There he was.
In front of the Marked. Just a wings length away. The Fallen Prince, clad in obsidian finery, his shadows swirling around him, had come to be near me. As close as he could get without Kaelthos calling it an interference and deeming my life forfeit. His eyes blazed like jade stones. That alone was enough for me to lift my head higher. For me to take a few more breaths. For me to withstand the pain a bit longer.
“There you are,”he purred.“I’m not letting you cross into the Ellelights yet.”
If I had the strength, I would have laughed. But then another lash came.
“Forty.”
“Forty-one.”
“Forty-two.”
I held on to Quazar’s gaze. It was all I could do to keep from breaking. If I didn’t endure, the Marked would die. And stars. I was tired of lives being wasted in this temple.
Shadows slipped into my mind, caressing me. They seeped further, curling into my spirit. Shadow danced with starfire as Quazar traipsed all along our bond, determined to distract me by any means necessary. The feel of him along that tethered, ethereal bond between us warmed me. Reassured me. Strengthened me. I sighed, leaning into his touch.
“Fifty-three.”
I could no longer stop the tears. I tried.
I failed.
They fell freely now, burning my eyes, triggering a throbbing headache. By the seventieth lash, I could no longer stop screaming. I swayed, finding the cathedral spinning around me.
To whatever end.
The whispers of my Manmi’s vow curled into my thoughts. I held on to them like oxygen.
“Seventy-seven.”
One moment the ceiling was above me. The next, it was under my feet. By some odd miracle, I got up again before staying down got too comfortable. I was shivering uncontrollably.
I could feel death rushing for me, demanding I take its hand and enter eternal darkness. I shoved back the temptation to quit. To give in. I endured the lashes as they fell. Screamed through the agony as more pieces of my body, my soul, were violently ripped from me.
My spine felt raw.
My hearts were weakening. Pumping slower.
Life drained out of my body like undulating ocean waves. Crawling black seeped into the corners of my vision coaxing me towards a bright light. The hands of the Ellelights reached for me.
And stars.
I reached back.
“No.”
Quazar snarled down our bond. His voice was so loud. Ferocious. Commanding. I jolted alert, flinching at how aggressive it was. I blinked through the haze, finding his eyes piercing into me.
“Safah, do not yield! You willnotenter the Ellelights, do you hear me? I recognize the soft surrender in your eyes. The bow to your wings. The admonition of defeat. To the bottomless pits of the Hèls with the Ellelights. Eternity will not claim you this dawn. I amnotletting you go.”
“Eighty-seven.”
Lash.
“Ninety-two.”
Lash.
