Page 118 of When Storms Collide

I could hear the roars of the battle below us.

“Donika is dead!”

“Long live the queen!”

“Queen Diana!”

“Long live the queen!”

I had thought I would feel victorious when this was all over. What I felt was nothing. I was hollow. I didn’t have the heart to turn from the terrace to glance at the battle below. I was sure it was coming to an end now that the Black Heart was dead.

But notallof her.

My gaze met Annelise’s, and a tear slipped down her cheek, mingling with the rain that still fell from the sky, cleansing us all. Zion stood first, gripping Annelise and tugging her with him. He held her for a long moment, and I glanced away.

I couldn’t imagine what it felt like to watch your own daughter die… and by your other daughter’s hand, no less. There was no helping Donika if even the Mother couldn’t save her, but that didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t erase the memories of her when she was young, her hair flowing out behind her as she swung from the old oak tree outside of the Siraleth cottage. Her death didn’t erase the feelings of failure they must be drowning in.

I turned towards the doors and Tess rushed forwards, enveloping me in her arms before I could fall. I sent a beat of energy through the bond and felt Nik respond in kind. He was still down below, but he was coming. I didn’t have the energy to go down to the battlefield to find him.

Tess held me up, her arms gripping me tightly as she ran her hand across my wet scalp, soothing me. She hushed into my ear, telling me it was alright, when it most certainly didn’tfeelalright.

I turned to Annelise, a question in my eyes.

What do we do now?

Donika was dead, but a piece of her still lived in Annelise because of the spell she had performed. She could find a way to resurrect herself if we didn’t manage to kill that piece, too.

“I’m sorry, Diana.” The words that left Annelise’s mouth were barely above a whisper.

My brow creased in confusion.

Sorry for what? We had all known what a burden it would be to wield the blade against Donika. I had been prepared. Or I had thought I was…

Zion pulled away from her, a hand on her shoulder. He pressed his mouth to hers, capturing her in a passionate kiss. When he pulled away, Annelise met his gaze with a fierce nod.

Before I could even register what was happening, before I could free myself of Tess’s arms and stop them, Zion had grasped both sides of Annelise’s head with his large hands, placing one last kiss against her forehead.

In a movement so fast I almost missed it with my tear-stained eyes, he snapped her neck.

“NO!” Thehoarse cry that left my lips roared out of me, piercing the air. I fell to the stone terrace, crawling away from Tess towards my mother’s body.

“Did you know? Did you know that they planned this?” I cried, my accusatory glare landing on Tess.

She shook her head, her gaze filled with sadness. “I didn’t know, Diana. You have to believe me… I had no idea.”

I crawled among the ichor, blood, and rain that covered the balcony to Annelise, pulling her body into my lap. I raised my face to Zion, angry tears slipping down my cheeks.

“How could you?” My voice cracked as I glanced up at him.

“It was her choice.” His voice was quiet among the racket of the soldiers down below, so quiet I could barely hear it.

Right as my gaze dropped to Annelise, my hand stroking the dying rain away from her cheek, Zion fell in a heap besideus. My mouth opened in shock, a fresh sob tearing free from my chest.

They were bound.

By killing Annelise, he had effectively killed himself.

“NO! No!Fuck!” I cried over and over, cursing the Mother. Cursing Donika. Cursing Annelise and Zion. Cursing this fucking realm. That we had finally killed Donika, but I had lost my parents in the process. All because of that Godforsaken immortality spell. The moment she had marked Annelise in Siraleth, she had cursed her to die with her.

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