I am. It is an honor of a lifetime for me to use my magic to assist the god of fire in the place of my granddaughter, who foolishly turned against him. For this ritual to release the magic of the Kindred, we require the blood of the sorceress and the blood of an immortal.

Selia, Cleo began, frowning. Why would you do this?

I am an Oldling, thats why. We have worshipped the Kindred for countless generations, and today I will be the one who will help free them.

Them? Amara cocked her head. I have only the water Kindred.

Selia smiled. And I have earth and air.

From her cloak, she pulled two small crystal orbs"one obsidian, the other moonstone.

Cleo gasped. You"it was you!

Incredible. Amaras frustration and doubt dissipated like mist on the wind. I admit that I had misgivings, but now I see that all is how it must be. After all my sacrifices, I will finally receive everything Ive ever wanted.

You will? Selia asked, her thin, dark brows rising. Actually, this has nothing to do with you, little girl.

Amara gestured toward her guards. Take the orbs from her and bring them to me. Make sure she does only what shes required to do. Restrain her, if you must.

Before anyone could move, all twelve guards surrounding the pit clutched their throats. Amara watched with horror as the guards gasped for air and crumpled to the ground. Each one was dead.

Kyan! Stop her!

What has begun cannot be stopped. Warmth moved past her, brushing against her left ear. You want to possess the magic of the Kindred to use for your own gain, the same as many before you have. But we belong to no one.

Selia flicked her finger at Cleo, and the princess stumbled backward, falling into the pit. Amara raced to the side to look down to see that Taran had managed to catch her before she hit the bottom.

Amara turned toward the witch with shock. You dare"?

Selia flicked her finger again, and it felt as if a large and invisible hand had shoved her. Amara lost her footing and fell into the pit. As she slammed to the ground, her leg made a sickening crunching sound.

Felix looked down at her, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Oops, he said. I forgot to catch you. Did that hurt?

Blinded by pain and unable to move, through tear-filled eyes Amara saw Selia at the edge of the pit, smiling down at all of them.

Excellent, Kyan said. Now, lets begin.

CHAPTER 31.

JONAS.

PAELSIA.

Lucia insisted that she and Jonas journey to the empresss compound as quickly as possible. This meant on horseback, which Jonas knew, even before they started, was a bad idea for someone in the princesss condition. To Lucias credit, she didnt complain once as they rode southeast as fast as they could.

But then she came to a halt in the middle of a forest"or what had once been a forest. Jonas saw that all around him, the bushes and trees that had once grown tall and lush were now brown and withering. He glanced over at Lucia. Her skin was so pale, she looked no healthier than a five-day-old corpse.

I can keep going, she muttered.

I dont think so.

Dont argue with me, rebel. My family"

Your family can bloody well wait. He hopped off his horse and was at her side to catch her when she lost her grip on the reins and slid off.

The skies darkened in moments.

Damn Paelsian storms, Jonas grumbled, looking upward. You never know when theyre coming.

A loud roar of thunder was enough to frighten the horses. Before Jonas could do anything to stop them, they ran away.

Figures, he growled. One bad thing leads to another.

Lucia clutched his hand as he tried to put her on her feet. Jonas . . .

What?

Oh, goddess, I think . . . She cried out in pain. I think its time.

Time? He shook his head, regarding her with denial. No, its not time for anything but finding ourselves other transportation.

The baby . . .

No, I repeat, you are not doing this now.

I dont think I have a choice.

He took her by her shoulders. Look at me, princess. Look at me!

Lucia raised her pained gaze to his.

Youre not going to give birth now, because Timotheus visited my dream"just one, just long enough to tell me that he had a vision about me. I am with you when you die in childbirth. And Im supposed to raise your son.

She stared at him, her eyes widening. He said that?

Yes.

You are going to raise my son?

Yes, apparently.

A Paelsian wine sellers son is going to raise my child?

Jonas was far too weary to care about the insult. Didnt you hear what I said about you dying?

I deserve to die for all Ive done. While I certainly wouldnt pick here and now, I knew it was coming. I accept that I have no choice. Then she cried out again. And you must accept your destiny, because I dont think youre going to have any choice either.

He hissed out a breath. I should leave you here, just turn my back on all of this. But I wont.

Good.

Are you sure this is really happening now?

She nodded. Im sure.

Jonas picked her up and tried to find shelter in the barren forest before the skies opened. He pulled off his cloak and put it around her shoulders for more warmth.

