Finn gasped for air as Eamon’s magic threatened to consume him. The air crackled with energy, and as the coldness of death dragged against his flesh, the hairs on his arms stood on end. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming force that pressed down on him.
Suddenly, the power to the spire cut out, plunging the room into darkness…and Eamon’s magic began to falter.
In the shadows, Finn could hear the metallic clatter of the sentinel releasing its grip on Evelyn.
“Get off him!” she screamed, hurtling across the room.
She collided with Eamon, her body slamming into him with enough force to break his concentration. Finn felt the oppressive magic release him, and he gasped for air as the tendrils of blackness receded.
He scrambled to his feet as Evelyn and Eamon grappled near the shattered window. But before he could gather the last threads of his strength and strike, Eamon seized Evelyn by the arm and dragged her toward the gaping nothingness where the window had been.
“Stop!” Finn roared. “Let her go!”
But Eamon sneered at him. “Or what? You’ll kill us both?” He tightened his grip on Evelyn’s arm as she struggled to free herself. “I don’t think so.”
“There’s no way this ends well for you, Eamon,” Evelyn said, desperation edging her voice.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” he drawled, shaking her. “I’m the one with the upper—”
In a moment of rashness, she attempted to fling herself from the tower in order to take Eamon down with her. But he was too fast, too strong, and he yanked her back just in time.
“Nice try,” he spat, his eyes full of malice. “But it’s going to take more than that.”
Finn’s mind raced, searching for a solution.
I can’t let her die like this, he thought, his chest constricting at the memories of Siora’s tragic end. No, not again. There must be another way.
Siora had fallen into the abyss the same way Evelyn was about to, but it was his hand that’d pushed her… His body that’d fallen with hers until…
His gaze locked on Evelyn as she continued to resist Eamon. She was brave and resourceful—qualities that he learned about her over time. She wasn’t the clueless, weak, sun-starved woman who fell through a crack between worlds anymore.
Finn’s eyes met Evelyn’s, and he saw her determination, her fear, and the slightest glimmer of hope. There was a silent understanding between them, born from their shared struggles. She’d forgiven him for his deception over his past, and she saw him like…like Eloise had. Like the family he’d left behind, he knew they were stronger together. He could save her.
“Fine,” Finn said, his voice distant as he turned his gaze back to Eamon. “I don’t care. Throw her off the ledge. I was only ever here for the city.”
Eamon narrowed his eyes, taken aback by Finn’s apparent indifference. “You’re bluffing,” he accused. “I can see how much you care about her.”
“Can you?” Finn challenged, hoping he wasn’t making a fatal mistake. “I am the better, more powerful version of you, Eamon. After a thousand years, imagine my disappointment to find the last of the bloodline that birthed me has been watered down to this.” He looked the Unseelie up and down in contempt.
“Lies.” Eamon shook Evelyn again, pushing her closer to the precipice. “I’ll kill her.”
“Go ahead.”
Evelyn locked eyes with Finn one last time and nodded, tears streaming down her face. She took advantage of Eamon’s momentary distraction and gathered all her strength, lunging forward and dragging him toward the edge of the spire with her.
“NO!” Eamon roared as he lost his balance, his grip on Evelyn slipping just enough for her to break free.
The sound of their cries echoed through the night air, and Finn knew this was his only chance to save her.
The magic inside him came alive, extending outward like invisible fingers toward Evelyn’s falling body and he lunged toward the window.
Time seemed to slow as Finn focused all his energy on reaching her. He felt a surge of adrenaline burn through his body, the fear of losing her driving him to push past his limits.
As Evelyn vanished from sight, Finn dove toward the precipice, his magic reaching out to her. For a moment, his power flickered and died, but it was just enough of a jolt to pull her within reach. His fingers clamped down on her arm, catching her just in time.
The force of Finn’s grip wrenched her out of Eamon’s grasp, and she dangled precariously over the void below.
Eamon continued to fall, his eyes full of fear. His scream echoed through the night, fading into the darkness as he hurtled toward the jagged spires of the crystal city below…then he disappeared from view.
“Got you,” Finn whispered, his voice strained. He looked down at Evelyn, her fingers grasping desperately onto his wrist, her eyes wide with terror.
“Finn,” she rasped, her voice trembling.
“Hold on.” With one last surge of strength, Finn hauled her back up toward the shattered window. The wind howled around them, threatening to tear her away, but he held on tight, refusing to let go.
As Evelyn cleared the edge of the spire, Finn pulled her into his arms, both of them breathing heavily. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her words muffled by his shirt. “I thought I was going to die.”
“Never,” Finn promised, holding her close. “I won’t ever let that happen to you.”
In that moment, nothing else mattered. They were alive, and they were together.
* * *
Evelyn grasped Finn, her entire body shaking as the world spun around her, twisting the spire into a wobbling mass.
Finn held her, his arms wrapped around her as he whispered soothing words into her ear. “It’s okay now, you’re safe,” he murmured, rubbing her back gently.
She lifted her head as the adrenaline of her leap of faith wore off. “Finn—”
“Is everyone okay?” Lorcan’s voice cut through the wind, and she looked up to see the Shr’lei, Aisling, and Naimh approaching from the darkened corridor.
“You took your time,” Finn drawled.
Evelyn disentangled herself from Finn, but still clung to his hand, his grip reassuringly tight. “We’re fine,” she added, a faint smile on her lips. She looked at Naimh and smiled. “You did it.”
