A Shade of Vampire 77 A Fate of Time - Bella Forrest Page 0,84
hold on to Thieron until I am free. I will come to you when that happens.”
“Wait, what?!” Widow croaked, downright shocked. “What the hell?!”
“Why me?” I replied, my face burning as the Reapers’ eyes drilled holes into my head.
“It has to be you, Taeral. Someday, you and I will sit down and discuss this in greater detail. But until then, I hope you can accommodate my request. You did not use it selfishly when you had the chance to revive your father. You stuck to the mission. You are loyal and noble beyond words. I trust you, and I want you to keep it close to you. Without my knowledge, you cannot use it the way you’d probably want to, anyway.”
Breathing out, I glanced down at Thieron. Its glow dimmed softly, as if telling me it was perfectly comfortable staying with me for a little while longer. I knew that, because I could feel its eternal consciousness resounding through me.
I looked at Death. “Okay. Now, please… help us. Five million fae—”
“Hold your horses. That’s next on my to-do list. But you’ll need to follow my lead. I can’t revive the fae. But you can help Seeley do it.”
“Oh, come on!” Widow snapped. “This is the second time you’re snubbing us, your most loyal subjects. It’s insulting!”
Death laughed. “I have work lined up for you and your siblings, too. You can thank me later,” she replied, and shifted focus back to me. “Are you ready, Taeral, Crown Prince of the Fire Star?”
Ready as I’d ever be. This was it. My chance to bring my father and the others back. I was as giddy as a child on his way to the fairground. I’d promised my mother something, and I was finally able to come through for her.
For our family. Our friends. Most importantly, I was coming through for myself.
Amelia
Death taught Taeral another spell from her arsenal—or perhaps “spell” was too strong a word for what it looked like. It sounded closer to a command given to Thieron, as Taeral whispered it into the blade. The scythe’s handle symbols lit up green this time around, a bell-like chime emanating from it.
“Now, touch Seeley with the blade,” Death said.
Taeral gave her a frown but followed her instruction, nonetheless. He carefully pressed the blade against Seeley’s shoulder. As soon as he was touched, the Reaper gasped, his skin glowing in soft flashes of green. The color faded, leaving a delicate shimmer in its wake. Seeley took several deep breaths and smiled.
“This feels rather amazing. What just happened?” he asked, glancing at Death.
“I taught Taeral to give you some of my permissions,” Death said.
“What permissions are those, exactly?” Taeral replied.
“To raise the dead. The five million fae you so desperately want to save will be brought back, thanks to Seeley’s enhanced Reaper protocols,” Death explained. “Your father, your friends, your allies, and the many others who fell under the Hermessi’s influence. What the elementals did was against the natural course of life. We all know that. So, you have a chance at fixing it.”
Taeral’s eyes were glassy, tears welling up. His lower lip quivered. I could only imagine the kind of relief and joy he was experiencing at the thought of seeing his father again—this time, alive and unharmed. “Thank you,” he said to her. “Thank you…”
“Does that mean he’s indebted to you?” Eira asked. She struck me as fiercely protective of Taeral. It was nice to see she had his back, even in front of Death. The Hermessi child had come a long way since we’d first met her. Crazy how the world ending changes a person.
Death looked at Eira, and I could swear she was scanning every fiber in her body, every thought and memory in her head. “You need not worry. I am the one who owes Taeral a great debt, not only for bringing Thieron back together and for stopping the Hermessi, but also for holding on to my beloved scythe while I get out of this mess. It is not an easy task I asked of him, and yet he obliged. Your concern for him is endearing. He deserves a soulmate like you.”
Eira blushed, stealing a glance at Taeral. He gave her a soft and loving smile, and I was more than happy to swoon over these two. Raphael held me close, his muscular frame nearly swallowing mine. He chuckled. “There you go, Phantom. The dream you made with us finally came true.”