Page 99 of Discovered Magic
“Abbie—”
“Tell me, Damian. Don’t let me go up there unprepared.”
“There’s only one that matters, love,” Ronan said. “And I’m after doin’ my feckin’ damndest to see you get through it alive.”
Buying herself a few minutes to think, she studied her surroundings, noting the slight changes over the years. Ten feet away, a body lay covered by a tarp.
Silas.
“Do we revive him, too?” she asked. “Royal... He’ll be crushed by his brother’s death.”
“Isis is allowing one soul to return to maintain the overall balance,” Damian said. “It’s up to you which.”
“What?” She spun back and stared. “Why me? I can’t make a choice like that! What about destiny, or fate, or whatever bullshit thing they like to pull out of their asses?”
The others remained silent, ignoring her dismay.
Kneeling beside Royal, she pressed her palm to his unmoving chest.
“You don’t understand, Damian. He’ll hate me if I let Silas die. It’ll be my fault, like Julia’s death was.”
The air around her grew thick, and a flash of light appeared as a crack formed in the open space across from her. A veil between worlds folded back like a curtain. Out stepped two women and two men. The guys, she knew. The females, she didn’t.
“Royal?” she asked in disbelief.
“Hey, Fire Cat.”
A sob caught her throat, and she stared mutely as he squatted beside her.
“My death was on me.” He wiped the unchecked tears from her cheeks. “I knew better than to walk into the cabin emotionally charged, but my fear for you was too great.”
“If I hadn’t taunted him…”
“No.” His smile was sad. “He lives on chaotic energy, Abbie, but he was losing to your lack of fear. His goal was your power, and murdering me triggered your angst.” After helping her to stand, he kissed her temple. “We’ll beat him this round.”
“But Silas.” She looked over in time to see him hug the redheaded woman. It immediately dawned on her, by passing over to the Otherworld, he’d been reunited with his wife. “Julia?”
Silas smiled at her, his first genuine one since they’d met. “You should know her death wasn’t your fault either, Abbie.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Morcant got to me first after I arrived,” Julia said with a shrug. “He was with rustlers when it happened and recognized me for what I was. He played on my fear, drained my power, and left my body for the others to find.”
“All in hopes we were witches, too,” Silas added. “He intended to steal from us, too. But we were mortal. Non-magical strife will keep him alive until he can get a stronger infusion elsewhere. And his subtle comments did the trick, keeping me bitter.”
Their explanation made a sick sort of sense and went a long way in lifting the guilt from Abbie’s shoulders.
“Who are you?” she asked the exotic woman with the black hair. She wore a watchful expression and a flowing teal dress Abbie would kill to own. “How do you play into this mess?”
“She’s the Goddess Isis,” Damian supplied. Dipping his head in acknowledgment, he said, “Exhalted One.”
The others followed suit, and she figured it was best to join in.
The Goddess bestowed a warm smile upon them before focusing on her. “I wish to speak to Abigail. Alone.”
After they’d walked some distance from their group, Isis faced her.
“You were thrown into a game not of your choosing, and I believe in fairness above all else. I will grant you a single boon, child, but you must give it plenty of thought before asking. For once gifted, it cannot be undone.”
