Page 100 of A Fate In Moonstone

I didn’t bother standing. I knew I wouldn’t be able to. Magic was gone, the connection severed to that vital essence within me. It still existed, but no matter how hard I’d reach for it, my diamond core couldn’t find me.

The Heart Tree took back the magic and something else from me as I’d harnessed more than I should. But my work was done. My family was safe for now.

“What did she do? Get her out of there.” Verin crawled toward the onyx. “Get that bastard’s child out of there. She stole my…” He vomited, the loss of power affecting us all.

It worked.

If he killed me now, as least I knew Sapphira’s identity was protected.

The evil king thought the princess lay in that onyx… tomb.

My gut churned and my vision blurred before my body revolted alongside the king’s.

“You and that brat may have thwarted me now, but make no mistake, wife. You’ve only delayed my destiny. There’s nothing you can do.”

“Moon twinkles where pastries bleed,” I told him and laughed.

The Heart Tree indeed took more than I intended. My mind was slipping as I closed my eyes and surrendered to my body’s need to rest.

One day Sapphira will come back. Celestine showed me the truth. Until then, I’d make sure she had a mate, and a kingdom to come back to.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Sapphira

IN THE WOODS OF THE HUMAN REALM OUTSIDE RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA

I had a killer headache.

“This is why you gotta drink more water when we go hiking, Sapphira.”

That voice.

I opened my eyes and looked up at Mariam’s face. Right. My neighbor.

Slowly, she helped me rise to my feet. My body swayed, and the headache flared.

A plane flew overhead and I covered my ears from the sound. Why was it so loud? Fuck, my head.

“Yeah, maybe hiking near the airport was a bad idea. Let’s get back to the car and get you home.”

Home. My gut twisted.

Then the sky turned black.

Which was nice for my headache, but skies weren’t supposed to be black.

Mariam stepped closer, and I noticed she had splatters on her clothes. “That’s not good,” she said, her gaze on the sky.

Did she hurt someone? I looked for blood on myself, but an explosion sent a shockwave through the woods, taking us to the ground.

The darkness disappeared. I looked at the sky, my focus on the sound of screams, and a clanking engine of an airplane on fire.

My headache flared as pain in my palms shot through me like I’d been stabbed.

“Shit. This isn’t good. Sapphira. Shit.” Mariam stood in front of me, arms wide as if she’d protect me from a crashing airplane.

I didn’t know what was happening around us. We should run. I’m pretty sure that plane was coming down nearby. But I couldn’t stand, and the darkness that had shot through the sky surrounded me.

“Don’t worry, Sapphira. You’ve got a warrior’s core. This is not your end.” Mariam covered me with her body, eyes on the sky.

A warrior’s core.

My chest ached for something I couldn’t understand. Searching, reaching for into the world for… For what?

This is not my end.

I’ve heard that before, but I couldn’t remember where.

If I survived the horrors, I’d have to ask Mariam why those few words were so familiar.