I turned to face the Great Mother. Maisie still floated next to the goddess with her head lowered. But now I finally noticed the spectral tears falling in a pool under her feet.
“Red?” Adam called.
I turned back around, feeling torn between the male I loved and the sister whose blood ran through my veins.
“How many times have you tried to sacrifice yourself because you thought you knew what was best for us? Remember New Orleans when you ran off by yourself? How many times are your attempts at being a martyr going to fail before you realize you’re at your best when you ask for help?”
I cringed. That stupid decision had led to Adam and me getting captured by Lavinia and almost resulted in Adam’s death.
I thought back to the other times I’d tried to be noble, too. The word “martyr” had a familiar heft and taste. Self-righteousness combined with a hefty dose of self-loathing.
Was all this guilt I carried really just a way to shield myself from taking responsibility? I thought about all the deaths I blamed myself for.
“Yes, you’ve killed people. But the deaths you blame yourself for the most? They weren’t your fault.” He pointed across the room to my sister. “You didn’t kill Maisie—Cain did. You didn’t kill Vinca—that was Clovis’s doing.” He crossed his arms. “As much as you don’t want to admit this, you are as vulnerable to the vagaries of fate as the rest of us. But you’re so determined to control everyone and everything that you take the blame for every bad thing that happens. Lilith knows that and is using your doubt against you.”
“He’s right, Sabina,” Tristan said. “Do you know the real reason I never sought you and your sister out?”
I shook my head, too afraid of saying something that might make him change his mind about sharing the answer.
“I was afraid. Afraid that I was too broken after losing Phoebe to be a good father.”
I blinked, shocked to hear that this powerful mage had been terrified of facing his own daughters.
“But I realize now that removing myself from your lives only screwed things up more. You grew up alone and unprotected and Maisie grew up in my shadow, trying to live up to a bullshit legacy of being the daughter of a noble martyr.” His tone was full of self-loathing. “Don’t make the same mistake I made. I know you’re afraid. I know you don’t think you’re up to this battle. But you are. You know why?”
I shook my head and tried to hold in the sobs that crawled up my throat.
“Because you’re not alone.”
I looked at the faces around me. I knew they were right. I was at my best when I allowed my team to help me. I couldn’t argue with any of their arguments or pleas. But I still had no idea how we were going to get out of this.
“Okay,” I said finally. “So how are we going to—”
Before I could answer, the throne room swarmed with hundreds of vampire spirits. I didn’t see Cain among the horde. Probably he was hanging back so his army could clear a path for his grand entrance.
Shit, it was too late. My delay had just doomed us all. Just like the vision at the scrying pool had predicted.
“Sabina?” Tristan said.
“I don’t have any magic left.”
His eyes glistened. “I do. Let me help you.”
I watched him for a moment. If I accepted his offer, I knew instinctively that Lilith’s deal would be null and void. I glanced at the goddess, whose posture had gone tense and her eyes flicked restlessly toward the entrance.
The vampires closed in and flashed their fangs. Do or die time.
I nodded resolutely. “Do it.”
He gripped my hand hard and smiled. “Stand back.”
I moved back with Adam and Giguhl at my side. Tristan closed his eyes. The ground trembled as he called up the Chthonic powers that permeated Irkalla. It rose through his body and made the air vibrate and hum.
“Ati me peta babka,” he said, his voice loud and strong.
Three hundred and twenty-seven vampire spirits turned in unison to look at him. “Your work here is done. Return to the Bloodlands,” Tristan commanded.
As one, the entire army turned. But Tristan wasn’t done. A wicked spark twinkled in his blue eyes.
“When you return, rise up against the Dominae. Even dead, you deserve freedom from their oppression.”
As one, the army nodded and marched out. As they filed out, I spied Cain standing by the entrance to the throne room. His face was pale and his mouth hung open. Obviously he hadn’t been expecting us to defeat his army so easily. Good.
I ran to Tristan and hugged him. He smiled down at me and I up at him. “Nice job… Dad.” It was the first time I’d said that word to him without using a sarcastic tone. He winked and released me.
For the first time since I’d seen Maisie walk into the throne room, a spark of hope ignited in my chest. Tristan had been right—I wasn’t alone. I had my team by my side, and for better or worse, we’d fight the good fight because surrender was worse than death.
I turned to Lilith. “My answer is no.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re certain? How will you defeat Cain now?”
Inside the circle, Phoebe’s eyes widened and she threw herself at the barrier, punching at the wall of magic. Her muted screams made my skin go cold.
Behind me, a male shout. A gasp and a sickening gurgle.
The scent of blood reached my nose. An instant later, Nyx screamed.
I turned slowly. Tristan wobbled uneasily on his feet for a moment. A rapidly spreading red stain covered his chest. A large brass spike protruded from the wound.
I scrambled across the marble, reaching him a split second after he crumpled into Adam’s arms. The mancy slowly lowered him the rest of the way to the ground.
Kneeling beside my father, I touched the tip of the spike. When Tristan hissed in pain, I jerked my trembling hand away. “Tristan?” I whispered.
Adam and Giguhl knelt on either side of my father’s head.
A groan crackled from his throat. I clenched my fists together and struggled to contain the sob that slammed into the back of my teeth. “You’re going to be okay,” I lied.
“Liar,” he rasped. “Dying.”
I shook my head. A tear splashed on his cheek. “Don’t you f**king dare,” I said. “Not now.”
In the distance, I heard Nyx screeching as she kicked and clawed against Cain. The father of the vampire race grinned at me and winked.
“Love—” Tristan croaked before a wet cough shook his whole body.