In order to save the world from eternal night, Red must find a way to unlock the dormant power of the Sun Goddess running through her veins without killing herself and everyone she loves.
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"What? Why?" I demanded to know, curling my fingers into fists. Crystals facets embedded in the walls flared along with my temper, causing the gathered Kirin to ripple with nervous energy.
That boy is a danger to himself and others, the War Queen declared. He is a conduit for Nya's power and could turn at any moment. He has also seen our stronghold, and while I hold no love for wyverns, I would not seek to cripple our new allies by allowing him to visit theirs.
Sebastian snarled in warning as the Kirin pressed closer, his canines lengthening with an impending transformation. "I am not your enemy," he snapped, skin taking on a silver sheen that belied his words.
No, the War Queen replied, faintly amused by his distress. But you are our enemy's son. And I will not compromise our greatest weapon in this holy war because Rya's Chosen has a fondness for 'sucking your face', as you pitiful creatures so eloquently put it.
A chill sloshed down my spine when I realised she was talking about the revelations in my visions. The War Queen must have seen everything the Earth Mother saw; and the same had to be true of Rana, Gretchen and Sebastian as well. The Trial of Truth was over. Judgment had been passed.
"He's worth more alive than he is dead," I blurted out, thoughts racing as I flung out my arms. As if that could protect him from the lighting chaining on all of their lowered horns. "Rogan would do anything to get his son back. If we play the hostage card at the right time —"
Near or far, the mate bond will find you and bind you, the War Queen said, neither pleased nor displeased with the dark turn of events. The only recourse is to kill him and erase it all together. Be grateful that I granted you the privacy to say your goodbyes.
Panic, hot and slippery, rose in the back of my throat. "That's not true. We can take it away; I've done it before —"
The War Queen trumpeted the order. Electricity arced through the air in slow motion as I fumbled for my power, still mute and limp inside of me. Too late did I realise that I should have leapt in front of him to take the blow; I'd left it too long and wouldn't be able to make it now. Sebastian was still mid transformation. It would catch him in the chest just as his paws touched the ground, before he could even lunge to defend himself —
Rana grunted as she caught the bolt of lightning on her glaive, the tendons in her neck snapping taut as she redirected the energy into the ground. "Do something," she growled at Gretchen, dark eyes flashing with rage.
Yes, I crowed, having forgotten the Witch of the East until now. She was one of the Earth Mother's Children too; she could convince them to stop!
Gretchen hesitated. That second was enough for the Kirin to gather another bolt of lightning and strike again, but Sebastian was gone and the Wraith was already moving in his place, ducking and weaving between the stamping stallions. Sparks showered as the lightning bolt caught on another kirin's antlers, rolling through its body and locking its muscles in place. It seemed they weren't entirely immune to the effects, either.
