Blood and Water - The Darkling

Chapter 34: Eternity at Last

*Unedited

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𝕬𝖑𝖊𝖐𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 and I hold each other for as long as we can. We share kisses that burn. Kisses that hurt. Kisses that are tender. But we know it will never be enough.

I whisper into his chest, "I'm proud of you, Aleksander."

"Eya fyela chi, Svetlana Starkov, Svetlana Morozova, Sankta Svetlana, Star Queen, moya zvezda."

The tears fall freely now, "Eya fyela chi, Aleksander Morozova, Darkling, Starless One, he of too many names to know, my everything."

"Eternity."

If only we had it.

We say goodbye the only way we know how, with a kiss that says everything we can't, with a bond that conveys everything we feel.

No one else bothers to share a heartfelt farewell with me but everyone's eyes glisten with tears. They refuse to believe that I will not survive this, even I'm not so sure anymore. But just in case, I left letters for each of them back at the Little Palace.

No words are spoken as Zoya and I shift and take flight.

No time to mourn what could be.

No time to mourn what could have been.

The wind batters us on our journey, but our wings are as strong as our instincts.

Sooner than I like, we reach the middle of the Fold. I hover over Zoya and shift back to my human form.

I land atop her scales with a grunt.

We're ready.

Light spills around us to shield us as we descend. Though I try to shoo Zoya away, the Dragon remains, as stubborn as ever.

I feel the moment the ritual begins and I know it's time.

My hands raise.

I reach with every drop of power. My own. Aleksander's. The Stag's. The Sea Whip's. The Firebird's. Alina's.

It pools into me and out of me.

The Fold around us grows eerily still.

Then I truly begin.

I pull it towards me. Not just willing it to obey me, I force it to.

It's agony.

So much power and even then I can't help but wonder if it is enough.

I feel my strength draining from me with each foot it shrinks.

But I do not give in. This is what I was made for. This is why I was born with both shadow and light within me. This is why the connection with Aleksander has always felt so right, even when it was wrong.

Perhaps fate is real after all.

I still think she's kind of a bitch.

When Aleksander's pain hits me, I know it's the end.

So with an anguished cry, I bring my hands together.

The Fold implodes into the space in front of my palms.

Then everything is still.

I collapse onto the ground. Awe fills me when I see that the grass is blooming beneath me. We did it.

Zoya shifts back and rushes to my side.

"Lana! Saints, you're bleeding."

I don't have any energy to sit up or even shift a hand to touch the warm liquid I feel on my face.