Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy (51 page)

"No!" I screeched.  My magic reacted with me, bursting forth and saturating my every cell.

Not yet
, I told it,
let me get her a little closer first . . .

"Morrigan!" I shouted even louder.

This time she heard me
. 
Jerking as if she'd be
en
slapped, Cade's mother dropped her magical hold on her so
n and whipped her head around. 
As soon as the Morrigan's attention was on me, Cade fell to his knees, coughing to catch his breath, the aftermath of his battle fury having sapped all his energy.  A few faelah noticed he was down, but out of nowhere something white blurred by and attacked.  Fergus.  A small flush of relief joined the rush of my magic as the wolfhound made mincemeat out of the Morrigan's abominations.  Good.  He would keep Cade safe for now.  As the magic in my veins pulsed and cried out for action, I turned quickly to Aiden who had remained plastered to my s
ide.

No more self-control, no more holding back.  This was it.  The final hour.  My final dance with the woman who had been making my life miserable for the past two years.  This ended, right now.

Taking a breath, I crouched down so that Aiden and I were eye to eye.  Speaking into his mind, I tried my best to make my
shil-sciar
words seem calm, controlled.

Aiden, this is it.  I'm going to use my power to try and end this.  I'd send you away if I could, but I don't know where you could go that would be safe at this point.

Aiden's eyes grew large and worried and he shook his head.

No, listen, okay?

I had to take a few deep breaths to gather my bearings.  I needed my brother to hide Cernunnos's magic; to create a shield of
his own
glamour to stretch around
me
as I allowed it to
bloom
to its full extent
. 
This way the Morrigan would only be focused on his magic and not mine,  and if I could gather Cernunnos's power and throw it at her in one large blast, I might just be able to obliterate her. 
But
if I told Aiden
about my extra glamour
, then I would break my geis
.  How ironic it would be, to make it this far and lose everything.  I gritted my teeth.  The magic had to be hidden from the Morrigan.  She had to believe I only had my little bit to use against her.  The element of surprise would not be there if I revea
led my extra glamour too soon.

Think Meghan, think . . .
  What
did
Cernunnos sa
y
to you? 
About your geis, about his magic, about not telling a single person . . . 
And then it dawned upon me, like brilliant, pure golden light bursting through
an ocean of storm
clouds after a week of rain. 
His words came rushing back to me:
You cannot tell a single Faelorehn man or woman Meghan . . .
 
That's right
, I couldn't, and Cernunnos had told me this twice.  Why?  Because he
'd
wanted me to remember his exact words.  I couldn't tell any Faelorehn men or women about my gift, but he hadn't said I couldn't tell any Faelorehn
children
. . .

I
quickly
turned my attention back on Aiden, the ridiculous urge to smile like an idiot flitting across my mind.  Unfortunately, my intense fear and anxiety
pulled the plug on
that plan.
  Taking a deep breath, I prepared the words in my mind. 
Well, here goes
, I told myself.

I have my magic
Aiden
,
I sent to him,
but I also have someone else's magic as well.  I'm going to let it free, and I'm not sure what will happen, but I want you to stay by my side.

I paused for a moment to take a shaky breath,
realizing
that I had to use everything I had to make sure the Morrigan didn't rise again this day.  It meant risking more than I was willing to sacrifice.  It meant taking the chance that my own flame of magic might burn out, but as I cast one more glance over my shoulder to survey the fight below me, I also realized that this might be the only way to save Danua, the Dagda, Aiden . . . Cade.

A light touch pulled my thoughts back up to the hilltop.  Aiden had placed a hand on my shoulder.

Don't worry Meggy
, he whispered into my mind. 
I'll protect you.

I pulled my brother close, fighting the warning in my head that kept telling me not to do this, not to risk my own life.  But I had no other choice.  I would not lose Cade again, nor would I lose Aiden or anyone else if I could help it.  I drew in a deep breath, my body shuddering as I did so.  I had to make a sacrifice, and the only sacrifice I could live with
would be
one
of my own
offeri
ng.

I glanced over my shoulder and checked on the Morrigan's slow climb up the low hill.  Her immense power was gathering and crackling around her like a scarlet web of electricity
; h
er skirts of smoke and death billow
ing
out over the ground, smothering anything that dared approach.

Meggy?
Aiden asked, his own silent words tainted with terror.

I closed my eyes and let the tears fall silently as the clash and shouting of battle continued to rage on just below us.

It’ll be okay Aiden, but you have to do exactly what I say, okay?

He nodded and hugged me closer.  A twinge of bitterness coursed through me, matching the tingle of the magic I was building up in my blood.  I had to push it away.  It would do me no good to reflect on what I was being forced to give up.  No.  I would not dwell on regrets.

I knelt down on the damp grass and looked Aiden in the eye. 
I’m going to use my magic to stop all this
, I repeated as the first icy raindrop fell from the black clouds above,
but I need your help
.

Aiden nodded, his dark hair ruffling in the wind.

Remember what I taught you about your magic?  How you can never let the candle go out?

He nodded again.

And remember how I showed you how to build a shield with that magic?

Yes.

Good
.  I blinked hard and took a deep breath.

