Page 33 of Fallen Star

From ashes to ashes. From dust to dust. The magic is taking back what my mother and Levi stole from it, and in the process, my mother's body is turned to dust, dissolving into nothing even as I clutch at what remains.

All I am left holding is the egg, now satisfied that its debt has been repaid. "This isn't safe, not in this world or my own. Not even with me. You don't know how close I came to using this power to save her."

He strokes my head. "You wouldn't have. I know you. I know your heart. You would always make the right choice."

"If she had begged. If she had pleaded for her life? I don't know."

He tilts my chin up to look him in the eyes. "I do. I know. I know you, Alex Stone."

"Still," I say, sighing. "We have to destroy it. And I finally know how."

He raises an eyebrow at that. "How then?"

"Let's get out of here and I'll tell you."

It's messy work, but I find us a shortcut and we exit the cave and make our way back to the fountain. Dean effortlessly carries Levi, taking great pleasure in 'accidentally' knocking his head against every hard surface he can.

Night has fallen in Nirandel, and three moons at different phases shine in the sky, illuminating a trio of dragons in silhouette. We're a few paces from the fountain, when the water splashes, and a burst of light shines out of it.

Dean drops Levi and pulls out his sword. I stand at the ready with my axe.

We both drop our guard in relief when Iris emerges, daggers drawn, kitten on her shoulder, ready to rumble. She looks disappointed to realize there's no one left to fight. "So you managed without me, then?" she asks, sheathing her weapons.

I tuck my axe back into my pants and rush over to hug my friend. "You really can come back from the dead!"

She laughs. "Oh yeah, I knew I was forgetting to tell you something!"

"Well, I have a few things to tell you too," I confess. "Get ready for a night of heavy drinking."

"I'm ready when you are."

She looks at Dean and takes in the scene before her. "So bad guy caught, but mom didn't make it?"

I nod, my eyes leaking again.

"I'm so sorry," she says. "That's truly awful."

Then she walks over to Levi's unconscious form and proceeds the vampire—hard—in the balls. Ouch.

That's going to hurt when he wakes up, and I don't care one bit.

"He'll have a new home in the dungeons of the Black Lotus," Iris says smugly.

"Is it secure?" I ask. I would hate to have to catch this asshole all over again.

Iris nods. "The most secure in the Nine Worlds. No one has ever escaped."

Dean clears his throat, and Iris laughs. "Well, okay, that's not entirely true anymore, but my escape was orchestrated, and Elias escaped because he planned to get caught."

"Wait, you and Elias were prisoners in the Black Lotus? And escaped?"

"Yeah, remember a while back when I went MIA and told you I'd had a spa vacation with no internet?"

"Yes…" I say, recalling how worried I was when I couldn't reach her.

"Well, I exaggerated the spa part a bit. But the no internet was true enough."

"My lord, woman," I say, exasperated.