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I slam myself against his body. He’s cool to my touch. I wrap my arms around his waist and lift. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been before but he’s still too heavy for me to lift on my own. Dugald is there, though, and he gently pushes me aside, then lifts Duncan.
I drop to my knees, tears blurring my vision, and I fumble with the shackles on his ankles. They’re made of what looks like black cast iron, heavy and unyielding. I don’t see any way to release them so instead I let magic surge through my hands and the shackles crumble into dust.
I repeat this for the other leg then I climb onto one of the torturer tables to reach his arms. When I release his arms his body drops. Dugald has him over his shoulder and turns around, then lowers him to the ground.
I jump off the table and land next to him. I put my hands on his chest then feel his neck for a pulse. Nothing.
“Duncan, come on,” I say, tears streaming down my face. “You can’t leave me. Come on, not like this.”
“Quinn,” Dugald says, but his voice comes from an unfathomable distance.
The demons surrounding us are moving forward, but I don’t care. I grasp Duncan’s face between my hands. His rough beard pokes into my skin. I kiss his cooling lips, and smooth his long, unruly hair away from his face. My tears fall on his face, leaving trails through the dirt and grime.
“We’re supposed to grow old together,” I say. “Kids. We’re supposed to have kids.” Grief is strong but boiling underneath of that is anger and it’s that which surges. “NO!”
I ball my hands into fists and slam them down on his chest. It’s a dull thud, but having started, I don’t stop. I hammer my fists on his chest over and over and scream his name. I demand he returns to me. I stare at his beautiful, still face, and continue. I’m not sure if I’m really seeing it or if it’s an illusion of light reflecting through tears but a white mist forms around his head.
“Come back to me,” I urge. “Don’t leave me. Not now.”
“Quinn, some help… please,” Dugald pants.
Dugald is fighting the demons who are trying to get to Duncan and me. Dugald is doing his best and is holding them at bay by himself. It’s good because I can’t take my eyes off Duncan; something is happening. I know it but I can’t leave Dugald on his own either.
I wave one arm, sending a wave of magic, and the demons are thrown tumbling head over heels. I pull Duncan’s head into my lap and cradle it. Then on impulse I raise his head up and kiss him. His lips are chill when mine first touch them but then they grow slightly warmer. I kiss his lips with all my love, all my passion, all that I am, giving to him my warmth, my magic, and more than anything, my love.
Duncan gasps.
ChapterTwenty-One
Duncan’s eyes flutter,then open. His mouth opens and he gasps, then exhales heavily into my mouth. His arms wrap around my shoulders and he’s holding me. We kiss, for real, our lips and tongues dancing together. Our mouths celebrate, joy beyond bounds, and I don’t want to stop but there is no time for this now, so I break the kiss.
“Quinn,” he says, his voice barely a whisper.
“Duncan,” I say and shake my head.
“Glad to see you, m’lady.” He grins.
“Timing could be better.”
“Can we have the loving reunion later?” Dugald asks, ending with a grunt.
“Aye,” Duncan says, rising to a crouch. He looks around, then down at himself and only then seems to realize he’s naked. “Seem to have lost my kilt.”
“Aye,” I laugh.
Anger is powerful, but as I stand up it strikes me that it’s not nearly as powerful as it seems. No, true power is this. Certainty of love, which really isn’t all of it either.
Joy. Love brings joy and joy is happiness.
Happiness is where power truly lies. A calm certainty fills me, and I know that no matter the obstacles we face, we can overcome them, if we’re together. Dugald is racing in a circle, parrying, stabbing, and slashing as he moves, keeping the small circle free of the demons but there is no doubt that he’s tiring.
Magic surges and I grow with it. I close my eyes for a moment and imagine a sword of fire in my hand. When I open them, the sword is there and I’m wielding a fiery weapon with golden flames licking along its gleaming length.
“Impressive,” Duncan says with a low whistle. “That’s my love.”
I give him a smile then join Dugald, and together we widen the circle. Every swing of my sword eliminates a dozen demons, but a dozen more take their place. I don’t know how many of the things are on this tower top but there doesn’t seem to be an end.
“Those,” I say, pointing at the three who stand a distance away watching impassively.
