“Sera, I am so proud of you,” he told her.
She turned, surprised to find him right beside her. His dark hair was as messy as she remembered, his eyes as kind as they were hard. He wore dark brown leather from head-to-toe.
“Dad?” Her voice cracked as she reached out, trying to touch him. Her hand passed right through him. He was a ghost. Of course he was. He’d died years ago, died to protect her.
“You are such a strong, beautiful woman. I could not be prouder of you. You’ve protected people, even those who would turn against you. You didn’t allow your hate to drive you.”
“But I did. I gave into it. I did such horrible things.”
“And you found your way back. Back to love. Your dragon is a part of you, part of your magic. But it’s not the only part. Reach out. Love transcends even the barriers between realms. Use my love to reach the others.”
She reached out with her magic, connecting to his love for her, feeling the warmth fill her. His pride in her, his love, his sacrifice. And through that connection, she reached out to Alex and Riley. She followed the bonds of friendship and love to Kai and the commandos, to Logan. And from there, her magic spread further and further until she was glowing with magic—magic the spirit realm could not drain.
Fueled by this new power, she broke through Alden’s defenses and grabbed his pendant. As she shattered its magic, the pendant screamed out, its horrible screech splitting across the spirit realm.
Alden slumped, but he stayed on his feet. “It will not be enough,” he growled. “It will never be enough.”
As he attacked, the demons shattered Naomi’s barrier. Two of the smaller ones grabbed Sera’s father, whisking him away. She grabbed for him, but again, her hand went right through him.
“I will be fine. Keep fighting!” he called down to her.
Ribbons of brilliant pink spirit magic snapped out of Naomi as she battled the demons, holding them back so Sera could take care of Alden. But Sera’s magic was already draining.
“You feel it,” Alden said, his face twisted into a sick expression, that of the true Alden beneath the youthful mask. He was death, hate, power. His face turned, the youth melting away, the ugly face of the Grim Reaper taking hold. Hell was stripping away his charms.
But it was not working fast enough. Sera was weakening too. She could feel those she loved slipping away from her, the swirling storm clouds of hell blocking out their light.
“You are dying,” Alden told her.
Sera pushed through the pain burning from every spot his magic had hit her. “So are you.”
“I will last longer.” He drew his sword.
She heard their voices, her loved ones. But she couldn’t reach them. The demons were blocking her. Her own mortal weakness was blocking her.
Sera had no sword—and no shield. Alden had both. He’d formed a protective field of magic around himself. She slammed her magic into it, but it bounced right off. She grabbed the knife strapped to her thigh.
“That will not be enough, Sera,” he told her.
He was right. Neither magic nor steel could break his defenses, but her body could. She ran at him, at the field of magic he was generating. His magic tore at her body, but she kept pushing through, refusing to slow, refusing to fall.
“You will die, Sera,” he said.
“Then so be it.”
She was doing this for love. What was her life compared to all of those she loved? She passed through the final layer of his barrier and, with the last shred of strength and magic left in her, she jammed her knife into his chest. She poured magic down the blade, into his heart. Shock blazed in his wide eyes as he fell to his knees.
“You fool,” he croaked. “You have killed yourself too.”
She held her hand over her bleeding wounds. “It was worth it.” Her knees hit the rocky ground.
“No one is worth giving up your own life for,” he said.
Sera smiled past the pain. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
He made a derisive noise.
“I wouldn’t expect the Grim Reaper to understand.”
“That…is not…my name.”
He toppled over, the last of his magic bleeding out of him as life abandoned him. The Grim Reaper was dead. Sera smiled, dropping her head to the ground.
“Sera!”
She looked up at Naomi, who was running toward her. Behind her, the demons floated away, no longer interested in fighting a Spirit Warrior over a dead mage and a Dragon Born who would soon join him.
“Let me help you.” White magic glowed on Naomi’s hands as she waved them over Sera. Whatever she was trying to do, it didn’t take. She tried again and again, refusing to give up even though her magic had no effect.
“It’s too late for me,” Sera told her.
Naomi shook her head, trying again. Tears rolled down her face.
“You’ve been a good friend, Naomi. Please do me one final favor.” Her voice cracked with emotion.
Naomi picked her up, carrying her off. “I’m going to get you back, Sera. Those demons took a lot out of me. I’m too weak to heal you. But I’m going to get you back. I’m going to get you help.”
Sera smiled, her body going numb. She could hardly see. Naomi was a blurry halo of magic. Her body was broken, but she couldn’t feel a thing. Her pain was fading, replaced by the onset of oblivion.
“Take care of Alex and Riley. Tell Kai…” Sera coughed blood. “Tell Kai that I would have stayed by him forever.”