This time, Skalei met her mark perfectly, and the giant stopped, stunned. He staggered back, the ground shaking. Skalei protruded from his chest, and although he pulled her out, blood was now pouring from him. He stumbled, and I knew that the Night Elves would not die. I’d won.
With the High Elves vanquished, they would be under my control. I would lead them, the Vanir, and the Night Elves alike. All three tribes under my control. I’d create a glorious kingdom for us all.
Pure elation bubbled through me.
I just needed the coup de grace, and it would all be over.
“Skalei.” With the hilt in my hand, I slammed her into his skull, and he dropped to the ground dead.
I felt myself beaming with victory. I’d done it. I’d fucking done it. With me as ruler, the Night Elves would be free. Elation pulsed through my body.
“No!” Revna screamed, ripping me out of my victory haze. “She cannot win. She’s in league with Galin. She helped the king-slayer!”
I tore my eyes away from my opponent as he lay dying. Fury ignited in my body. Should I just kill her now?
Then, I felt the electrical rush of magic, and my gaze flicked to my right. A black portal was opening, not far from me.
Galin. His golden form was coming through. This felt like a miscalculation, somehow. He was in danger here, and I wanted to keep him safe.
“She killed the king!” Revna was ranting, completely out of her mind. “My spies told me!”
The crowd was roaring. And when I looked back at Revna, my heart skipped a beat. A fresh wave of dread crashed into me.
She held a crossbow aimed directly at me, ready to shoot.
“Skalei.” I felt the blade in my hand again.
But the bolt was already on its way.
The world fell silent as Galin charged in front of me, taking the hit for me. The arrow slammed into his neck, tearing it open.
It was as if I was in a void, and everything was happening too fast for me to put my own thoughts into words. I knew I was screaming, but I couldn’t hear a thing. Rage and pain ripped my mind apart, and I threw Skalei with all my strength.
The blade landed in Revna’s forehead, and she slumped to the ground, blood pouring from her skull.
I looked down at Galin. Desperately I hoped he was only wounded, but his gaze was already lost in another realm. I fell to my knees. Blood gushed from the wound as I cradled him in my arms. Tears filled my eyes, the loss like shards of glass in my heart.
I was dimly aware of the Vanir rejoicing in our victory, not giving a shit about Galin. But my focus was on him. His golden eyes were unfocused now, his breath labored. He seemed like he was already far away, drifting into Valhalla, the glorious afterworld for those who died in battle.
The soul bond might be severed, but what I felt now was real. I had no question of that anymore. I pulled him up close, wishing desperately that I knew the magic he did. I’d be able to fix his ravaged throat. But all I knew was how to use a fucking knife.
The world dimmed around me, the roars of the crowd fading. His lifeblood was pumping out, his breath slowing. Panic screamed in my mind.
There was only him and me.
And … Loki’s wand on the stone by his side.
Loki’s wand that could open worlds, raise the dead. Loki’s wand, which I didn’t know how to use—yet.
His eyes were going dim. A wand like that could bring someone alive again.
Before anyone could see what lay in front of me, I snatched up the wand and slid it up my sleeve. Then, I cradled Galin in my arms once more. I would find a way to bring him back.
But as I held him close, his body started to shimmer away, then simply disappeared into the shadows.
I stared at my empty arms, feeling like someone had torn my heart out.
I didn’t know where he was, but I’d never seen a body disappear like that. Some strange magic was at work.
There it was again, that little spark of hope. That fleck of light in the darkness. Perhaps he’d managed to escape death again, like he always did.
And if so, Loki’s wand would help me find him.
Chapter 47
Galin
I’d always assumed that when my time came, I would accept it, allow fate