“That’s better,” Katia whispered as she leaned in and kissed Dane’s mouth. He didn’t kiss her back, but I felt a torturous mix of desire and repulsion bubbling up within him . . . within me.
Katia then looked at me, a cruel smile twisting the corners of her lips. “He’ll do.”
When Dane’s eyes met mine, I felt his shame, his confusion.
“It’s time,” Katia said as she slipped back through the stalks.
She knew I would follow. The invisible thread connecting us was embedded deep within my heart now. I had no choice.
As I stepped toward the corn, Beth hugged me from behind, startling me.
“Your mother didn’t leave you unprotected,” she whispered as she swept her hands down my arms and then retreated to join the others.
Dane laced his fingers through mine.
“I’m scared,” I said as I stared straight ahead into the corn.
“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, but you don’t have to be so strong all the time. You have me now.”
Gently, he raised my hand to his mouth, kissing the inside of my palm. Then he closed my fingers tightly around it, into a fist. “Hang on to this,” he whispered. “No matter what happens, know that this is real.”
Suddenly, I realized why I was afraid. I had something to live for. My brother, Beth, and Dane—they were family. I’d finally found something worth the risk, and now that my heart was open, I never wanted to close it again. My life was so full now. Suddenly, I was afraid of losing everything.
The wind swept through the corn, revealing our path.
They say the first step is the hardest, and this time, they were right.
45
PIECES
DANE AND I MOVED through the stalks in silence, following the path laid before us. I was terrified of what awaited me. Everything about this felt like a death march.
Dane kept a close eye on the dozen or so crows circling low overhead. Maybe Coronado was already inside Quivira—I wondered how he could stop the ritual now that Dane and I were immortal and bound?
Sensing my concern, Dane stroked my palm with his thumb. Even now, my blood craved him, my body reached out for him. Dane was a drug coursing through my veins, with an influence just as powerful as Katia’s. I felt what he felt, anticipated his every move. His touch was like an anchor holding me to myself, reminding me of who I was.
I wanted to believe we could get through this, but with every step, the darkness spread, sweeping through my cells like poison. I’d seen into Katia’s heart. I’d experienced her cruelty firsthand. Katia had been planning this for over five hundred years. What made me think I could defeat her with love? I glanced up at Dane to voice my fears, but I wanted him to hold on to hope for as long as he could. For everything he thought we could be.
I caught glimpses of Katia as she moved through the corn ahead of us, the swing of her skirt skimming the back of her knees, her hair swishing against her bronze shoulders like a wave of black silk. I reached my hand to my throat, thankful to feel Marie’s ribbon still with me. It gave me some comfort.
As we neared the sacred circle, the air went thick with warring scents, some as familiar to me as breathing—others completely foreign. Along with sandalwood, cedar, mandarins, and the sea, I swore I caught a hint of my mother’s scent, but my senses were on overload. Beyond the wall of sound—the gentle breeze rustling through the stalks—a soft susurration of breath entered my consciousness. I couldn’t see the others, but I could feel their presence like a sharp needle softly dragging down the back of my neck.
“Ku’ Quivira paatu’ huhtaat aat,” Katia whispered.
Only my blood shall pass.
As we followed her into the sacred circle, Katia halted.
A feeling of repulsion and fear ripped through me.
“Katia,” said a man standing inside the circle. It was Coronado, in the flesh, his hand resting on the hilt of the dagger slung low around his waist.
Katia took out her golden blade, and at least two dozen men stepped out of the stalks, swords at the ready.
“How is this possible?” Katia murmured as she looked past Coronado, out over the corn. Her eyes filled with tears, her breathing went shallow.
“The boy’s blood cut through your magic, led the way into Quivira.”
Katia’s face blanched. “What boy?”
“You didn’t know?” Coronado seemed surprised. “The twin. Ashlyn’s blood is full of life, but her brother’s is pure death. Death for all living things, including your precious corn.”
I felt a shiver rush through my blood as Katia reached out to the Dark Spirit for help.
“So careless of you,” Coronado continued, “but you’ve always thought yourself invincible—above the laws of man and nature.”
As clouds amassed overhead, I could feel Katia’s power growing. A sinister wind rustled over the corn, a small taste of what was to come.