Page 65 of The Last Slayer
I laid her on the bed and covered her with a quilt. Her eyes fluttered open, and something sad yet happy crossed her face. “Put the heartstone in your chest. Just the way you found mine.”
The stone glowed dark crimson. I swallowed, took a deep breath, put it over my heart and pushed in. It burned white-hot, a searing, startling pain that brought me to my knees. If this was anything like the harvesting process, I couldn’t imagine how Leh had remained standing. The heartstone finally lodged inside my chest, and my flesh covered the path as if nothing had happened. The stone and my heart began to beat in unison. Magic, powerful and all consuming, surged and soared, making me gasp. I fell onto my back and stared at the ceiling, blinking to focus my sight. Everything around me blurred and turned hazy. I felt drunk with power, vibrating with the energy now inside me.
Gradually my body calmed, becoming used to its new vitality. Once the shaking stopped I was left with an odd lethargy.
“I wish you could stay longer,” Leh finally said. “But the dawn is coming.”
I didn’t make a move to leave. I was too comfortable on the floor. Maybe I could just stay in her cottage, like one of her rugs.
“Ashera,” she said, her voice hard. Just like every other mother annoyed with her child. “Walk into the screen at the foot of the bed, and you will find yourself back where you took the portal. When you see Ramiel, be sure to ask him how to harness your new weapon.”
I shifted my eyes toward the rice paper screen standing by the bed. I didn’t want to return to the Lunar Garden. There were so many more things I wanted to talk with Leh about. I wanted to get to know my mother.
But there was Valerie to save. And the Triumvirate to deal with. And Leh was right—the dawn was coming.
I got up, finding the motion absurdly easy, my body practically quivering with new power. Leh reached out from her bed, putting her hand over mine. “I don’t know if we’ll meet again, but perhaps we shall. Your magic is very strong, and now that you have your first heartstone you’ll only grow stronger. You can take Eastvale…even the Lair.”
I wasn’t sure I’d heard right. Eastvale the dragonhold and the slayers’ Lair? How could I take both? The ruler of a dragonhold couldn’t reign over the Lair. At least not that I knew of. Dragonlords and slayers were mortal enemies, and supernaturals valued purity of bloodline above all else. They shunned interbreeding, and their seats of power would reject their masters’ archnemeses.
“You’re so much more than those who wish to destroy you. Always remember that.” Leh patted my hand. “Now you must go.”
Swallowing a protest—I knew it would only make our parting more difficult—I leaned down and kissed her forehead. It felt warmer now, and a bit of color had returned to her complexion.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Twelve
I landed on my feet on the wooden floor of the gazebo in the Lunar Garden. The moon had all but set, leaving the garden in the dim light of stars. India’s body was gone, as were the liliths, but Nahemah was there, waiting for me. This time she was in a heavy red dress, her hair blue-black and hanging loose behind her. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me.
“My…how you’ve changed.”
“Just a bit of magic.” I didn’t want her to know I was still shaky from the power I’d received from Leh’s heartstone.
“Just a bit.” Nahemah’s mouth quirked. Whatever was amusing her deepened the blue of her eyes. “Leh’s glamour was better than I’d imagined.”
Glamour? I hadn’t sensed any appearance alteration spells from Leh. Despite what a lot of people assume, glamour isn’t something that merely enhances one’s looks. Powerful mages can use it to change their entire appearance—better than the CGI they use in Hollywood.
Nahemah chuckled. “Come, Ashera. You ought to bathe and change into something more suitable.” She gave me a critical once-over. “That robe is…filthy.”
“Nathanael found me.”
“Through my illusion? Impossible.”
It was my turn to act oh so slightly superior. “Maybe not for the Dragonlord of Windgar.”
She grew thoughtful. She might have been upset that her magic wasn’t good enough to fool Nathanael. Or maybe she was worried I wo
uldn’t dine with her. Whatever the cause of the sudden change in her disposition, I welcomed it. I wasn’t in the mood to indulge Nahemah’s skewed humor.
Finally, she waved a hand. “Eh. What is it the mortals say? All’s well that ends well? Silly, of course. Death isn’t really what I would call a good end to things. But, no matter. Let’s get you another robe. I’ve prepared something for you, and I think you’ll like it.”
I remained silent. She was entirely too cheerful, and I didn’t want to add to her amusement.
“Let’s return to the main hall,” she continued, her tone light and musical. Obviously my pointed silence wasn’t bothering her at all. Some people can be so insensitive. “I’m sure Ramiel’s dying to see you.”
She raised a hand, her fingers bent in an odd pattern, and a dress appeared. It was a deep violet, the color of Leh’s eyes. Nahemah presented it to me. “This should be just the thing.”
“Uh…do you mind turning around?”
