, and this will give you the best chance at defeating her. Raven will help you, so will Cassava. We thought… we’d hoped that releasing my siblings would be enough, but I knew there was more to you than that. I am sorry about Shazer… I thought… I thought I knew how you would react. That breaking you down was the way to build you back up. I am truly, truly sorry. I should have listened to Raven. I should have listened to you.” He took my hand and placed it over the handle of the knife. I didn’t pull away. I knew he was right. I could feel it in every fiber of my being.

“You will become a true hybrid, Lark. You will have all of us with you, in spirit to face her. You will not be alone. It is the only way to stop Viv.”

“This isn’t really about Viv anymore, is it?” I asked. Frost’s words reverberated through me and I could not deny the truth in them.

He shook his head. “The world needs you, Lark. Viv was the catalyst. She’s set the humans against one another and against us. You must find a way to stop it, to undo all the damage she’s caused. Even after she’s dead, the threads of deceit and death she has woven will continue. The humans are already using the weaponry the world fears. There will only be you to stop them.”

I swallowed hard. “How?”

He shook his head. “That I do not know. Perhaps my mother will guide you.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of the world, in the most literal sense, lay across my shoulders. “You trust me enough to go on my own?”

He shrugged and then smiled. “Raven was right. You figured out most of this on your own and I just ended up getting in your way, thinking I knew better. It’s a problem I’ve had for years.”

He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. There was not the heat that had resided in Realm’s kiss. With his lips on mine, he pushed the blade into his heart. His body jerked and Spirit in all its terrible beauty cascaded over me.

I didn’t know what to expect. With the other three elements, their power had been obvious, keeping in truth with their strengths. Spirit lay over me like a warm blanket, a security I could not see, but only feel. Talan’s voice whispered softly in my ear.

We are with you, Lark. You are not alone, and to the end we will see this through together.

I caught his body as he slumped toward me, his eyes closed, his heart no longer beating. Peta cried out, her sobs filling the air. My own emotions were all over the map. I had every reason to hate Talan, yet I couldn’t. I could feel his loss like the sharp edge of a blade, like losing someone I thought invincible.

I held his body a long time, at least an hour, while Peta cried softly. I cried with her, not only because of what was lost, but because… a part of me had thought he would be there at the end with me.