Page 30 of Wild Ivy
I’m about to answer when a familiar voice cuts through the clearing.
“Well, isn’t this cosy?”
My blood runs cold as I turn to see Morrigan standing at the edge of the clearing, her green eyes gleaming with malicious amusement.
“I thought she couldn’t leave her spot,” I hiss at Tate.
“She couldn’t,” he replies grimly. “Something’s changed.”
Morrigan laughs, the sound like breaking glass. “Oh, many things have changed, little Death. Your meddling with time again has had interesting consequences. For me, at least. Or did you forget that I was there?”
The spirits shift restlessly, sensing the power all around her.
“What do you want?” I demand, though I already know the answer.
Her gaze fixes on something behind me. “I think you know exactly what I want.”
I don’t need to turn around to know Bram has appeared. I can feel his presence, feel Morrigan’s power inside him responding to her proximity.
“Still no,” he growls.
Morrigan’s smile turns predatory. “We’ll see about that.” Her eyes sweep over my assembled spirits. “Nice army you have here. Shame if something were to happen to them.”
The threat hangs in the air as tension crackles between us. I can feel the situation balancing on a knife’s edge, ready to explode into violence at any moment.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I hear David’s voice:“Now you see why we needed them. The real war is about to begin.”
15
IVY
“Shame if somethingwere to happen to them?” I repeat with a harsh laugh. “You do realise these are already dead souls of some of the worst criminals and murderers in history, right?”
Morrigan’s eyes narrow. “Perhaps. But I am the goddess of death. Who do you think they will obey once I get my power back?”
“Too bad you aren’t getting it back then, isn’t it?” Bram growls, seriously pissed off.
“We serve Death,” Lilith declares, her spectral form blazing. “Not some has-been goddess throwing a tantrum over lost power.”
The warrior joins her. “We know of you, Morrigan. You’re not what you once were. Even with your power restored, you’re just another pawn in Life’s game.”
That gets everyone’s attention. My eyes narrow as I look at Morrigan as the thought I had is confirmed. “Is that what this is about? You’re working with Life?”
“Don’t be absurd,” she snaps, but there’s something in her expression that makes me doubt her denial.
“It makes sense,” Tate says slowly. “Life promised you something, didn’t she? Just like she promised Torin’s mother true immortality.”
“Life promises many things,” the warrior growls. “But her endgame isn’t what any of you think.”
“What do you mean?” I demand, turning to him.
He exchanges looks with Lilith, who nods grimly. “We’ve been in the void. We’ve seen things. Life isn’t trying to preserve existence, she’s trying to reshape it completely.”
“Into what?” Bram asks.
“A world where she controls everything,” Lilith explains. “Not just life, but death, too. She wants to be the only power, the only force controlling all existence.”
“That’s why she needs Morrigan,” I say. “She’s collecting power from other ancient beings.”
