Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (best large ereader .TXT) 📕

blue shades of the Hébel Stone retreated as the Kanna Stone morphed into a deep shade of blood red. In that moment, I experienced the duality of the stone—the emotion of both brothers churned through me. A pulse emitted from the stone and slammed Kage’s arm back against the hard pillar behind him, forcing the dagger from his grasp. I shoved the Moon Orb into my pocket to free my hand and quickly moved to recover the dagger as I pinned Kage’s back to the pillar with my forearm.

He didn’t move a muscle as I studied the dagger in my hand. I was almost certain he was holding his breath. I rested the dagger against his neck and turned my attention to the Kanna Stone. “So, this is what Cian’s life was worth t’ you, is it? What an entire race of lives is worth, right?” My tone sliced through the air like I was imagining the dagger might slice through Kage. I angled my head and glared into his soul. Where his soul should have been, that is. He didn’t respond. “Nothing t’ say? Hmph. I halfway expected you’d have a soliloquy prepared,” I added sardonically. “Maybe you just need something t’ talk about? For instance, let’s discuss what happens when I place this stone int’ the hilt of this dagger.”

I slipped the stone into place, and a sinister smile emerged on his lips. I instantly found myself wondering why he looked so smug.

I didn’t wonder for long.

The Tartaros Blade began to vibrate in my hand. The stone fluctuated rapidly between shades of red and shades of blue. Rage tore through me. Everything in my vision flashed to crimson, and all I wanted was to watch the life fade from the being before me. I drew the Tartaros Blade back into attack position, prepared to thrust, and met the vile stare of malevolence as it glared back at me with satisfaction.

“Any last words?” I offered.

Arrogance spilled out when he began to speak. “There is anger within you, an uncontrollable madness. After all, you are your father’s daughter.”

“What do you know of my father?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“I know his downfall was your mother. Just has you have been Cian’s. It’s why she had to be removed from the equation. Her death was swift . . . maybe not painless, but swift.” Not even a hint of remorse or emotion surfaced with his declaration.

I was not so fortunate. The revelation stormed within. Kage had taken the life of my mother . . . and now Cian. I raised the Tartaros Blade high, letting out a guttural cry backed by years of bitterness and now emptiness. Just as I prepared to bring the blade down and serve the deserved justice, his words echoed in my mind.

“The one who will place the stone and wield the blade and face the choice between darkness and light. All you, Aish.”

Darkness would bring death. Choosing light would bring life. It didn’t matter that the life belonged to someone who didn’t deserve mercy. Choosing darkness would have meant my own death as well, the death of what is right, the death of who I am meant to be, the death of who my mother and Cian believed in. That was not the legacy I was meant to carry on. I slowly lowered the dagger, now radiating with blue luminance, but kept it pointed in Kage’s direction. The Sorek Shackles drifted into sight and I huffed a bemused sigh. “No such thing as coincidence,” I mumbled as I quickly grabbed them and secured them around Kage’s wrists, the dagger strategically trained on him until I was finished.

“There is a special place in hell for you, but I won’t be the one to send you there.”

The sound of a faint groan spun me around to search my surroundings—only we were alone. When it rumbled again, it was slightly louder . . . and closer. I rushed to Cian, convinced it had been him. But he floated lifelessly in the water with no response.

“Your mind is playin’ tricks on ya, Aisling,” I uttered to myself and darted my attention back to Kage now noticeably weakened by The Sorek Shackles, contemplating what I needed to do with him—unwilling to leave Cian, but unable to carry him.

“Ya could just drag me t’ the side an’ hang me over,” the familiar snark sounded in my head.

I whipped back around expecting that I was still losing it. I stared at Cian’s body for a solid thirty seconds before I noticed the feeble rise and fall of his chest. I quickly waded through the water to his side.

“Cian? Please tell me I’m not imaginin’ things. Can you hear me?” I placed a hand under his head and pulled him over to the side of the basin, my back against the stone wall and Cian cradled to my chest.

“Nay, lass. I hear ya, an’ you’re no crazier than usual, I s’pose.” His voice was a symphony of comfort, even if it was only through our mental link.

“How are you not dead?” I planted a series of kisses on his face, holding the last one in place on his temple.

“I believe I can answer that,” an ethereal voice articulated clearly. I raised my head to meet her calm, reassuring smile. “You’ve had quite the day, Aisling.”

“Aye,” I agreed, glancing down at Cian and then back to the Lunar goddess. “Is he going t’ be okay?” I breathed shakily, my emotions finally catching up with me.

“He is, dear one. Darkness leads to death. Light brings life. You chose life. Of course, if one is going to attempt to defy a mortal wound, doing so in a fountain of moonwater with a healing moon orb nearby does not hurt one’s chances.” She offered an amiable wink and her warm brown eyes lit up with a brilliant smile. I couldn’t help smiling in return. “I’ve established a warm fire just there for the two of you to