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“In our bedroom,” she replies.
I keep hold of her throat as I drag her the rest of the way down the hall, sprinting as I get closer. I kick the door wide open, and my entire world comes crumbling down around me.
“Ember!” I rush forward, tears already burning in my throat as I take note of her appearance. Chains tether her to a table. She is covered in piss and, from what it smells like—shit, her body gaunt.
I run a hand over her forehead, and her eyes flutter open—barely.
She cries, but the sound is wrong—off.
It doesn’t take me long to discover why.
Because when I turn to Ailis, she is withdrawing a chain from the top of her dress. And at the end of that chain is a dried chunk of pink flesh.
“She wouldn’t stop talking,” she says with a reminiscent smile.
I withdraw my sword and let the magic free.
The ancients lunge for me, but I’m faster, the dark magic giving me a leg up. I slice through their bodies as though they are mere butter at the end of my blade then rush toward Ailis. She stumbles backward and holds up both hands.
“Killing me will kill you!” she roars. “You will die, too!”
A body hits me, and I fall to the side as more ancients pour into the room. Luckily—one of those ancients is Wally. He sees Ember and lets out a roar as he swings his blade with precision.
The two of us manage to cut down nearly all of the fae, and when I turn to kill Ailis—she’s gone.
My sword clatters to the floor, and I rush toward Ember to start undoing the chains. She coughs and sputters as though she’s trying to say something—but it doesn’t matter. Not now. Not when I need to save her.
“Stop, love, I’ve got you now.”
As soon as Wally breaks the final chain, I gather her in my arms and start for the exit. Wally follows silently, and we move down the hall of death. I should tell these creatures to run while they can—the living ones, at least. But I don’t because every single one of them should have fought for the woman in my arms.
For themselves.
Fear cripples the weak, but it lights fires within the strong.
And I’ve no tolerance for the weak.
We step out into the sun, and Wally grips my shoulder. We dematerialize, reappearing inside a small cottage. I quickly take note of the single bed and, ignoring everything else, rush forward to lay her on it.
“I’ll gather water for a bath.” He disappears, leaving just Ember and me.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” I whisper as I press a kiss to her forehead. She shakes her head and tries to speak, but nothing audible comes out. “Don’t. Please don’t try to speak yet.”
A tear rolls down her cheek, and I gently brush it away.
I can feel her energy waning. Her body is dying. The bond with Taranus being broken has stolen most of our time.
Most of it.
Wally rematerializes with a bucket of water. I can hear it filling a basin, but I don’t look behind me. I’m unable to tear my eyes from Ember as she stares up at me. Minutes pass—could have been hours for all I know—until Wally clears his throat and steps up to the other side of the bed. His broken expression eliminates any and all distrust I have for the man.
Anyone who looks at Ember that way—as though she is the single most important person in the world—earns every bit of my trust. Because I know they will do anything to save her.
“The bath is ready,” he says softly. “I retrieved some fresh clothes and soap as well, they are both beside it. I’ll be just outside when you’re done.”
“Can you dematerialize back to her world?” I ask.
Wally shakes his head. “No. Not without getting trapped in the Veil and having to fight my way out. Why?”
