Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,93

Their screams tore through the air and then faded as they flew across the lake and into the darkness on the other side of the water.

Phew.

I blinked, stunned that my crazy plan B had worked. “Are they really gone … forever?”

The Keeper of the Dead nodded.

We’d done it. Destroyed them. Forever.

“Uh … thanks for that.” I offered the Keeper a tentative smile as my insides crawled with trepidation. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

The Keeper surveyed the rocky cliff I’d portaled into his realm and the damage to his garden. “Next time, a little more warning would be nice.”

I nodded. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be a next time. “Well, I’d like to get back…” I fumbled with the pouch that held my soul stone. “I understand now that I need to make a payment, so I’m fully prepared to offer my soul sto—”

He waved me off. “You brought me several souls, including the blood mage royalty. To be honest, that’s a bargain.”

Relief flooded through me and I nodded. “I won’t come back in my human form again. I promise.”

He just stared at me, and I wondered if he was reconsidering.

“I’m ready to go now.” Actually, I was ready five minutes ago, but I didn’t want to seem ungrateful.

The Keeper raised his hand, and then, biting his lip, he paused before lowering his hand to his side once more. Frowning, he said, “Oh … I’m feeling generous. How about I give you five minutes first? To say goodbye to your friends?”

My what? His gaze flicked to something behind me. Spinning around, I came face to face with Reyna and Julian.

Not in their human forms…

They were … dead.

“No!” The horror of what had happened tore through me. All that blood, my shriveled chest and abdomen—oh Mage. I’d killed Reyna. My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground, covering my eyes to the truth of how I’d failed. With a desperate gasp, I broke into sobs.

“Oh, Nai,” Reyna’s voice came from right beside me. “Stop being so dramatic.”

I peeled my hands back to look at her. She was glowing with happiness. I grimaced, completely confused. Why was she happy? She was dead.

“I’m so sorry,” I choked out. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan to make this right. “I’ll—”

“Stop.” She shook her head, still smiling. “You did it, Nai. You beat them. It was an honor to serve as your shield. An honor to protect you. I’m right where I want to be.”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks. All the triumph of success drained out of my chest, leaving it hollow as I stared at my friend. She couldn’t mean what she said, she was just being stoic—strong. She was just being Reyna. “No. You don’t understand. I can bring people back from the dead. I just have to give the Keeper my soul stone, but for you, I don’t mind.”

Reyna reached out and grabbed my hand. “No, Nai. You don’t understand. I died with honor, doing what I love, protecting. Don’t take that from me. I’m happy with this. I promise.”

What could I say? Reyna had never lied to me, and I didn’t think she’d start now. I wanted to resist her, to force her back into her body, but instead, I threw myself into her arms, and we held each other tightly.

“Thank you,” Reyna whispered. “For letting me be your shield. For letting me choose my own path.”

“I’ll miss you,” I said, pulling away, tears streaking down my face.

She snorted. “Then come visit. You’re the freaking high mage of spirit!”

I chuckled and then nodded. “Right.”

“Will you watch out for my brother, Blake?” Julian asked, suddenly joining us. “He’s … he’s better than me. Kian pretty much ignored him, so our mom … she did a good job with him.”

“Yes, of course,” I said with a nod as my throat constricted with emotion. “Thanks … thanks for all you did out there today.”

He shrugged. “It was long overdue. I should’ve seen what Kian was sooner.”

The moment stretched, and then there was motion behind me, and it pulled my attention.

Gramps, my mom, and bonus dad were here.

“Oh Mage! I see my mom,” Julian shouted in excitement, and then he took off running. “Thanks again!”

“Sorry!” I called after him and winced. He didn’t seem to mind being dead either, but I still felt a little bad.

Reyna embraced my grandfather, both of them wearing giant smiles, and a resurgence of guilt welled up within me, filling me until