No reaction from the gathering of weapon-toting creatures below. Elena had no idea there were this many.
“Tomorrow morning we will lift the Veil, forever changing the face of the planet,” Fydor yelled. “I ask for your help and loyalty.”
Still, silence. Commanders had their arms up at the ready. They were waiting for something. A signal to advance. A hope fluttered in Elena’s chest. They knew something.
“I told you to light the fire,” Borya shouted to the Slayers around the platform. Obviously, they didn’t want to torch their queen. When they didn’t move, he lifted his staff and a bolt shot from it, knocking a Slayer off to the stones below.
They needed more time. Something was going to happen. Stall. “Do it yourself, asshole,” Elena challenged. “Or are you too weak?”
He once again climbed over the pile of wood and got right in her face. “I would, if I could. And I’d enjoy it, too. The problem is, Elena Arcos, I can’t destroy my own blood or it weakens my power.” She held completely still, heart slamming against her ribs like a captive animal as he kissed her on the cheek. “Good-bye, my sweet granddaughter.”
Holy shit. Aunt Uza had mentioned her great-great-grandmother hooking up with an immortal. It was Borya.
He backed away and pointed his staff at the Slayer Elena remembered from her vision. “You will now do exactly as I wish,” the sorcerer ordered.
Clearly against his will, the Slayer moved. Fighting his own body that was controlled by Borya, he lowered his torch to the straw at their feet. “Forgive me please, Queen Tatiana.” The straw caught fire with a whoosh.
“These prisoners have been convicted of treason against the king,” Fydor shouted. There was an odd void of reaction from the crowd below. “And sentenced to death by fire.”
For the first time, Elena truly doubted they’d make it out alive. She’d seen the last of her visions unfold and had no idea what would happen now. If Aleksandra had been successful in putting the tainted vial with his others, at least Elena could die confident that Fydor would not live to lead that massacre tomorrow morning. She strained to look at the crowd inside the fortress behind her, but didn’t catch a glimpse of Aleksi.
And then, there was the baby. She closed her eyes at the sting of the smoke. The precious baby Nik had given her. The bridge between worlds. A tear rolled down her cheek as the ache in her chest became intolerable. The heat from the flames was increasing, and in moments it would spread enough to ignite the wood at her feet. This was it. Still careful to hum so Borya wouldn’t hear her thoughts about the baby and the poison, she knew it was time for good-byes. “Nik?” He met her eyes, calm and relaxed. “I’m glad you found me in that convenience store.”
“I love you, Elena Arcos,” he said.
“I love you, too, and I’ll see you wherever we end up after this lifetime,” she answered.
He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Mother.”
“You are an excellent son and Slayer,” she answered.
The wood elf said nothing. He trembled all over, black eyes wide with horror in his rough, gray-skinned face as the flames spread and grew, getting closer to the center every second.
A twinge of sympathy pricked Elena’s chest. He had no one to comfort him. “I wish you well, elf,” she said.
He closed his eyes and nodded.
The heat built as the flames crept closer, and Elena switched from “The Macarena” to “The Hokey Pokey,” in honor of her dad, who maybe she’d see soon, if there really was an afterlife. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she bid her unborn child a silent good-bye.
So close. They’d almost done it.
“Woo hooooooo!” someone shrieked, and Elena opened her eyes to see Uza, still dressed in her cat mu-mu, solidify with a pop on the platform just outside the flames. “Let’s get this party started, dudes!”
Uza turned in a circle, hips swaying like she was on the dance floor. Once back around to face Elena, she swept her arms in a wide circle, puckered her lips, and blew, looking even crazier than usual. A huge gust of wind followed, blowing cinders and flaming straw around like flash paper. “I’ll dance the Macarena with you, Ellie Baby.” She blew again, and the rest of the fire went out like candles on a birthday cake, leaving only tiny smoldering embers. “And the Hokey Pokey.”
Watch out!” Elena shouted as Borya raised his staff.
Aunt Uza turned and held her palms out to him, blocking the bolt he fired off, causing it to ricochet back, nearly hitting him.
“Now, kitties, you know what to do.” She brushed her hands over her mu-mu, as if dusting off hay, but instead, dusted off her shifter companions, who hit the ground as full-size house cats. They immediately sprang into action, lining the perimeter of the platform as if daring anyone to try to come light the fire again.