Two of them appeared in the reflection, fighting to hold back her death. Her heart burst, and she couldn’t control the tears. Jared and Teague. She turned, searching for them with her eyes but saw only an empty street. Was it because they were both dead? Was that the only way to hold back Death?
Jared cried out as the omen bit his shoulder, and he lost his grip on the dog. The dog rolled off and faced Teague, who stood directly in front of her. Shielding her with his body. He held his arms wide open like she’d seen her mom do, and he said in a loud voice, “Death, you’ve been trying to claim me for over a century. Take me instead. For I no longer fear you. I am free.”
Jared yelled at his other half and dove for the dog, but the omen was too fast. He opened his mouth and lunged at Teague.
In a blast of black smoke, they both disappeared.
Mina screamed Teague’s name and stood, but the parking lot was empty. Only a black circle remained on the ground where Death had claimed Teague.
“No, no, no.” Mina stared at the blackened spot, vision blurring, and she clenched her hands. A tingle on her hand told her Jared was still there, although she couldn’t seem him. She closed her eyes and opened her hand. His fingers slid between hers and gave a gentle squeeze.
“Please don’t go. I can’t lose you. I need you.”
She felt another slight tingly sensation on her cheek and brought her hand up to touch the spot where Jared had kissed her. It felt like a goodbye kiss. This couldn’t be happening.
How could he even be here? She was losing him again.
“Jared, how are you here?”
“They’re here because of me,” Taz Clara spoke. Her eyes glistened with power. “The power I gleaned feeding from you and from the prince’s death afforded me enough strength to pull… memories from him as he died. What I learned surprised me. The prince, being separated for so long, created two distinct souls. They never fully fit together properly again. It was easy to sort through and find the largest group of memories. They came to me almost eagerly, so I took them with me. Strangely, both souls were attached to the memories, like they were a puzzle piece connecting the two princes.”
“And the omen?”
“Well, you saved Teague. I suppose sacrificing his soul for you was his way of saying thank you. Don’t be fooled, girl. Both souls loved you dearly. And you still have one part of him left, although I can’t sustain him in this form very long.”
The sprite who had once divided the prince waved her hand in front of Jared, and he became corporeal in front of Mina.
“Oh, Mina.” He hugged her to him.
She took a deep breath and let the scent of Jared roll over her while the streets around them rumbled with dangerous activity.
“I never thought I would get to hold you again. I’m sorry for not telling you how I felt sooner… and for all the things that the poison of that hate blade did to me—to us. It lied and used our deepest insecurities against us.”
“But the omen and my mother? You said you sent it, or Teague said that. I’m not sure what to believe anymore.” She buried her head against his shoulder and felt him nuzzle the top of her head.
“No, that was a lie. I control the Fae Reapers, but the Death Reaper or omen is controlled by the one who has the bone whistle.
“Annalora.”
“I believe so.”
“How do we stop this?” Mina had been so wrapped up in her own near death and Teague’s sacrifice and Jared’s presence that she hadn’t thought about the battle for a while. But it raged around them still. Annalora’s gnome army was here.
“I don’t know.” He grimaced and flickered.
Mina looked to Taz in alarm. “What’s happening?”
“His soul can’t survive like this for long,” she answered simply. “You destroyed his body beyond repair. I just saved a bit of his soul for you. I thought you’d be grateful.”
“No, I am. I just don’t want to lose him.”
“Then don’t,” she challenged, as if it were nothing. “Do something about it.”
“I don’t know how. I can’t lose them both.”
“It’s okay, Mina.” The corner of Jared’s mouth lifted, showing off his unbelievable grin. “You can let me go. I’m ready to leave.”
Helicopters thwacked and thundered overhead.
“I can’t let you go. Not now, not ever.”
“You don’t have to. I already told you, I will live on in here.” He pointed to her heart.
“So that wasn’t a dream?”
“No, we wouldn’t let you give up on yourself.”
“Then I’m not giving up on you. What can I do? I’m so sorry I caused all this in the first place, but I love you. I will fight for you.”
Jared pressed his forehead to hers. “I know, but there’s nothing I can do. It’s Taz’s power that’s sustaining me now.”
“The Grimoire!”
Mina reached into her bag and pulled out the Grimoire. “Taz split you before and bound your soul to a book. What if we did it again? What if we anchored your soul again?” He flickered, and urgency made her heart pound.