Naimh nodded, but her expression remained grave.
“What is it now?” Finn asked with a roll of his eyes. “I’ve had just about enough of all these twists.”
Naimh glanced between them, and Evelyn noticed she didn’t look to Lorcan for permission—whatever had happened down in the city's heart had changed her.
“When I cut the ties from the portal to the spire, I had a vision. My mind was pulled into the opening and…and whatever I saw on the other side, saw me. It knows we’re here. If we leave it open, it could come through.”
The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, a collective shudder running through the room. Their original plan to destroy the city seemed more urgent than ever.
“Then we stick to the plan,” Finn said, pushing to his feet. “We close the portal and bring the city down.”
Evelyn looked between the faces of her new friends, realising what was about to happen. By helping save Lor’Iyslar, she was now faced with the decision she’d assumed she’d already made—to return to her own world.
As if he’d sensed her thoughts, Finn turned to her. “Evelyn?”
She froze, unable to move. All eyes were on her, waiting for her answer. The wind whipped through her hair and her heart was pounding so hard that she could feel it in her throat, stopping her from speaking.
“I-I don’t know,” she finally said.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Finn’s eyebrows rose.
The others exchanged glances, understanding her dilemma. Lorcan held out his hand, helping her to her feet. “Whatever you decide, we’re here for you…but it’s time.”
Evelyn swallowed hard, feeling the unbearable weight of her decision loom over her. She looked at each of her friends, finally resting her gaze on Finn. In his eyes, she saw the acceptance and support she had been searching for her entire life. The something more…
“No,” she breathed. “My place is here, in Lor’Iyslar, with you.”
Finn’s mask slipped and his eyes filled with an emotion she’d rarely seen within them—love.
As she stood there, surrounded by her friends and the shattered remains of the control room, she knew that whatever happened next, it was what was meant to happen. Naimh had prophesied it, after all.
“Naimh,” Finn called. “Can you reestablish power to a console from here?”
Naimh approached the crystal bench Eamon had been manipulating the city from and guided her fingers across the quartz. As if the magic embedded in the city recognised her, the display glowed faintly.
Finn moved toward the console, Evelyn trailing behind him. As he sifted through the files on the screen and issued commands, she gazed out over the vast expanse of An Valran’s remote mountains, their jagged peaks slicing through the wispy clouds that lingered around them.
“Here,” Finn said, gesturing to the hologram. “We’re currently above the mountain range.”
“Are you sure this is the best place?” Aisling asked, her eyes scanning the desolate landscape.
“An Valran’s mountains are far from any pockets of civilisation,” Finn replied, his voice steady. “If we’re going to destroy the city, it’s best done here. No one will ever find the remains. There’s nothing but rock, ice, and glaciers for miles.”
“What about the portal?” Evelyn asked.
“The crushing weight of the city should be more than enough to ensure it collapses in on itself,” Lorcan told her. “Like snuffing out a candle.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I’ll stay behind to ensure everything goes as planned,” Finn said, leaning over the control panel. “You all need to leave the city now.”
A pang of fear clutched at Evelyn’s heart. “But—”
“I want you to go with them,” he told her, his voice tense. “It’s not safe for you here.”
“It’s not safe for you!” she cried.
“Evelyn…” He sighed and glanced at the others. “I’ve lived my life. I’ve done unforgivable things, I’ve repented, and I’ve tried to move on, but—”
“No!” Evelyn’s heart burned with defiance. “No, Finn. Don’t pull that crap with me. I’ve chosen to stay in this world, and that means standing by your side.”
Finn’s expression crumbled, but he shook his head. “Evelyn, please.”
“I know we can make it through this. This isn’t the end! I can feel it.”
Evelyn’s words hung in the air like smoke, lingering long after she’d finished speaking. Finn’s eyes searched hers, as if he was trying to find something, anything, that would change her mind. But she knew he wouldn’t.
With a heavy sigh, he relented. “All right. Stay.” He turned to the others, who had been watching the exchange with concern. “We’ll be all right,” he assured them. “Now go. Get to safety. It’s a long way down, so we’ll wait as long as we can.”
Lorcan, Aisling, and Naimh exchanged wary glances before nodding in agreement.
“Take care of each other,” Aisling said quietly, hugging both Finn and Evelyn.
“Good luck,” Lorcan added, clapping Finn on the shoulder before embracing Evelyn. “We will see you below.”
Naimh lingered for a moment, her gaze locked onto Evelyn’s. “Remember,” she said. “Hope remains, a fragile spark, to guide the lost through endless dark.”
She smiled at the closing lines of Naimh’s prophecy and hugged the girl. “You’re stronger.”
“I know what I am now…at least a little.”
Evelyn drew back, her eyes shining with determination. “I’m not going to let anything happen to Finn or to anyone else. We’re going to get through this, and we’re going to save the world.”
Naimh’s lips quirked in a sad smile.
With their goodbyes spoken, Evelyn watched as their friends disappeared from view. Turning back to face the mountains, she wondered what it would be like to feel the crushing weight of the spire pressing down on her until the life left her body. There was hope that they’d survive, but maybe it was just a fool’s hope.
“It’s done,” Finn murmured, his fingers manipulating the holograms. “The last flight of the crystal city has been programmed.” He straightened up and took Evelyn’s hand. “Ashlar an lor, shride lei an val’ash.”
He murmured the words in the fae language like a prayer, and she gazed up at him. “That was beautiful. What does it mean?”
“Honour the dead, for they give us life.”