Chapter 34

**I** lifted the sword slightly. “Ivy.” All the venom I could, I poured into that one word.

But she grinned, her stony features lighting up with a dark glee. “How good of you to join us.”

I felt my courage drain at that familiar grin.

Behind her, Forreston and Branch made no move as I raised my sword.

“Are you here to kill me?” She said mockingly.

I gritted my teeth, thinking of my dead sisters. “I am.”

She only raised a taunting eyebrow. “Are you, now? Let’s see how you accomplish that.”

Moving like a snake, she swiftly slid her body towards mine, bringing the blade upwards. I parried it, but her blows were strong, rapid—it was all I could do to defend myself.

I could see the others rushing at me, but Ivy waved her hand. A wall of rock shot up in a circle around us, shooting to the roof.

It was just her and me.

She cornered me against a wall, the stones biting into my back.

I clenched my fist, trying to summon water, air anything. Her wall was impenetrable.

“Disappointing,” she said, disarming me with a quick move.

This was it.

I tightened my jaw, looking straight into her eyes. I’d never give her the satisfaction of defeating me.

“I see,” she said, raising her sword.

I didn’t look away.

Not until her sword cut into my side. I crumpled, collapsing on my knees, a hand to the cut, blood already seeping through the dress.

She stalked closer, holding the sword coated with my own blood to my neck. “Still fighting, my weak daughter?”

Weak. Useless. Powerless. Talentless.

I knew everything the elves called me. Why did I let it bother me anymore? Why had I let her get to me?

Then I felt Nalvia’s presence. Her shimmering golden light wrapped around me, pulling me away from reality.

It wasn’t a vision.

They all stood before me. I stumbled back, looking over all of them. His hair, red as mine. All of them, looking at me with pride and love —

And her.

Her gray-blue eyes lit up. She ran at me at the same time I ran at her.

“Juniper,” I whispered, a tear sliding down my cheek. I whispered her name over and over as she held me tight.

She drew away, smiling gently.

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking at all of them.

“I am sorry,” my father said, his eyes heavy.

“We are so proud of you,” Laurel said, giving me a smile.

“There’s just a little left,” Sylvan said, her green eyes twinkling, like mine.

“You must understand,” my father said.

I looked at all of them. “What —”

*They stood in a room, alone. Ivy and Rowan. Her lips were pressed tight together, but her eyes were swimming with unshed tears. “I’m leaving you, Rowan.”

*His face was stunned, for a moment, until it hardened. “What are you talking about, Ivy?”

*She twitched. “I don’t love you anymore, Rowan. I can’t live with you.”

*He shook his head. Almost dismissively. “You’re not thinking straight, Ivy.”

*Ivy’s lips parted. “I am. I know exactly what I’m saying, Rowan. I want to dissolve our marriage.”

*He stared straight at her. “What about the girls?”

*Ivy’s expression flickered. “They can stay with you. Or me. I don’t care. I just can’t live with you anymore.”

*Rowan scoffed. “It’s not possible. You are Queen, Ivy. Imagine what a dishonor that would. What a stain on the Elowen line.”

*She shook her head. “No. I—”

*He took a step towards her, and Ivy flinched back. “Listen to me now, Ivy. You are not dissolving our marriage. That is final.”

*“I never wanted to marry you in the first place!” She cried.

*What?

*Ivy continued, despite Rowan’s face growing angrier. “The only reason we married was because of Laurel! And I liked you, I fell in love, but now? You want an heir, you want more children—I can’t live like this anymore!”

*Rowan rolled his eyes. “You married me, Ivy, whatever your reasons were. And now, as Queen, it is your duty to this Forest to provide me an heir. You cannot escape your fate.”

*“No.” Ivy shook her head. “No, Rowan, I will not—”

*“Enough,” Rowan said, his low voice rumbling through the room. Ivy fell silent.

*I could see the exact moment her determination faded to fear. “Rowan, please!” She begged.

*But Rowan’s eyes darkened with hate, like I had seen hers do so many times.

*“We have had five children, Ivy. All girls.”

*“That’s not my fault, Rowan,” Ivy said, half-pleading.

*Rowan didn’t budge. “How can it not be your fault? You have given me five daughters! The elves are wondering why we have not had a son. I have been shamed because of you!”

*“Rowan, it’s not my fault!” Ivy repeated, her shoulders caving in.

*“It is.” Rowan said, his eyes showing something beyond hate. He raised his hand and struck her hard across the face.

*She shrieked as she collapsed onto her knees.

*And all the puzzle pieces fell into place.

The vision faded away, leaving me standing with my dead family.

I stared at Rowan with horror.

“You,” I breathed.

You must bring her here. We shall take care of her.

“When an elf dies, their soul becomes part of the Forest. Bring Ivy to us,” Juniper said, her face hard.

“Let our strength,” Rowan said, stepping forward, “Become yours.”

I didn’t say anything as he walked right up to me, putting his hand on my forehead. I didn’t want him to touch me, not after what I’d just seen. I stumbled back. “Don’t.”

“I must do this,” he said gently, “So you can go back.”

I looked behind him to see my sisters nodding at me, looking like they understood. So I closed my eyes, feeling something light hum through me, through my bones and flesh.

He retreated, and Laurel came up.

They all did the same thing, and at the end of it, the cut in my side wasn’t throbbing, nor was I as tired as I had been.

I felt—strong.

“You are powerful,” Juniper breathed.

“I’ll bring her here,” I promised, and they dissolved.

Ivy was still standing in front of me, her sword to my neck.

I struck quickly, vines pushing through the floor and wrapping around her, dragging her away from me.

I picked up my sword quickly, just as she tore through the vines.

Her mocking face was gone, replaced with dark determination.

I angled my sword.

We rushed at each other—I felt the strength of my family take over as I dodged her blows, landed my own, and forced her into the wall.

Her eyes widened. “What —”

I swung at her sword with such force that it flew out of her grip, landing behind me.

Then I put my sword to her throat.

“You won’t do it,” she whispered, her identical eyes searching mine, “You can’t kill me.”

“Maybe not,” I said, tilting my head, “But they can.”

I closed my eyes, willing her to come.

Nalvia.

I grabbed Ivy’s hand just as we left.