I realized then, that his room was also set up for the honeymoon night. Fresh arrangements of flowers filled the room with fragrant smells; a bottle of champagne grew warm in a bucket of water, that at one time was ice. Two silken bathrobes hung from the bathroom door, one charcoal gray, the other a soft pink.
“Oops,” I mumbled aloud.
Kiran's bed was empty. Whatever business he needed to attend to was apparently lengthy. Or he just didn't want to be around me, which I was perfectly Ok with.
Suddenly my magic flared again, defensive and angry. I sat up straighter, trying to find the source of alarm, but the room remained still. Something tugged at the back of my neck. It was more a feeling than anything physical, but the irritation was there all the same.
I stood up and paced the length of the room, trying to find the source of the pain. When my magic flared for a third time and nothing in the room moved out of place, the thought dawned on me that Avalon was trying to get his magic back.
I sat back down on the edge of Kiran's bed and tried to relax. I couldn't physically give Avalon anything, the blood oath prevented me from helping at all and I could feel my promise with every attempt Avalon made.
My magic, pulsing defensively inside my blood refused by oath to be taken away. I reminded myself that if Avalon was capable of taking my magic that I was helpless to stop him. I worked to relax, worked to calm my frantic nerves and fighting magic.
I was on edge; everything about me was desperately working to keep what was mine. I leaned over, pulling my knees to my chest and rested my head on one of Kiran's pillows. I closed my eyes and focused on falling asleep instead of holding on to my magic.
Avalon pulled again, from an unknown distance and a small, almost unnoticeable amount of magic disappeared from my blood. I could not even fathom how hard Avalon was working to get even the most miniscule amount and claim it as his. He couldn't touch me, he didn't even know exactly where I was or what I was doing, and now with the oath, there was an extra set of protection.
I could not help Avalon, but I did not have to stop him either.
He worked further into the night, occasionally a little more would disappear from my blood and then my magic would struggle that much more to keep the rest. But, with every small amount Avalon claimed, the next amount would be just a tiny bit bigger.
Beads of sweat poured from my forehead, soaking Kiran's pillow and reminding me how difficult it was to do nothing. My shoulders shook with the concentrated effort for stillness and my neck ached from straining.
At some point, late into the night I started to feel Avalon again, I felt our connection and the bond that flowed between us as twins. Part of me was happy just for that, for the feeling that I wasn't completely isolated and that I could communicate with the outside. Part of me wanted to argue he had taken enough, that once the magic was divided, there was no need to drain the rest of me. Part of me argued that if I had magic, I could find a way to kill Lucan.
But the other side of me demanded reason, demanded that all of the magic be taken completely for the sake of my people and the downfall of the monarchy. The wiser side of me argued that even half of my magic would be enough to give Kiran true immortality and it would never be enough to destroy Lucan. And both of those scenarios were unacceptable. Either, Avalon would kill him alone, or together we would face him and together we would destroy him, but Kiran would have no share in our magic.
Eventually, through the darkest hours of the night, Avalon reached the halfway point of our transaction. I was a weak shell of buzzing energy and wavered near the brink of unconsciousness with the strained effort relaxing my magic took on my body.
Eden? Avalon spoke through our shared connection and his voice was soothing to my system.
Avalon. I sighed, whispering his name, even inside of my head.
You should have let me die. He accused, and I had to laugh at him.
Never. I breathed slowly, fighting now to stay awake. You are the better leader, the Resistance needs you, not me. Have you met our parents yet?
Yes. He mumbled shyly, trying to hide the joy at his reunion with them. I knew that he felt it was unfair, but all I could do was sigh with joy at the completeness of my family.
Avalon, you have to take it all. Just like I did for you, now it's your turn to take all of mine. I ordered, finding the urgency of the moment.
I can't. He argued. I can't leave you like that.
What? I'll be fine. I said confidently, knowing I would welcome death with open arms. I've lived without magic before. Besides you will come for me. Just like I came for you, only you will do a better job.
Will he take care of you? Avalon asked, and I knew that he was talking about Kiran.
Did he take care of you like he promised? I asked, deflecting the question.
Yes, he did. Avalon admitted seriously.
Then, you have nothing to worry about, do you? I lied, and I knew Avalon could tell that I lied but there was an unmistakable hope in his spirit that Kiran would protect me. I wished desperately that I shared it.
I love you, Ede, I will come for you soon. He promised and I held his words in the depths of my soul as if they were a sweet memory I would carry into eternity with me.
I love you, too. I whispered and then he pulled at the magic again.
This time I did not have to fight my own magic for him to take it, it flowed out of me with ease and openness. Avalon was the one that controlled the magic now; it belonged to him.
At the end of it, when there was nothing left I was surprised to be still breathing. Before I knew about magic, I believed I lived without it, but it had always been there, circulating in my blood, but imprisoned and repressed like I was tonight. Now there was nothing, no energy, no electrical charge to my blood. I was completely mortal and utterly exhausted.
The early morning light began to fill the room with rays of gentle sun. I made it through the night, Avalon successfully saved our magic. He was safe for now. My parents were safe. Jericho, Lilly, Aunt Syl and all the others that I fell in love with over the last couple months were safe for now.
They wouldn't always be. I trusted that they would continue to wage this war with better leadership and more victories. But, for tonight they were safe and they were together. My fight was paused, but, from my actions a stronger battle could be waged. And I could finally slip into the deep abyss of uninterrupted sleep.
The door opened and Kiran walked in. I stayed awake for just a moment longer to acknowledge his presence. He stood, unmoving, in the doorframe watching me and I wondered if I would have to wait for death much longer.
“Eden, what have you done?” he gasped, moving towards me in anger.
But I was already slipping away, into the black unconsciousness that promised respite from this world. I breathed evenly, trusting that when I woke up judgment would be decided and a verdict passed and I could finally say my fearless goodbye to this never-ending struggle.
