The 13th Prophecy (23 page)

Glancing at him, I moved toward the chair, my arms still wrapped tightly around my middle. “I was wondering what to believe.” For the first time since he’d started talking, he looked at me.

His eyes were flighty, as if they couldn’t stand to meet mine. Collin glanced to the side, “About that.” He meant, about Apryl—about my sister. “I thought you knew.” He worked his jaw, as if he was trying to dislodge something bitter. “There were so many things I did, and I’m not
gonna
hide behind Kreturus and say he made me do it. I said those things back there to draw you to the stage, so you could tell that we were trying to help you. I do take responsibility for every life I took,” his blue gaze met mine, “for every ounce of pain I’ve caused. I was damned before you met me, and now I’ve stolen everything that mattered to you. Everything I’ve touched was destroyed, utterly decimated. Your entire family died at my hand. I know you realize that. And I don’t expect you to,” he swallowed, choking on his words, “to do anything. To act any different than you would with anyone else.” His fingers clenched and smoothed on his lap. Shame covered him thickly,
slumping
his shoulders, and pulling his gaze downward.

I stared at him. I’d already decided what I would do before I saw him. Allowing him to speak was a formality. He didn’t cower or grovel. Collin expected me to choose vengeance. At least that was what it seemed. My arms tightened as he spoke, a lump forming in my throat. As he said the last word, I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to hear it. I knew! I already knew and there was nothing to be done about it. There was no changing the past. There was no bringing back the dead. I swallowed hard. Jumping to my feet, I grabbed his shirt in my hands, pressed his forehead to mine, and tilted him back in his chair.

Surprised, Collin clutched the seat of the chair as I dipped it back. “Look at me,” I demanded. His gaze flicked to mine. Emotions washed over him, emotions that I could no longer feel. Eric’s blood subdued his, making it like a weak whisper in the back of my mind. “I knew who you were before you
did
. I knew what you were capable of—what you did. I had the pieces to connect my sister to you, and I didn’t. I didn’t because we’ve already been over this and it doesn’t change a damn thing. There is no point in discussing the past. It’s over. It’s gone. If we’re lucky, you and I have today, and maybe tomorrow. Beyond that is too much to hope for, and there is no way in Hell I’m spending those days without you. I accept you. I know who you are. What you were...”

I released him, and stepped back. Collin’s chair thudded down on all four legs. His hand smoothed his shirt as he looked up at me, surprised. Breathing hard, I asked, “The question is, do you accept what I have been and what I will become? Will you still love me after whatever happens, happens? Will you still love me when I murder without thought—as I already
have.
” Swallowing hard, I looked down, shaking my head. When I looked back up at Collin’s face, his eyes met mine, “I saw the thirteenth prophecy, Collin. Kreturus has it. I hold demons and angels in my palms. I stood watching a battle, without
so
much as a breastplate to protect me...without anything to cover me. I don’t know how I get there. I don’t know when or how that will become me. The question is
,
will you accept me then?”

My eyes stung. I’d just admitted a plethora of things that I wanted to denounce. I couldn’t offer the prophecy, and my interpretation of it, to Jenna Marie and Eric, but to Collin—it slid off my tongue. I couldn’t keep it a secret. He was my other half, my soul mate. Worry wrinkled the space between my eyes. My teeth sank into my lower lip, as I fought to keep my gaze cool and even. It killed me to say it. I didn’t want to admit all that yet, but I had to. I had to say it, because... I was no better than him. All the things Collin did, I would do, if not more. It didn’t matter what the reason was, the hand that killed was mine. Kreturus’ words stung. I was so close to being the ruthless Queen everyone expected me to be. There was only one thing anchoring me, keeping me from becoming her—from wanting to be her. And it was this boy, the perfect boy standing in front of me.

Collin hadn’t moved. As I spoke, his eyes drifted away from my face and down toward the floor. He pressed them closed a few times, and remained that way when I stopped speaking. His jaw tightened as he looked up at me. His eyes shone like twin pools, “I accept who you are now, and what you will become.” As he spoke my heart soared. I tried to wipe the stupid smile off my face, but I couldn’t. He stood slowly and walked toward me as he spoke. There was
an intensity
in his gaze and determination in his step. One of his hands slid around my waist, and the other tilted up my chin. His eyes lingered on my lips, as my heart fluttered in my chest. He pressed a soft kiss to my mouth, pulling back long enough to say, “I love you, Ivy Taylor. I always have. I always will. No matter what...”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Collin kept his arms wrapped around me tightly, my head tucked under his chin. I wasn’t certain how long we remained like that until the tent flapped opened. My heart jumped into my throat. Collin wasn’t supposed to be here. We pulled apart like we were caught doing something horrible.

“You two make me sick. You act like two fucking lovebirds who think that love will save the day,” Eric chided. His arms were folded over his chest. A white tee shirt clung to his body like a second skin. His dark jeans and shirt were both wet, plastered to his body from the snow. He shook off the precipitation like a dog, ruffling his fingers through his hair, splattering us.

“Eric,” I gasped, ignoring everything he just said. I loved Collin. I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t think it would change anything. And it had the potential to make things suck even more. But it was a risk I was willing to take. Collin’s fingers intertwined with mine. I was worried about him. He shouldn’t be here. Pushing my hair out of my face, I asked urgently, “Where’s the dagger? Do you have it? We need to get out of here. All three of us...”

