“Didn’t kill him? Just as I didn’t kill my daughters by making them joint heirs to the throne with Rome?”
“You knew that Rome was to be sole heir to your husband’s land upon his death! That was the deal we gave every kingdom. Trying to slip by the rules by naming your daughters as co-heirs sealed their fates!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted. But as the words left his lips, the sick light of dawning knowledge filled his eyes.
“Exactly.” The decision had been her husband’s, but she too was to blame. Paulinus had swung the sword over her daughters’ necks, but she had handed him that sword. “Just as you are complicit in your son’s death. I, Boudica, swung the blade. But would he have been on the battlefield if not for your hubris? Should you have led a child into that nightmare?”
Indecision and doubt warred on his face. “He was strong, the bravest of them all.”
“Not strong enough.” The words were harsh, her tone worse.
He began to advance on her, his body swift and agile despite his ghostly form. Or perhaps because of it.
“Fight me, Paulinus, and die. And lose your only hope of saving your son.”
Her sword crashed with his as he reached her. She danced to the side, narrowly avoiding his blade. The now familiar unworldly skill and confidence sang through her.
“He must kill me on the altar for the spell to possibly work. We’ve killed your harpies. You have no help.”
She spun on him and met his burning eyes as she sank the blade into his side. His mouth gaped and she twisted. He stumbled away from her blade, then rose again with his own clutched in his fist.
“Make the sacrifice you know is required,” she said.
He was strong, but she was faster. Doubt slowed him. He couldn’t kill her off the altar or his plan was lost. Her sword clashed with his as she drove him backward. She dodged his blade once more, then cursed as it swiped at her arm.
Sweat poured down her face and her wound burned. What if he settled for saving his own life and decided to kill her instead of having his son do it?
No. Think only forward. Only a few more steps. The forest was silent but for their sawing breaths. She thrust her blade at him, driving him toward the altar. He was faltering.
“Why?” He gasped. “Why give me the chance to save him?”
He stumbled on the first step leading to the altar.
“Because I can’t do the same for my daughters.”
Her heart burned with rage at this man for taking them from her. Boudica would never have spared his son, but Diana could. Two thousand years allowed her to see clearly. The world would be well rid of this madman, but not his son.
“Do you hate me more than you love him?” She drove him up to the last step until he bent backward over the altar. His eyes met hers, rage in their depths, but also hopelessness. She had her sword at his throat, giving him just enough space to look to the side for his son.
Her heart pounded as she glanced up briefly. Cadan held the boy so that he couldn’t see. With her sword at his throat and his son captive, he had only one viable option.
With a last burning look at the boy and not a second spared for her, Paulinus plunged the dagger into his own heart.
Diana gasped and lunged backward as he began to slip from the altar. It gave her chills to watch him die in the same way she had. He’d plunged his blade more truly, though, and within seconds the life slipped from his eyes. His soul was beginning to disappear; she jerked her gaze up and searched for Cadan, but he too was beginning to fade. He, Vi, and the boy were disappearing before her eyes.
No. She ran for Cadan. The boy was the key to making it back out. His restored soul would lead them out of Erebus. She crashed through the clearing, her lungs burning as she pushed harder, faster. Please, oh please let me make it in time.
Cadan ran to meet her, arm outstretched, but just as they neared each other, he and the boy disappeared, Vivienne in tow.
Diana stumbled to a halt. No! She doubled over, helpless fear overwhelming her.
Now what? With Paulinus’ death, the portal was closed. She should have been able to make it in time, but he’d died so quickly.
Now she was stuck in hell.
Chapter 39
Cadan fell to his knees in the chamber beneath Edinburgh, the boy still gripped in his arms. Vivienne’s soul had disappeared as soon as they’d appeared in the chamber.
“Where’s Diana?” Esha’s voice was frantic.
He opened his eyes to see Warren jerk the silent boy out of his arms. He surged to his feet and frantically searched the room. “Nay.” His voice was hoarse, desperate. “No’ possible.”
He sprinted toward the portal, but could see nothing more than he had earlier that morning.
“The portal is closed!” Esha’s voice was unusually high-pitched. “Didn’t she make it to you in time?”
Her hand hadn’t touched his. When Paulinus had been destroyed and the portal had closed, her hand hadn’t been touching his. They were supposed to have had more time!