My hands glowed with a pale purple light. My hybrid magick was waning. I had perhaps one casting left in me. There was no question in my mind. I knew exactly how I would use the last of this hybrid power. I focused my magick into Rowan. The venom in his bloodstream pushed back with supernatural force. Too much time had gone by. His organs were failing. His soul was almost gone.
The Tsar’s skeletons fought the Casters and Necromancers around me. Flashes of blue light exploded in the skies. I barely saw any of it. All I knew was that Rowan was dying. I wouldn’t let that happen. I pumped the last of my hybrid power into his body.
He still didn’t move.
A voice sounded behind my shoulder. “Are we done toying with hybrid magick?” It was the Tsar. “You’d best leave that work to those of us who understand our powers.”
I slowly rose to face him. “My army is winning.”
“But you’re about to die. There are no more bone crawlers here. No more lovers in the wings. An army at war, but too busy to fight for you. There are no more second chances. You’re all alone. And you’re mine.”
A warm hand wrapped around my wrist. I looked down to see Rowan propped up on his elbow, his right hand grasping my left. The veins in his entire arm glowed red as he pumped Caster power into me. My body felt on fire. Pain like I’d never known ripped me from the inside out.
But the hybrid magick came back.
I reached out with my mage senses. The gateway was still nearby. Agony shot through me as I released a cloud of purple magick. When the haze vanished, the gate had moved. This time, it had formed right behind the Tsar.
So close. One small push and he’s back through the gateway.
I crumpled forward onto my knees. Hurt ripped through my brain. Every inch of my being felt like it was tearing apart. I moaned in agony.
Rowan gripped my hand more tightly. “You can do it, Elea. Send that bastard back.”
With one last rush of pain and power, I hurled our hybrid magick at the Tsar. He flew backward through the gate. Another flash of violet light tore through the night sky, and the gateway was gone. I exhaled. At last. The Tsar was gone, too.
The final thing I saw was all the Tsar’s skeletons fall lifeless to the ground as my body collapsed. After that, my mind faded into oblivion. All the while, I still felt Rowan’s hand in mine.
Chapter Thirty-One
I awoke in my tavern bed and rolled onto my side, every muscle in my body aching with the effort. When I saw who was seated beside my mattress, I thought perhaps I was still asleep.
I blinked hard. Then, I did it again.
Rowan was still sitting beside me. He wore his brown leathers and an intense look on his rugged face. Heavy scruff covered his chin. It looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
Not sure how I feel about that.
One part of me was glad to see him alive. He’d saved my life in the battle with the Tsar. Another part of me knew that had changed nothing. We still couldn’t be together. And he was engaged to Amelia.
I always knew Rowan was a member of the Imperial family. They always married for political advantage. So, I shouldn’t be upset that Rowan had gotten engaged.
I was furious.
Fortunately, I was now alert enough to school my emotions. True, I might be angry, but I wouldn’t let him see it. I forced myself to sit up. The movement revealed that I was now wearing a cotton nightshift. I’d been here for some time, then. “How long have I been asleep?”
Rowan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “A fortnight.”
My brows lifted. Fourteen nights? For me to stay asleep that long, that meant magick. “Did you put me in stasis?” That involved slowing a body down until it was almost frozen solid. It was complex and draining magick.
Rowan nodded. “My Caster power wouldn’t leave your body. You were burning up with it. Once you were in stasis, I could heal you in phases.”
In other words, Rowan had been casting healing spells at my bedside. It wasn’t that he hadn’t slept in a few days. It had been more like a few weeks. The realization should have blunted my anger.
It didn’t though. The bastard was engaged to someone else. It was an effort to keep my tone heavy and formal. “Thank you for watching over me.”
Rowan eyed me carefully. I had the upsetting impression that he was guessing my thoughts. Again. “The engagement means nothing. It’s a means to get the Sword of Theodora. That weapon is the only way my people can survive.” His voice turned pleading. “If you’ll only allow me to explain.”
“No.” Low chanting echoed into the room. I welcomed the distraction. “What’s that noise?”
Rowan scrubbed his palms over his face. “I’d rather finish our discussion.”
“I’d rather not.” I rose from the bed. The voices grew louder. Unease twisted through my stomach. With shaky steps, I walked over to the window. Anxiety prickled my skin into gooseflesh.
Please don’t let this be what I think it is.