Sparkling liquid fizzled in the bowl, making a strong cinnamon smell rise into the air. Small bubbles danced on my tongue as half the bitter liquid ran down my throat.

Glyn lay next to me, once again breathing shallow puffs of air. His fever burned more intensely than ever and his heartbeat was only a weak ripple in his veins.

“You’ll be better soon,” I whisper before putting the other half of the potion in my mouth.

Our lips touched. The remaining half of the acrid brew flowed from my mouth to his, and with it poured half of my lifeforce. Cold emptiness gripped my heart and threatened to stop it. I gulped for air and collapsed from the sensation as the room spun around me.

My eyes closed and I found myself back at the pool that floated in the void. Glyn slept next to me, on the edge of the water. A gentle shake was all he needed to wake up. Moss green eyes fluttered open, then grew wide as he looked around.

“You really are quite stubborn,” he said when he found his voice. “Not only did you follow my spirit into the Otherworld, but you have also restored my life spring.”

He concentrated for a moment, feeling the pulse of life flowing from the waters into both of us, each beat perfectly in sync. For a brief moment our memories collided, and visions of our pasts mixed together. He quickly pulled himself out of his meditation, breaking the connection.

“How?”

“The goddesses of the sky granted me knowledge and a strange mushroom to make a potion to link our lifeforce. Though, that knowledge is already fading from my mind.”

“But just linking our souls into one pool wouldn’t do this.” His hand waved across the whole pond. “There is more here than when I was first born. How does a human have so much?”

“I am fairy kind now.” He stared at me, completely speechless.

Realization of my own words sank in. As one of the aes sídhe, the Holy Luvius Empire would now hunt me. The newest knight certainly didn’t have enough influence to sway generations of hatred. Perhaps if a more senior knight could be convinced, there was a chance. I would have to choose the words of my next report very carefully.

Frost crystallized over the surface of the pool, interrupting my thoughts. A pale woman dressed in blue walked across the path of ice, her white hair flailing wildly around her.

“Arlyn Claíomh Solais, do you plan to stand in my way again?” Her voice echoed through the emptiness, blending with itself over and over again until it formed a high screech.

“Swords don’t exist in the world of dreams,” she said after my hands grasped nothing when they reached at my side. I centered my weight, readying to charge across the ice.

“It’s okay.” A warm hand gently rested on my arm. “Death must always take its payment. Thanks to you we have plenty to share.”

Glyn stepped in front of me and gave a low bow, which the banshee returned. At his touch, the ice near the edge shattered into flowing liquid. Soft melodies rose from both aes sídhe, blending in perfect harmony.

Black droplets rose from the hole in the ice, swirling together into an orb of grief. Once more I stared into the end of what might be. Only this time it drifted toward the banshee, who cupped the sphere in her hands and drank from the dark waters.

Cracks wove their way through the ice as the woman reached the far edge of the water. She stopped and turned toward me, her face filled with sorrow.

“Hear my words keeper of the Stone of Destiny. The Morrígan trine once again seek war with their sisters. They will free the monstrous Fomoiri from their ancient prison and end all life from both worlds. The final treasure must be found.” The ice shattered along with the world around me.

The warm light of the small hut greeted me along with a pair of green eyes. Odd feathers, woven into unkempt hair, rocked gently in the breeze. I rose to shut the window, only to be stopped by a pair of thin arms.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“I was just paying back my debt, don’t go getting any of your funny ideas.” Feeling heat spreading across my face, I quickly pulled away.

“Still playing hard to get are you?” His mischievous giggle only caused my face to heat faster.

“What was that banshee talking about? Who are the Morrígan? What are the Fomoiri?” The ominous names and promise of war didn’t settle well. “What is the final treasure?”

“Nothing to worry your handsome head about tonight. Banshees have a habit of talking about doom and destruction that won’t happen for another hundred years. They’re always spouting out omens of the end any chance they get.”

“And if war she is talking about starts tomorrow?”

“Then it’s too late to do anything about it, the Morrígan will win, and both worlds will be utterly destroyed. Since this is our last night, we should make the most of it.”

“Could you be serious for once!” Glyn shrunk back from my outburst.

“I am,” he said with a heavy sigh. “This week alone you have been on the edge of death three times, slain the last of the Abhartach Dukes, given up your humanity, and saved me in the process.”

The soft light from his oil lamp sparkled in his moist eyes. “Can’t you wait for next week before you save the world?”

He was worried about me. Guilt began to creep through me for yelling. However, as soon as that guilt reached my face, his sorrowful look shifted into one filled with mirth.

“The serious ones are always so easy,” his laughter filled the room. He was right, I did need some rest, but before I could rest I needed some peace and quiet. My lips pressed against his, and the ringing laughter faded into the night.