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Their combined energy flowed around them expanded more and more.
Suddenly the ancient fae cried out a long, shrill, ‘no’, a plaintive cry that faded as did her smell.
At the same time, he heard rumblings from deep in the earth.
I have to path you into the air. Things are about to explode.
Do it!
Ethan whipped her off the ledge and up into the night air. He kept rising, which was a damn good thing because a wall of blue crystals suddenly shot out of the opening, a beautiful spray that would have cut both of them to ribbons. Following close behind the crystal, a rush of water plummeted down the steep stone face of the ridge, falling sixty feet to the bottom of the gorge below.
And Sweet Gorge Stream was reborn.
Ethan kept rising, however, holding Samantha close, turning in a slow half-circle. His forces along the south ridge had overcome the Invictus during that time, while Kyle and Finn, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder, forced Ry down the side of the gorge, half-levitating as each struck, half-stumbling on the earth.
Ry might have gained more power from Samantha’s blood, and as a mastyr he was more powerful generally, but Finn and Kyle were both powerful Guardsmen and together they were able to keep pushing him back until he finally took off flying west, as water began pouring down the stream.
Ethan needed to go after him, but not until Samantha was safe.
“I see Quinlan,” she called out. “There, flying above the east ridge, just like in the vision. He has his Guard with him.”
He pivoted and sure enough, Quinlan flew, his dark eyes on fire, his fangs half-emerged, a sure sign he’d been in battle. He held his short-sword aloft and let out a battle cry.
When he reached Ethan, he levitated next to him, a breeze whipping his long black hair in strands over his face. “We’ve got them, all of them. There were two-hundred pairs but we subdued them and saved as many as we could.” He glanced at Samantha. “I’m hoping you’ll be able to rescue more of our enslaved realm-folk.”
“Of course.”
Ethan felt different, changed. He’d crossed a final bridge and he wouldn’t go back. He’d bonded with Samantha and maybe for that reason alone he was able to address Quinlan, another mastyr vampire, as he said, “Would you look after her? I can’t let Ry get away this time.”
“Absolutely.”
While in midair, he passed over her, and though a quiver of possessiveness swept through him at the sight of Samantha’s arm around Quinlan’s neck, he ignored the sensation and whipped around to fly, as he had never flown before, west, after Ry. He couldn’t let Ry reconnect with the ancient fae again.
But because of the new bond with Samantha, he had speed now, greater than before. He flew faster and faster and soon found Ry flying over La Fourche Lake.
A few seconds more, he grabbed for Ry, catching his shoulder strap and giving a sharp tug, which sent him into a downward spin toward the water.
But Ry caught himself and when he flew upward toward Ethan, he had his short-sword in his left hand and in his right he gathered power.
Ethan felt the power he’d gained by joining with Samantha at the waterfall monolith and it was a killing power. But he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he let it fly as he raced in Ry’s direction.
Because Ry had released his energy as well, sparks flew, but much closer to Ry, which parted his lips and put a scowl on his face. He might even have cursed.
He turned and headed down, toward the water, then leveled out along the surface, but the nearby hamlet of La Fourche was too close. Ry could get lost in the narrow stone streets, hide out, take hostages.
Ethan couldn’t let that happen.
He geared up for another energy stream, flicked his wrist and caught Ry in his back, sending him headfirst into the water, skipping like a stone three times because of his speed.
Ethan flew slower as he neared Ry, now face down. With that much speed he could have broken his neck.
He got close enough to reach for Ry’s arm, then he saw the air bubbles, and withdrew just in time. Ry whipped around, his short-sword moving in a swift arc. He would have taken off Ethan’s arm.
At the same time, Ethan used his sword and caught Ry under his collar bone and up through his neck.
He looked surprised as Ethan withdrew the blade. Blood flowed as he slid back into the water.
Ethan reached in and grabbed the back of the coat, hauling him in a quick levitated flight to shore, dropping him on the grass. Blood flowed and bubbled as he gasped his last breaths. Ethan knew he was trying to self-heal, but he’d delivered a mortal wound.
“All this time,” Ethan said, dropping to sit on the grass a few feet away. “All this time, you served in the Guard yet you were planning these attacks.”
Ry could barely speak, but he said between gasps for air. “I hated you. I always did. Fucking usurper.” His body went lax and his eyes dilated fully.
Ry was dead.
Ethan stared out at the lake, now settling down from the waves Ry’s body had created. Ducks swam in and out of reeds at the far side. Realm-folk had begun to gather at the village end.
He breathed deeply, grateful that it was over.
He pathed to Finn, asking for an update.
All the Invictus pairs are subdued. We’re rounding them up on the east plain. It’s lined with barracks. Ry must have used it as a training camp. How did we not know?
Dark fae enthrallment and shielding. He probably had a lot of help. This isn’t a simple thing that’s going on.
No. It isn’t.
Ethan then called for Guardsmen to take care of Ry’s body.
As soon as they arrived, he returned to Samantha.
Fortunately, Quinlan had deposited her on the south ridge and had returned to his Guard. He was gearing up to get his men back to Grochaire Realm.
Finn had summoned the fae healers, who were at work, moving among the injured. Even Vojalie had arrived and now stood next to Samantha an arm around her shoulders. Other workers carted off the dead to the morgue.
Ethan flew slowly over Sweet Gorge. The dry wasteland would soon be renewed. Maybe the time had come to build a memorial for those who had perished in the massacre.
He’d see to it himself.
But something vibrated within his chest, and instinctively he glanced toward Samantha. He felt her, in a new way now that they were bonded, and he could tell that she needed him.
*** *** ***
Samantha watched Ethan turn and head in her direction. He’d been looking down at Sweet Gorge and she’d felt a variety of sensations move through him from terrible sadness, to hope, then reverence.
He looked magnificent, even though he was blood-spattered and sweaty, his long gorgeous hair in tangles, but he glowed with the look of a man who’d triumphed and who now knew some peace.