I dont know what to do, Lucia said.

I learned one thing from my mother when I was a kid, Jonas told her. She helped other women when they gave birth in our village. She said that nature has a way of making it happen whether you know what youre doing or not. Maybe you can do something to relieve the pain, though, with your earth magic?

Lucia shook her head. Im drained. Im weak. My magic is gone. Timotheus is right. I see now why he didnt want to tell me about this. He had me believing that I could stop Kyan, but I see now that it must be you. She pressed something into his hand, and he looked down to see that it was an orb of amber. Kyan must be imprisoned again. You have magic within you, Jonas. It all makes sense to me now. As she spoke, her voice grew weaker and weaker, until it was barely audible above the roaring of the storm. He struggled to find footing in the muddy ground as he crouched next to the princess.

You think I can imprison something like him? Youre the prophesied sorceress.

Not for much longer, it seems. Jonas . . . He had to draw closer to hear her whisper. Tell my brother, my father . . . tell them that Im sorry I hurt them. Tell them that I love them, that I know they loved me. And tell . . . tell my son when hes old enough to understand that there was good in me. She smiled weakly. Way down deep, anyway.

Jonas had started to believe this too, so he didnt try to argue with her.

You will make a good father for my son, she said. You might not believe it now, but I see it. Youre strong and earnest and hardworking. You do what you think is right, even at great cost.

Dont forget that Im incredibly handsome.

Her smile held. That too.

He shook his head, now wanting to argue. He wasnt strong, he didnt do what was right. Hed gotten so many friends killed because of his choices and plans.

Lucia took his hand in hers. Her skin was so cold, it shocked him. You are destined for greatness, Jonas Agallon. I can see your destiny as clearly as Timotheus can.

You know, Jonas said, pushing Lucias long, wet hair off her forehead. I never believed in magic or destiny before a year ago.

And now?

I believe in magic. In evil sorceresses who deep down are really beautiful princesses. I believe in immortals who live in a different world than this one, accessible by magical stone wheels. But you know what I dont believe in?

What?

I refuse to believe that we have absolutely no control over our own futures, because right now? Im damn well going to control my own. I dont want to be a father. Not yet, anyway.

But you must! My son is"

Your son will be fine. And so will you. He squeezed her hand. You said that Alexius taught you how to steal magic. So steal mine. Steal enough to heal yourself, to get through this birth without dying. Do it, and you can tell Timotheus to kiss your arse when it comes to proclaiming your future from his shiny little Sanctuary.

Lucia stared at him, confusion naked in her gaze before it faded. That isnt how its supposed to be.

Exactly, he said, grinning. Dont you like the thought of having a choice when it comes to your own fate?

I . . . Im not sure I can do this.

Try, he said. Just try, and stop bloody well arguing with everything I have to say.

Lucias expression of fear was replaced by fury. You are so rude to me!

Good. Be mad at me"so mad you can steal the magic right out of me. You can slap me for being rude later. Do it, princess. Take my magic.

Her forehead furrowed as she concentrated. This will work, Jonas thought. It has to work.

Then he felt it"a draining sensation that made him gasp aloud. It wasnt pain, exactly. It felt like a magnetic force pulling at his insides.

His heartbeat began to slow, and spots appeared before his eyes.

Do me a favor, he managed.

What? she asked, and he noticed that her voice already sounded stronger, just as he began to feel weaker and colder.

Try . . . not to . . . kill me . . .

Only when he woke up, rain still drenching him, did Jonas realize that hed passed out. His wet cloak had been thrown over him like a blanket, and he slowly, very slowly, pushed himself up to sit.

Do storms usually last this long here? asked Lucia.

Jonas looked over at her. She was holding a small bundle in her arms. Baby, he said. That"thats a baby right there.

It is. She tipped the bundle enough that he could see a small pink face looking out at him.

Definitely a baby, he said, nodding. Youre alive.

Thanks to you. I cant tell you how grateful I am, Jonas. Your sacrifice saved my life.

Sacrifice? he repeated. Not a sacrifice at all. I never wanted magic to start with.

Well, I didnt take all your magic. As you requested, I didnt want to kill you just yet. After all, you promised that I could slap you when I felt better. She smiled. I look forward to that.

He tried not to laugh. As do I.

It seems Timotheus was wrong about many things, Lucia said. And that destiny isnt set after all, just as you said.

Many things? What else was he wrong about?