Page 111 of Memory of Ashes

His eyes went wide as she brought her hands down, plunging the dagger into her chest.

He reacted without thinking, dropping his sword and running for the rift, screaming her name, forgetting the creatures and the battle behind him.

The rift began to close. It shivered and shrank as Amelia’s face disappeared.

He threw himself towards it but struck a solid barrier that denied him entry.

“Amelia!” he roared.

He had no time to think. He remembered the battle behind him and spun around to face the creatures again.

“We need to go!” Danae shouted. “Get the men out of the forest. I’ll hold them off.”

She’d recovered enough energy to raise her walls of fire briefly as the fae fled the forest.

Casyl stayed close to her, guarding her, as she backed away, knowing she could only hold it for another moment.

When the flames receded, they dashed towards the opening in the trees. The creatures were following. Their huge, sinewy bodies crashed through the forest, tearing branches that slowed them, screaming as they gave chase.

They emerged onto open land, where soldiers had gathered, ready to fight the beasts should they leave the ancient forest.

The creatures roared in frustration but stopped near the clearing. They came no further.

They collapsed to the ground.

Smoke from Danae’s fire lingered in the breeze.

“She sacrificed herself,” Casyl said, shaking his head.

The crushing pain in his chest made it hard to breathe. It had been a long time since he’d lost anything that he cared about. She couldn’t be dead.

“What do you mean? We knew she would stay.” Danae frowned in concern. She hadn’t seen what had happened. She’d been too busy fighting the Leshies.

“Where is Eleandor?” he said through gritted teeth. He stood, a sudden rage consuming him. That old bastard would know what had happened.

He stormed through the field like thunder. Eleandor stood in the distance talking to Elthar.

Sensing his approach, they turned towards him. Eleandor took one look at his expression and stepped back.

“What the fuck happened, old man?” Casyl snarled as he stormed towards him, pushing him to the ground. He would kill him with his bare hands.

“Stop!” Elthar commanded.

He would not be told or ordered around by anyone again.

He grabbed Eleandor by his collar, pulling his face close. Casyl caught his own wild expression reflected in Eleandor’s eyes. “What did you do?” he roared.

Men tried to grab him, to get him off the Wise One, screaming in agony as soon as their hands connected with him.

“Answer me!”

Ruven came running towards them. “Can you stop him?” Elthar pleaded.

“Casyl!” Ruven yelled. “Casyl, let go of him!” He knelt next to them, knowing better than to touch him when he was like this. They’d shared centuries together. “What did he do?”

Casyl released the Wise One, violently pushing him back towards the ground. “Ask him! Ask him what the fuck caused Amelia to plunge a dagger into herself!” He fell to his knees. His anger suddenly left him. “Why… why would she do that?”

Ruven’s expression fell. “Amelia’s dead?”