I pictured a lone female wolf forced to battle all the races herself and shuddered.
No, not just a female, Marinette corrected me. A female created from my flesh and bones. Created by my blood—my very soul! She would be mine in every way, connected to me for all time, and with that strength used together we would become the ruler of all the races—the single strongest supernatural anyone had ever seen. Her words echoed what Lili had said in the Underworld. The quest for supreme power.
I struggled to respond to Marinette, to keep her talking. I shouldn’t have to point out to you that the supernatural races wouldn’t survive by a rule of one. It would’ve brought more chaos and more fighting. By creating me, you single-handedly brought about the demise of humans and supernaturals alike. Fate knew that.
They were blind! she shrieked in my mind. They could not see the vision that was right within their grasp.
Oh, I think they saw it just fine, I responded. That’s why they killed you and created more females—entire female races like the witches, to turn Fate back on to its original path.
TAKE.
Juanita’s word filtered through my mind again and again.
TAKE.
Take what? I still don’t understand. I called to Juanita in my mind.
Marinette thought my words were for her and replied, Of course you don’t understand. I take what I want. Her voice shook with rage. And I will not be denied this time.
This time? A spasm of understanding overtook me.
TAKE. DON’T FIGHT.
Oh my gods. I finally understood. Your powerful female wolf creation disobeyed you, didn’t she! She had your soul inside her, but she wasn’t you. You didn’t have the control you dreamed you’d have, because she had a mind of her own. That’s why you died. She ultimately sided with Fate!
Fury boiled in my bloodstream, heating my freezing veins for a precious second. You know nothing! Fate corrupted her so they could kill me. Now I will exact my revenge. I created the most powerful being the world had ever seen. Now I will become the most powerful being. She blew through my body, her magic so cold it made me ache once more.
But she couldn’t take hold.
My wolf was still fighting her.
TAKE. DON’T FIGHT.
Your signature is almost the same color as my own, I said. It’s yellow, though it’s a darker shade than mine.
That matters not. Soon all the magic in your body will be mine.
Her signature was yellow, same as mine.
TAKE.
Dawning washed over me. I sent out a silent prayer to Juanita that this was what I had to do. WE HAVE TO STOP FIGHTING HER! I yelled to my wolf. WE HAVE TO ABSORB HER MAGIC. I tore through my mind, trying to find my wolf. A new batch of adrenaline raced through me, bolstering me. I heard her bark. Do it now! Stop fighting and grab on to her magic.
You cannot wrestle my magic from me. It’s impossible—
My blood warmed by a few degrees as another bark sounded in my mind. My wolf had heard me and was doing what I asked. Yes! I urged her. Let it become a part of us. LET GO! My wolf howled in response and my temperature began to rise in earnest. Marinette’s amber signature began to undulate. My wolf threw the magic she had kept close at the stream, and I watched it collide, coming together with Marinette’s, the two yellows melding, becoming brighter.
This can’t happen! Marinette raged. You are not strong enough to do such a thing!
It has nothing to do with strength or power, I said. My wolf is simply taking her just deserts.
What are you talking about? I owe her nothing!
Oh, on the contrary. You created her with half, but she deserves the whole.
Impossible!
No, Marinette. You made a mistake by infiltrating us. This is what Juanita was leading us toward the entire time! You hand delivered exactly what we needed—what Fate wanted—to finally set things to right after all these years. Your soul. The half we need to make my wolf complete, what she should’ve received from you from the beginning. You made an error thinking you would be the victor, that your half was stronger—but clearly it’s not. You were never going to win. We just had to stop fighting you. I was waking internally now and could see my wolf. She had her muzzle up, howling her joy. My body opened up in a rush as my magic absorbed Marinette’s amber signature as quickly as it could, melding with it like Marinette had stated—like mother to child. It was a homecoming.
I cannot die this way, Marinette screamed, her voice fading fast. I am immortal!
I had no idea if she was actually dying in the classic sense. My guess was that she would snap out of existence once my wolf took her soul. That had been the only thing tethering her as a spirit all these years—she’d told us that already. If she lingered after, that would be a very bad thing. My wolf snarled her agreement, both of us on the same wavelength. As my magic swallowed up Marinette, I felt euphoric.