Free Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment Book 4) by Stacey O'Neale Page B

blade at her chest. “Where is Merlin now?”
    “This is where he rests.” She pointed out the window to the highest tower of her castle. “He is frozen inside a casket made of the purest iron.”
    I was a bit surprised she told me. But then again, she’d known why I was coming. She’d known I wouldn’t leave without him. “Will you help me free him?”
    “No.” She kept her eyes on the tower. “I made a vow to your mother that I would never free him as long as you lived. I will uphold my oath.”
    There had to be something special about that ice. It must be protected by some kind of magic. Otherwise, the iron casket wouldn’t be enough to hold him. The First Ones said that there was a way I could open it. I slid my sword back in its sheath to appear less threatening. “If I open it, you are still keeping your promise to her. Can you tell me how?”
    I waited silently as she considered my offer. After a few uncomfortable minutes, she replied, “The sword you carry can break the ice so long as the blade is coated with your core fire.”
    When Orion gave me the blade, I’d known it was special. The metal didn’t melt within the eternal flame. But actually igniting the blade with my core fire? I’d never even considered it. I bent down on one knee. “Thank you, Queen Britta.”
    I stood.
    Before I exited the room, she said, “Heed my warning, young king. Being a leader comes with great responsibility. We are often forced to perform our duties despite our own desires.”
    It crushed me to hear her words because she was right. “I don’t know if I can.”
    “Remember the prophecy I told you long ago. Every decision you make ends with blood on your hands. You must decide if it will it be the blood of one or the blood of all.”
     

 

Chapter Nine
    Kalin
     
    I had to take a break.
    My eyes burned. I’d been reading the akasha journals for so long, I had no idea how much time had passed. And I wasn’t getting anywhere. There’d been no other mention of Merlin or the creation of the mist since Rowan left for the fire court. I started to feel like I was wasting my time on a dead end. Leaning on my elbow, I rubbed my palm over my forehead. As frustrating as this had been, I still believed the answers were somewhere in these books. All I had to do was find them.
    I flipped to the next page.
    As I read the first paragraph, I straightened my back. There was a way I could contact the deceased akashas. According to this journal, there were seven planes of existence. All living creatures inhabited the physical plane until we died. The astral plane was our subconscious—basically every emotion that we each experienced within our lifetime. A place where all of our memories were stored. I had the power to access that realm and also communicate. I raced through the next few chapters, making notes as I went.
    I had to go to Avalon’s nexus. It was the place where all four courts converged. The very center point of the isle. That’s where I’d find the akasha temple. A sacred place that’s hidden from all other elementals. Even the royal families didn’t know of its existence. My power was strongest there. My heart swelled with hope. This had to be the answer I was looking for. I closed the journal, slid the book inside my leather satchel, and headed out of the library. I questioned whether or not I should tell anyone where I was going.
    No.
    They might’ve thought it was too dangerous for me to go alone. There wasn’t any time for second guesses. Rowan had been risking his life to try to find a solution, and I couldn’t do any less than that. Time to create a portal. Collecting core energy into my fingertips, I made a circle with my hands. I increased the size until it was large enough to walk through. I made my way inside, focusing on the central nexus point of Avalon. I kept going until I saw a patch of grass in the distance.
    I stepped out and took in the scenery. I saw the three land territories with