The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch #3)(112)

“Kalen,” the bone witch said, “you could—I could also be—”

“You idiot.” Lord Kalen had never sounded more affectionate. “I crawled out of my grave, as I promised. Do you think I’d let you get away again? You promised me daughters with your eyes. Where you go, I will follow.”

A sound between laughter and crying tore out of her. Another rune flickered against her palm. I could almost see the edges of it, a symbol like the branches of a heavy oak, the magic so concentrated that even a red heartsglass could perceive the enormity of its strength. It braided itself around the runeberry patch and, for a moment, the world stood still.

Then the plant grew. Budding shoots sprouted out from hidden seeds, the fruits growing plump. Vines wrapped around a rapidly forming trunk, which rose out of the sands until a fully formed tree was splayed proudly before us. Silver leaves fanned from multiple branches, rich and bright against the glare of the Drychta sun.

“The Sacred Tree,” Lord Khalad whispered.

The Dark asha dropped a hand to her side. She was deathly pale now, her black heartsglass pulsing erratically against her breast. Lord Kalen held tightly to his lover, face strained as his own strength battled to support hers a little longer. Lady Zoya began to cry.

“I have to finish this,” the Dark asha murmured, feverish. “You understand, don’t you, Fox? I can’t stay here. Not like this, not after knowing who I am, not after what they did to Kalen. But I wanted to make sure you could. Are you still angry at me, Fox? About the wars, about Daisy?”

Weeping now, Lord Fox lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed them. “I’ve always loved you, Tea. Even though I was too foolish to show it. There must be something else…”

“I had months to understand that there is nothing else. Don’t you see, Fox? I’m happy. This is what I want. Zoya, it won’t do Shadi any good to see you blubbering on like this.”

“You fool,” the other asha sobbed. “They will write songs about you, even if your bard will not.”

“I will.” My own words were choked, wrung from my throat. “I will honor you, milady. I will spend the rest of my life singing.”

“Perhaps one day you will do more than sing, Your Highness.” She focused on the Heartforger. “Khalad. She will be safe now.”

There were tears in the man’s eyes. “I didn’t help you solely for Likh, Tea.”

“I know. I will always be grateful nonetheless. Give her my love when she wakes.” The bone witch tried to stand, but Lord Fox wouldn’t release her. “I can’t let you go. I can’t. We have to… It isn’t fair. You gave up everything and now you’re—”

She touched his face affectionately, and his hold on her tightened. “I’ll go with you.” He cried against her unharmed shoulder. “Don’t tell me to stay. You can’t order me around anymore, Tea. I can’t ask you to do this without me. We’ve been by each other’s side for so long. You’ve given me a new lifetime, so let me spend it apologizing. Let me make it up to you. Please. I can’t… Tea, I can’t—”

“Fox,” her voice was soft, sweet. “Let me go.”

He froze.

“Inessa would hate me.” She pressed a kiss upon his stricken face. “And I would hate me as well. I love you, Fox. And if you want to prove that you love me, then live every day with meaning. Wherever I am, Kalen and I will watch over you.”

Lord Kalen offered her his hand. “Are you ready, love?”

Her smile was blinding. “Always.”

The azi approached them, its three snouts nuzzling against her, protective. Like her, it was dying. They were all dying, bone showing and blood flowing, maimed deeply by the Faceless, but all seven of the great beasts looked at peace as they began their final journey.

“Are you scared?” I thought I heard the Deathseeker ask, but I could not hear her quiet reply, her laughter the only sound floating back to us.

We could only watch as they and their pet daeva walked toward that beautiful tree. Lady Tea and Lord Kalen turned back to smile at us, and then he bent down to kiss her, fiercely and ferociously and lovingly, until they were swallowed by the holy light.

The tree continued its upward spiral into the sky, climbing higher into the clouds until I thought it could reach the heavens. The landscape changed. Streaks of light shone around us, and for the briefest of moments, I felt serenity within the depths of my soul like I had never known before.

Then the light disappeared and the tree along with it. We were left in the empty field of sand, which started blooming to life as ponds of water formed and small green shoots grew around us, restoring the place to what must have been its ancient beauty. I looked down in wonder and discovered the Lady Tea’s letters at my feet.





27


I could have bathed him in my tears.

I had no oils to anoint him aside from asha-ka perfumes, no ceremonial robe to clothe him, but an extra cloak. I brought his body to the banks of the sea and dug at the hard sand until my hands bled, until I had uncovered a hole wide enough to hold him. We had talked about living by the seashore, but this was all I could afford him. I had no strength left to give, but everything I had was for him still.

I tried to will in the Dark, tried to wrap it around me as I always could before, direct it with all the love inside of me.