Before Eric could speak, I heard her voice echo from the other side of the flap. “No, I do.” Jenna
Marie,
pushed her way through. A gust of wind tangled her hair. She held the hair down, against her cheek, hiding her hideous scar. When she stepped inside, she held Shannon’s dagger between her fingers. A grin spread across her face. “Were you seriously going to leave without me? Ivy?” She glowered at me, scolding me.

But I wasn’t apologizing. “Why wouldn’t you let Collin in? I need to know.
Now.
Before anything else happens.” I moved in front of him protectively.

All eyes in the room shifted to Jenna Marie. She sighed, tilting her head to the side. “I obviously let him in, Ivy.
And kept the other angels away from him.
We just wanted to keep him safe. There are Martis here that would kill you if I wasn’t sitting with you every moment. There are even more that remember Collin and what he’s done. It was an unnecessary risk. Collin agreed. It wasn’t like I banished him.”

Collin’s hand rested on my shoulder, “It’s all right, Ivy. Jenna Marie had your best interests at heart... and mine.”

Eric turned to the angel, “So you lifted the knife off of me?” His arms folded over his chest. I’m not sure if he was annoyed or impressed.

She nodded, still holding it. “You have a serious problem. The stone is lodged in the hilt of this dagger. It won’t come out. If it did, they would have given it to you to use already, Ivy. But it’s stuck. Eric can’t figure out why or how to dislodge it.” She paused, licking her perfect pink lips. Her gaze met mine. Vulnerability was strewn across her face, “I say we take it to the other angel who used it.”

I laughed, “Of course you’d say that.” I reached out for the dagger, gripping part of the hilt and expecting Jenna Marie to release it, but her grip remained on the weapon.

Her eyes met
mine,
uncertain as to whether or not she should release it. The only thing she was asking for was to return to her love. I considered her request, not releasing the blade. Eric spoke next to me, “It’s not a bad idea. And it’s not stuck. There’s something holding it in place, and unless we can get it out—you can’t use it. Plus, the place is a tomb. Kreturus can’t find us down there.” He paused for a moment, and repeated himself, “It’s not a bad idea.”

Why was I resisting? Why didn’t I want to go to the Lorren? If Eric could tolerate returning to that horrible place, I should be able to as well. But I couldn’t. Something inside of me crept up my throat and choked me when Jenna Marie suggested it. I didn’t want to go into the Underworld. Every time I went down there, I risked never coming out. And as for Collin and Jenna Marie, they’d never been in the Lorren. It may tempt them, or kill them before I find Lorren. Even then, I didn’t know if he could turn it off. I didn’t think the Lorren worked that way.

Speaking to Jenna Marie, I asked, “You know what the Lorren does to people who wander in there, don’t you? Are you really willing to risk that?” She nodded.

As I turned to ask Collin, he spoke, “There’s no need to ask me.” He smiled at me. The joy that swam through me filled every part of my body. That’s what Jenna Marie was asking for.
The chance to be reunited with her long lost love.
I couldn’t deny her of that.

Voices carried on the wind outside of the tent. More people were coming.
Possibly angels.
Possibly Martis.
I didn’t want to wait any longer. If it was a risk they were willing to take...

“Let’s go,” I said. I wrapped my arms around Collin, as Eric pulled Jenna Marie closer. “Closer is better Jenna Marie, otherwise it hurts more for both of you. Eric, do you have enough power to do this?”

He nodded, “For now.” Grinning at Jenna Marie, he added, “It burns like Hell. Get ready little angel. You’re about to enter the forbidden zone. Crossing borders has devastating effects.”
 

Her voice warbled, “I don’t care. I’ll endure whatever pain, pay any price. If I incinerate, if I don’t make it, tell him,” she paused and reconsidered who should take her final words to Lorren. She looked over at me, “Tell him I love him.”

Something twisted my gut. “Tell him yourself,” I smiled at her. My eyes cut to Eric. He wouldn’t let her burn up. I trusted him fully. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Collin and I gasped as we crashed onto the golden floor. He’d never been in here before, so I held onto his hand and wouldn’t let him wander away. He was admiring the golden flowers and jewels beneath our feet when Eric and Jenna Marie crashed into the ground next to us.

With a gasp, Eric yelled, “Something’s wrong! She’s not moving!” There was panic in his voice. Eric cradled her head between his hands, and lowered his ear to her chest. “She’s barely breathing.” We were in the place where Lorren usually sat. The table he’d healed me on was behind us, and empty. Lorren wasn’t here. Where was he? It’s not like he could leave.

Kneeling next to Eric, I glanced at Jenna Marie. Her perfectly pink lips were turning blue. The rose blush that was usually on her cheeks was gone. She had a sickly pallor that seemed to worsen as I looked at her. “Quickly,” I said to Eric, “move her to the table.” Eric did as I asked, abandoning his usual snide retort. When he laid her down on the golden slab, her hair fell away from her face. As Eric slid his arm out from under her neck, a dark trail appeared on his skin. I stared at it. His eyes met mine. We both realized what happened at the same time.

Jenna Marie had a wound that was inflicted by the Dreanok. Their talons were poisonous. I’d assumed she removed all of their venom, but the stain on Eric’s arm indicated otherwise. The
effonation
put too much stress on her body. It caused the wound to worsen. She was being poisoned, the same way I was. Eric tore off her knitted cap by its flower and threw it aside. I took a hair band from my wrist and moved her hair away from her cheek and neck.
Rolling Jenna Marie onto her side, I nearly wretched when I saw the extent of the Dreanok’s damage.
The long line of sliced flesh reached from her cheek back to her ear, and continued around to the back of her head. The Dreanok’s talon sliced off the lower half of her ear, leaving a stump that had putrefied.