How is all this possible Meggy?  Why do we have this magic?  Does anyone else have it?

I knew he meant the rest of our family in the mortal world.  Biting my lip, I shook my head.
 
I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek. 
Just us buddy, and when this is all over, I'll explain it to you.  But first I have a job to do and so do you.  I need you to build a shield and I want you to place it around both of us.  But Aiden, you must never, ever, let your candle go out.  That is the most important thing.  Do you promise me to never let the candle flame go out?

I knew my fingers dug into his arms, but I
could not loosen my hold
.

Yes Meggy, I promise I won’t let my candle go out.

I pressed my head against his small chest an
d murmured, “Thank you Aiden.”

Then I pulled back and reached my hands up, lifting the mistletoe charm from around my neck.  I never took it off anymore, but today I had good reason
to
.

This was the first thing Cade ever gave me from the Otherworld.  It is a charm to protect you against evil.  I want you to have it.

Aiden shook his head fiercely. 
You need it to keep safe.

No.  I have my torque, see?
  I brushed my fingers against the smooth metal.

Reluctantly, Aiden took the necklace and looped it over his head.

I stood and carefully removed Enorah's dagger from its hiding place.  I remembered what Cade had said to me long ago, about how magic was more potent when the barrier between blood and skin was breached.  Despite the wounds I'd received from the C
u
morrig in the Morrigan's cave, I didn't think they were enough.

“Look Aiden, look at how dark the sky is over there.  I think I saw some lightning."

Once he turned away, I dug the sharp edge of the dagger into my arm.  I gasped, but bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry out.  I made several more cuts, two at the base of my neck, two on my palms and one on each of my forearms.  I could feel the blood trickling over my skin and I could smell the metallic tang of it.  But I could also see the pale blue aura of my glamour gathering around me like a small storm.  And for the first time since acquiring it, I allowed the magic Cernunnos had given me to join my own.  It flowed free, an exhilarating, cooling rush of darker blue
as the rose burst into bloom
.  The strength behind the antlered god's glamour made me gasp, but I refused to give it full control, at least not yet.  Behind Aiden's shield, away from the Morrigan's immediate sight, I let my magic and the foreign magic build and grow until it nearly consumed me.  I had one shot to end the Morrigan's assault for good, and I couldn't blow it.

I took Aiden’s hand, my own bloody from the cuts I'd made.

His blue-green eyes held concern, but I smiled at him as the tears gathered in his eyes once more.

Now Aiden, keep the shield nice and strong.  But remember, never let your candle flame go out.

What about your candle Meggy?

I gritted my teeth and fought the tremor that tried to take over me.

Don't you worry about my candle Aiden.  You just take care of yours.

“Hold onto me Aiden," I breathed down to him in my best big sister voice, ending our silent conversation, "hold onto me no matter what and when I say let go, I want you to let go of me but keep the shield of magic over you
rself, okay?”

His bottom lip
quiver
ed
, but he sniffled and nodded, then buried his face into my side.  Taking a deep breath, I sent a prayer out to the spirits of Eile and then I turned and faced the Morrigan once more.

My power crackled down my arms, making the small hair stand on end, and a supernatural wind stirred around me, but the
goddess of death
was undeterred.  Pure fury engulfed her, her black skirts like a great cloud of death and strife spreading out behind her, the
dark
tendrils of smoke seeking out new souls to ensnare
as she finally breached the crest of the small hill
.

“How did you two fae straylings escape my fortress!?” she hissed.

Oh yay, we were going to have a little chat before we attempted to oblite
rate one another on this
hilltop. 
Fine
.  I had
lots to say to her.

“You put Danua's two
children together then
left us to be guarded by your worthless
hounds,” I retorted, my voice shaking a little.  "What did you expect?"

“The bars on that gate were charmed!” she ground out.  “You should never have been able to break free!”

“That was your mistake,” I responded, calling my combined magic to gather into one, solid sphere of power.

Just a
little longer
, I whispered to myself. 
You
just need to keep control a little longer . .
.

A screech and a white flash flew into my line of vision
, breaking my concentration for a split second.  Meridian . . .

Too late, I realized what she was doing, but I screamed nonetheless.  "No
!
!"

A red flash of power zapped through the air and slammed into my spirit guide, sending her cart-wheeling into a thicket of oaks grow
ing up the side of the hill, white feathers flying everywhere.

Crying out in pure anguish and hatred, I turned my eyes on the Morrigan and almost charged at her.

No Meghan, you've come too far and suffered too mu
ch to let it all fall apart now,
my conscience reminded me.

Gritting my teeth and fighting back
a new wave of
tears, I glared at my enemy.  The Morrigan merely returned my look of dis
d
ain.
  I didn't have time to wonder about Meridian's fate, because in the next breath the goddess continued on, as if taking out my spirit guide were as noteworthy as smashing a mosquito.

"So then
Meghan, after escaping my lair and killing my hounds, do you still think you are strong enough to fight me?" she hissed in a quiet voice that suggested she had a very thin hold on her own temper. 
"Even with the paltry power you're siphoning out of
your brother, you stand no chance against me.  Do you think I've simply been killing these Faelorehn
scum and leaving them to rot?"