Saber tried to run for him but his magic slammed into her chest and threw her back into the tunnel. He and Sweyn were in a lockdown of his magic against hers. I screamed his name again. Thorne and Sage sped through the tunnel and out the opening. They flew with their white angel wings right for my soulmate and grabbed ahold of him. He tried to fight them off but the golden-white Heavenly magic that rolled out of them overpowered him instantly.

Light flashed and everything else around it went jet-black.

The light soared right for us, landing inside the Seelie tunnel. The opening closed shut. The green glow of the tunnel radiated across our bodies. The white light moved to the side, and I screamed.

Everest.

His body was covered in dirt, grime, and blood of three colors. His now long white hair spilled over his shoulders as he began to shake. Those blue and white eyes were wild and kept flashing red for split seconds. I cursed and dove into my jeans’ pocket. Tegan and I had made the potion I saw he’d need. I had no proof this was the moment, but I wasn’t taking chances. I pulled that blue vial from my pocket and dumped the liquid into his open mouth.

He gasped and then collapsed in my arms.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

SAM

He did it.

He actually did it.

Everest betrayed Lilith and Sweyn, and then left. He was official with The Coven on Team Heaven. It hadn’t fully sunk in yet somehow. I’d known it was coming eventually, but apparently I hadn’t truly believed I’d see it with my own eyes. Not that Everest was all talk, but . . . fuck me, he did it. He really did it.

And I could have gone with him, I’d had the chance. I’d known it was coming. The second Sweyn announced The Coven had entered the Land of the Lore, Everest’s team had schemed up a plan. This was to be it, the night they broke free. They’d had maybe minutes to decide before we all went into that dreadful forest. I was still shocked at how smoothly it’d all gone down too.

He’d told me what the signal was and where to be when he gave it. I could have been there. I could have fled this prison and declared my truth, but I’d chosen to remain here. A decision I knew I’d loop on over and over and over. Had I done the right thing? I knew my reasoning for staying in Avolire, however I knew it was also crazy and most likely suicidal. I’d never thought of myself as an extremely selfless person, not that I was selfish by any means, but never would I have predicted this level of selfless sacrifice from myself.

I suppose in the face of true evil a person sees their own reflection properly.