Ocnolog’s wild attacks had gone in our favor. While we’d certainly lost soldiers to his flames, Varek—or rather Yazmin, now that she’d murdered him—had lost more. And with Leena’s beasts reinvigorating our forces, we’d begun to push the soldiers back toward the castle. Not to mention, the sudden appearance of Lola, Calem, and a lithe, mercury-colored beast I didn’t recognize at the back of Varek’s army had sent his men into a state of chaos. I could even feel Kost’s presence through the shadows, and just knowing that my brothers were still alive and fighting gave me strength.
Racing toward Darrien, I aimed my sword right at his heart. He blocked the move, but the force of my attack sent him flying to his back. His scythe skittered to the side, and he squirmed in the mud to try to reach it.
I pressed my boot to his chest, holding him in place. “It’s over, Darrien.”
Fear flashed through his amber eyes.
As I raised my sword high, preparing to drive it clean through his sternum, a heartbreaking roar shattered the heavens and silenced our world. My gaze snapped to the sky, where I spotted a body free falling to the earth. A woman doused in a rosewood glow. Above her, a streaking bullet of black that could only be Onyx. And right on his tail, Ocnolog.
Darrien didn’t hesitate to take advantage of my shock. With a swift kick, he swept my legs out from under me and I crashed to the ground. I didn’t care. Couldn’t focus. All I could see was Leena, barreling toward the earth like a falling star. My heart thundered in my ears.
Darrien stabbed me through the shoulder with a blade and pinned me to the ground, bringing my attention back to him. Writhing beneath his weight on my back, I screamed. Not because of the lancing pain surging through my arm, but because I couldn’t see her. Couldn’t get to her. I had no idea if she was still alive. And even if she was, Ocnolog was right there. He’d end her before I could ever escape Darrien’s clutches.
“She was always your weakness.” He smirked and twisted the blade. Red-hot fire licked through my muscles. I’d lost so much blood throughout the battle that it was getting harder and harder to focus. Dark splotches filled my vision, and even though blood pooled beneath my arm, I couldn’t force it to take shape. I hadn’t given my body a moment to breathe, to heal. I didn’t have time.
I felt a shift in the shadows before I saw him. Kost. He appeared behind Darrien, wild fury in his burning green eyes. Forming a slender rapier out of the shadows, he struck hard and fast, driving the tip right through the base of Darrien’s neck. Hot blood spurted over me, and Darrien’s eyes bulged. Wild and frantic, his hands flailed about the protruding blade. Then, they went limp as his face slackened. His legs gave out and he slumped to the ground.
“That’s for Gaige.” Ice edged Kost’s parting words, and he shoved Darrien’s lifeless body to the side. With the flick of his wrist, Kost commanded his weapon to dissipate, and then hauled me to my feet.
“Thanks,” I said.
He opened his mouth to answer, but a low, demanding command tainted with dark power rumbled through the air.
“Come to me. Leave your Charmers behind. They do not deserve your devotion.”
Ocnolog. All around us, the beasts stopped their attack. Slowly, as if being pulled by strings, they turned in the direction of the dragon and stalked toward him. Charmers called out to their creatures, their woeful cries pulling at my heart. Not a single beast reacted. They simply continued their march toward the grounded beast.
Toward Onyx and…
“Leena.” I spied her standing before Ocnolog, armor cast to the side and body shaking. She was alive. Alive and alone.
Adrenaline surged through me, and the bone-deep fatigue I felt disappeared. I needed to get to her—now. Calling on my shadows, I bolted across the battlefield, focusing only on her. Her lips were moving but I couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. Her beasts had come to her side, thankfully, but even with them beside her, they didn’t stand a chance against Ocnolog.
Get out of there! Why aren’t you running?I couldn’t seem to move fast enough. I’d broken free of the forces and was sprinting at full speed in her direction, but there was still so much space between us. Too much. She’d stopped speaking, and Ocnolog had brought his snout inches from her face. Atop his head, Yazmin was laughing.
Any minute now, he’d burn her alive.
Any minute now, the love of my life would be gone forever. Even if I went against her wishes and raised her, I wouldn’t be able to do so if there wasn’t a body to begin with. If she was nothing but ash.
For a moment, she seemed startled. Then puzzled. And then a calm, serene look of utter certainty dominated her features. She stared at Ocnolog with so much understanding, as if she’d been let in on some private secret, and she reached for the blade strapped to her thigh.
What are you doing?My lungs burned. Every muscle screamed at me both to stop and to keep racing toward her. To save her. Something was wrong. Something was going to happen. I knew it like I knew the shadows. They whispered of death and streaked toward the source. Towardher.
She raised the blade high, and my world narrowed to that damn knife gleaming in the dusty, orange sun.
“Leena!” I bellowed her name with everything I had.
Pausing, she craned her neck toward me. A brilliant smile claimed her lips at the same time tears rushed down her cheeks. She mouthed one phrase. One disastrous phrase.
I love you.
And then she drove the blade deep into her heart.
The sickening sound of metal piercing flesh would play on repeat in my mind for the rest of my life. In that moment, I wished we’d said goodbye. I wanted that to be the last thing I heard from her lips. Because goodbye implied there might be a chance for a hello once again. But now… She crumbled to the ground as blood bubbled out over her hands. I got to her within seconds, but it didn’t matter. The deed was already done. Sliding on my knees, I caught her before her head hit the ground and cradled her in my lap. Tears stung my eyes as I discarded my helm. Why? Why had she done this? I pulled her against me, soft sobs racking my chest.
Her smile was weak. “I had to do it.”
“Leena.” It was all I could say. All I could do. Her hazel eyes were full and glassy, but her stare was faraway. This was it. No amount of chest compressions or breathing air into her lungs could save her from this fate. Not like before. Her chest gave a heavy shudder, and her breath rattled. Blood trickled from her lips. And I knew in my core that I wouldn’t raise her. Not after what happened with Gaige. I’d promised to honor her wishes, and as much as it pained me to let her go…I did. I simply watched as the light left her eyes and her body stilled. Gripping her hands, I pressed featherlight kisses to her fingers.
