“Jace,” I whispered down the bond as my gaze swept across the terrain.
A field that was once full of life now lay in ruins, painted in scarlet red, and littered with the fallen and remnants of war. The ground was adorned with protruding spears and swords, while banners lay trampled in the mud.
“Holy gods,” he spoke aloud as the feeling of his back left my own, and he took a step up to my side.
In every direction I turned, the Islan soldiers were throwing down their weapons in surrender and defeat, their eyes cast to the ground.
Were they aware the queen had perished? Or was Kellan’s death enough to cause this?
As relief and shock swirled within me, I felt Jace’s adrenaline falter, feeling the true weight of his wound.
My gaze slowly lifted to meet his as he bowed his head, the last reserves of his strength slipping away. He sucked in a sharp breath right before he collapsed to the ground beside me, too fast for me to catch him, his breathing ragged and shallow.
“Jace!” His name left me in a guttural scream as I positioned myself protectively over him.
“The commander has fallen!” Someone shouted over the crackling embers, and I let out a growl.
“Oh, gods, Jace!” Zaela’s voice carried from the distance, and my eyes shot to her as she shoved people out of the way to get to us as Gage did the same, not far behind her.
Our soldiers rallied, forming a protective ring around us—their loyalty unwavering. The enemy soldiers continued to watch, frozen where they stood, not willing to take the chance to attack.
My attention returned to my husband, whose eyes were fluttering shut from the agony of the wound that pierced the flesh directly above his heart. “Handsome, I need you to keep your eyes open.”
A lump formed in my throat as my nerves threatened to consume me.
“I’m okay, my Lia.” His voice was raspy and barely audible.
“Donotlie to me! I can feel it, Jace. I can feel you, and you’re not okay.” My gaze swept my surroundings once more. “Where the fuck are the healers?!” I screamed.
I could barely catch my breath.
Gage and Zaela dropped to his opposite side then, eyes searching both of us for what to do. My breathing quickened, making me feel faint.
“Jace…” My voice cracked. Tears streamed down my face in a flood of waves, dripping onto his own as I hovered over him. “Please, I can’t do this without you. What is the fucking point in this if you’re not here with me?” I broke out into a gut-wrenching sob and could no longer vocalize what I needed to. “I am nothing if you aren’t here with me. The kingdom needs its king. I need my husband. I need my mate.”
“Help me lift him up,” Gage said to Zaela, and when they both went to move, I stopped them.
“Don’t touch him,” I ordered, and they instantly froze.
I bellowed a cry of desperation into the air as fear consumed me and then put my face next to his ear. “Jace, the queen is dead.Kellanis dead. It’s over—we won.”
A breathy, pained laugh left him as he looked up at me through cloudy eyes. “We won.”
“We did.” I swallowed thickly as I sniffled. “But not if you leave me for the vale.”
The sound of galloping hooves approached us and the slightest bit of relief hit me to see it was Landon and Finn. They each jumped down from Matthias and ran to us.
“Finn,” I nearly gasped.
“I’m not as quick as Veli,” he warned warily. “He’s lost a lot of blood, Lia.”
“Just hurry, please!” I begged as I looked to the sky, where Veli had chased after Azenna, but they were nowhere to be seen.
“I’ll be fine,” Jace said through his teeth, but winced as he voiced the words.
I felt his worry—it was palpable, but he was still trying to put on a brave face for the rest of us.
“You lie to me so beautifully,” I whispered his own words that he used when we first met. Something in him relaxed at hearing them.
