Page 89 of Ivy & Bone

At long last, Cyrus’s flames receded into his hands. Panting, he wiped sweat from his brow and brushed the hair out of his face before fixing his gaze on Prue. Prue’s heart lurched at the strangeness of his eyes, no longer glistening silvery orbs. They were that same dull gray, the color of muddy water.

Perhaps he was merely weak from exertion. She was certain once he recovered, his eyes would return to normal.

Even so, she couldn’t quiet the strange restlessness churning in her stomach, the prompting that something was wrong.

“He won’t be bothering us anymore.” Cyrus’s eerie gaze shifted to Mona. “And with him dead, he no longer has any claim to your powers.”

Mona exhaled in relief, and Prue squeezed her hand.

“Shall I end Gaia as well?” Cyrus offered, glancing at the goddess still trapped by Prue’s vines.

“No,” Prue said quickly. “Leave her. She’ll find her own way out.”

Cyrus frowned but made no objection. Prue glanced at Mona, who stared at their mother with a grim expression that Prue couldn’t decipher. Above them, the storm raged and the spirits howled.

“The book,” Prue said, turning to Cyrus. “Where is it? We need to finish this.”

Cyrus’s eyes glinted almost hungrily, and Prue didn’t like the way her skin felt clammy under his gaze.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

“Yes,” he said. “We do. This way.” He jerked his head, indicating Prue should follow him.

Before she could, Mona gripped her arm. “Prue—”

“I have to go,” Prue said. “I’m bound to uphold this bargain with him. I sealed it with my blood.”

“You can’t.” Mona’s voice broke on the last word.

But a strange calmness settled over Prue. Mona was here. She was alive. Everything else could work itself out.

Before finding the gate, a small part of Prue had hoped it wouldn’t end this way. That the Underworld would simply offer up Mona’s soul freely and allow Prue to live her life.

But it wasn’t that simple. The Book of Eyes called to Prue, beckoning her. That dark magic would not relent.

Not without a fight.

Prue offered her sister a smile. “This was the plan all along.”

Mona shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “Prue, please.”

“I will do what I can to come back to you,” Prue promised. “Our mother is a goddess; if there’s a way for me to use that power to come back, I’ll find it. But . . . if I can’t, swear to me you’ll live your life. That you’ll be happy.”

Tears streamed down Mona’s face. “Don’t do this! I’m begging you.”

Prue’s heart twisted at the way her sister’s voice broke, at the devastated look in her eyes. But the deal had already been made. And it was time for Prue to uphold her end.

She touched Mona’s cheek, wiping away a tear. “I love you.”

Mona’s shoulders shook as she sobbed, still shaking her head.

Prue rose to her feet, trying to ignore the way her own eyes burned. It’s worth it, she told herself. Even if I have to part from her again, at least this time she’s alive.

And Prue would be with Cyrus. The burst of warmth in her chest at the thought was surprising. But there it was.

Hope. Relief.

Love.

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