With one last yelp, she fed the remainder of her magic into the earth. Too weak to distinguish her earth magic from the other, hundreds of glowing flowers bloomed around her.
She collapsed. The portal was closed. She’d done it. They won. But Ava could barely breathe. Could hardly open her eyes.
There was no longer pain. Her ribs did not ache, her lungs did not burn. She was numb. Floating.
Ava coughed into her hand. Pulling it away she looked at her palm, her vision darkening at the edges. Blood. She coughed again, then wheezed. More blood.
Something heavy settled on her chest. It took almost all her strength to look up. Luna crossed her paws and laid her head down, with a loud purr.
“What’s happening?” Ava whispered, voice raw.
You’re dying. I can feel it.
No…No. No. No.
She hadn’t even lived yet. “I…” she rasped. “How? I don’t…I don’t understand…”
Luna’s voice cracked as if the feline herself was grieving. She scooted closer, licking Ava’s face.It was too much. Your body can’t handle it.
“Luna,” she whimpered. “I’m not ready…Cas…and Thorne…” She let out a fragile sob. “Raine…They can’t…I can’t…I don’t want to go. Please. Don’t make me go…Don’t make me go…”
She took another shuddering breath. Luna nuzzled her face.
“I’m scared…”
It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll stay with you.Luna released a pained whine as she continued to frantically lick Ava.I won’t leave your side.
She could have sworn a tear fell from Luna’s purple eye.
Losing her hold on time, unable to fight it any longer, Ava allowed herself to be swallowed by the darkness.
54
Casimir pulled his sword back, helping finish off the last of their enemies. They had won. The daemon army had been defeated. He could hardly wrap his mind around it. Between the astral army’s arrival and Frosthaven’s forces turning on their queen, they made quick work of the rest of the daemons and monsters.
Lowering his sword, Casimir took a breath, glancing at Thorne who had been fighting by his side. Thorne smiled, placing a hand on Casimir’s shoulder. “We’ve done it.”
“Yes, we—” Casimir halted as something strange appeared in the distance.
A violent wind spiraled above the trees. The boughs quivered, the branches creaked, pulling everyone’s attention away.
“Is that…” Thorne said.
“The portal,” Jorrar answered, stopping beside them.
A wave of power exploded from the source, trees bending from the force before righting themselves. The wind stopped as quickly as it had begun.
Agony ripped through Casimir, causing his sword to fall from his grip. Clutching his chest, he collapsed. Hishearthurt. His soul felt as though it was being torn in two.
“What’s wrong?” Thorne asked, panicked.
“Ava,” he groaned, reaching out as if he could get to her, but unable to rise from the ground. “Something’s wrong…”
She’s dying,Aro said, bounding through the trees.
“What?” Casimir asked. “No, no, no…”
“Where is she?” Thorne trembled.
