The magic that arced within him like lightning.
He thought, It isn’t fair.
It isn’t fair.
It isn’t fair.
And it wasn’t. Because the gods had taken his choice away from him.
So I did the only thing I could.
I took it back.
I raised my arm, palm skyward, even as I thought, No, no, no, this isn’t the way, this isn’t the way.
The corona that spun in my hand was brighter than anything I’d ever seen, like I held a star. The magic rushed through me and the corona began to cascade downward like a waterfall, the drops of light spreading along the ground, pulsating slowly.
They had taken from me. I would wipe them all out. Kill every single one of them and bring back my love while leaving nothing but ash in my wake.
The bird had come back.
Ryan would too.
They would die.
They would all die and—
If I could have you remember one thing, it would be this: a wizard isn’t as strong as the magic he uses. It’s the magic he doesn’t use that’s a measure of true strength.
The star in my hand faded. I lowered my hand.
Myrin laughed. “You can’t even—”
I said, “Kevin. Fly.”
The dragon spread his wings as he reached out and snagged Dimitri.
I heard my best friends shout for me, but they faded away as Kevin rose into the sky.
I looked back at Myrin.
I felt his magic gathering, that fierce yellow infection mixed with homehomehome that never belonged to him.
He snarled, “You cannot defeat me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Dude, you’re such a godsdamn cliché. Fuck off and die.”
Lightning burst from my heart as I exploded.
Big big.
“ARE YOU sure about this?” Randall asked me.
“Yeah,” I said. “Sort of.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“Well, it’s a pretty fucking far-out-there idea.”
“That might be an understatement. You’re sweating.”
“Uh, yeah. You would be too if you were about to tell your sexy boyfriend you need to kill him in order to save Verania from a supervillain.”
Justin groaned. “How is this our lives?”
The King patted him on the arm. “I ask myself that all the time. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Randall didn’t look convinced. “We don’t—”
“Look,” I said. “I can’t… I don’t want to kill them all. That’s not who I am. But something has to be done. And you have to let me be the one to tell him. This is a sensitive subject, and—”
The flap to Justin’s command tent opened. Ryan entered, frowning. He looked from Randall, to Justin, to the King, before finally settling his gaze on me. “I got your message. What’s going on?”
“Hi,” I said. “I need to murder you to save the world.” I winced. “Shit.”
Randall put his face in his hand.
The King shook his head.
Justin sighed.
Ryan said, “What.”
“Sensitive subject,” Randall hissed at me.
“Okay, listen,” I said to Ryan. “You know the whole me being weird and bringing the bird back to life thing? So, like, I want to kill you and then bring you back to life, but not really doing the bird thing, because we don’t know what that’d do to you. And stuff.”
“And stuff,” Ryan said.
I beamed at him. “See? He got it right away.”
“This is madness,” Randall said. “Sam, do you know what will happen to you the moment he dies? He has been your cornerstone for only a short amount of time. Your bond is strong, but even you will not be able to escape the repercussions of such a devastating shock to your system. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. You’re talking about killing Ryan. I banished Myrin to the realm of shadows and lost a decade. What do you think it’ll do to you to murder the one you love?”
“I’m not you,” I retorted. “Something you’ve reminded me of again and again. I’m not going to turn Dark.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I won’t.”
“How do you even know that’s what Myrin will make you do?” Justin asked.
“Because he’ll see Ryan as Sam’s last connection to the world of light,” Randall muttered. “He’ll think of it as the greatest sacrifice. If Sam is willing to kill his cornerstone, then there is nothing he won’t do to become Dark. He’ll be convinced. And then there’s the matter of the prophecy.”
“I like being alive,” Ryan said, sounding dazed. “I don’t know if I’ve ever really told you that before. But I really do like it.”
“I’ll bring you back,” I promised him. “Like I would ever let you get away from me. We’ve got to grow old together, remember?”
“Sam,” the King said gently, “your magic. It will keep you young for a very long time.”
Randall sighed. “Sam found a way to manipulate his magic. He will age as normal.”
“You did what?” Justin asked.
I shrugged. “No big thing.”
The King smiled. “Of course you did. Please don’t ever stop surprising me. I would like it if we all came out of this alive. I want to see what wonders you’ll all achieve.”
“And you did it for me,” Ryan said quietly. We all turned toward him. He watched me with something akin to awe.
I blushed, scuffing my boot against the dirt. “I already told you that, but yeah. Mostly. Sure, part of it was me wanting to live a normal life. Well. As normal a life as is possible for someone like me. But when I wished on the stars to do something important, to be someone who matters, I didn’t mean all of this. This… destiny. I think I meant you. Because you’re my something important. You help me be that someone who matters.” I looked away. “You’re my wish, you know? I think you always have been.”
A couple of fingers went under my chin and lifted my head. Then lips were pressed against mine, a kiss so bittersweet and tinged with desperation that it took my breath away. Everything else melted away, just for a little while.
When he broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead against mine, his nose brushing my cheek. “You did it for me,” he said again, voice low.
“I would do anything for you. And this country.”
He pulled away, but only just. His gaze was searching when he said, “Including killing me.”
I swallowed thickly. “Right.”
“And then bringing me back.”
“That’s the plan. Shocking the shit out of you. And Myrin. More than I’ve ever done before. Hopefully it’ll fry his brains and save yours.”
He stared at me. “This might be the stupidest plan you’ve ever come up with.”
I grinned at him. “I thought so too.”
“How did you even think of this?” he asked, taking a step back, dropping his arms.
“The Grimoires. Morgan’s. Randall’s. And Myrin’s. They were… magic is in the mind. That was something they all had written. A common thread. That’s what they believed, and… maybe they’re right.” I shook my head. “But maybe they’re wrong, because I don’t think magic comes from just the mind. I think it comes from the heart too. And I think Morgan knew that. And maybe Randall does too. But Myrin? Myrin… he doesn’t get it. He’s cold and calculating because he doesn’t understand just how extensive magic can be. He wants power. He takes that power. Ergo, he becomes more powerful. But what can he do with it? He’s covered in shadow. I think he always has been. He’s got a singular focus, wanting to prove that he is the greatest wizard the world has ever known. And it’s all in his mind. None of it comes from his heart.”
“Morgan did see it,” Randall said softly. “And I think it was because of you.”
I couldn’t look at him.
“What is this going to do to you?” Ryan asked.
“To me? I don’t—”
“You’re talking about potentially killing people.”
I blanched. “They’re Darks—”
“I’m not defending them. I’m worried about what this will do to you. I’m a knight. A soldier. I know that I would take a life in order to protect the King and the Prince. To protect you. It’s my job. My oath to the Crown.”
“I’m not a knight.”
“I know.”
“And I’m not a soldier.”
He looked frustrated. “I know that too.”
“But I have an oath.”
“Everyone out,” Ryan snarled. He began pacing as the others fled the tent.
I waited, because he needed to work this out.
“You’re stupid,” he said.