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The battle rages on, the forces of darkness converging upon me. I call upon the ancient incantations, wielding the power of necromancy with practiced precision. The dead move forward, their skeletal forms an unyielding force at my command. Together, we push back the encroaching tide of adversaries.
With each fallen enemy, I grow stronger, my resolve hardened by the flames of betrayal. I draw upon the depths of my power, tapping into the wellspring of magic that courses through my veins. The spirits answer my call, their wraithlike forms unleashing devastation upon those who would seek to destroy me.
Through the chaos of battle, I catch glimpses of Shayde, his figure darting among the combatants, his own dark magic weaving through the air. He fights with a desperation fueled by regret, seeking redemption in the heat of the conflict. But I remain resolute, refusing to grant him the absolution he seeks.
The clash intensifies, the battle reaching its crescendo. I stand at the heart of the storm, my blood pumping with adrenaline, my every instinct honed for survival. Victory is within my grasp, and I will not falter.
As the final enemy falls, their defeat sealing my triumph, I cast a final glance over the battlefield. The smoke clears, revealing the aftermath of the conflict. My phantasmal army slowly fades, their duty fulfilled. The battle is won, but the war is far from over.
A figure emerges, stepping out from the darkness, and my heart skips a beat. Amidst the fallen, Shayde stands in his full monstrous size beast, his gaze of fire locks with mine, his face a mix of relief and joy. He was here the entire time, even after I told him to leave. The stubborn asshole he is stayed anyway.
And I want to hate myself for loving him for it.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips, and in that instant, the grievance I felt toward him for betraying me feels nonexistent. The pain and anger that once consumed me fades away as a glimmer of hope emerges. Maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to mend what was broken.
But the moment is short-lived. As Shayde’s expression changes from happiness to horror, a cold shiver runs down my spine. I sense a presence behind me, something sinister and malevolent. Before I can react, a searing pain explodes in my back, a knife plunged deep into my flesh.
My world spins in a whirlwind of agony and disbelief as I fall forward to my knees. Dafni Frangidi, reveals herself, a wicked grin on her face. She relishes in my suffering, reveling in her victory. I try to raise a hand to fight back, but my body refuses to cooperate.
And then, as if from a dream, Shayde rushes forward, his movements driven by desperation and, quite possibly, from love. With a swift strike, he takes down Dafni, sending her sprawling to the ground. Blood trickles from her mouth and one of her ears. She doesn’t move and I’m pretty sure he’s killed her.
I can’t breathe and I everything feels heavy, as if my lungs are full of water.
“Teagan!” Time seems to stand still as Shayde rushes to kneel beside me, his hands glowing with a soft, ethereal light. He taps into his phoenix powers and channels it into healing my fatal wound. Different runes along his skin light up to help in the healing process and the pain subsides to a comforting sensation, as if a soothing balm is being applied to my broken body.
I gasp for air, my vision clearing, and I find myself staring into Shayde’s eyes. They are filled with regret, with an unspoken apology. In that moment, I understand.
Tears well up in my eyes as I reach out and touch his face, my fingers trembling. “Shayde,” I whisper, my voice soft with a mixture of gratitude and forgiveness. “Thank you.”
He smiles with relief on his lips and sorrow in his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Teagan,” he murmurs, his voice chokes with emotion. “I never… I just... I had to protect you.”
I nod, understanding dawning upon me. The pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, and I realize that our love, our bond, is stronger than any betrayal. We have faced death together, fought side by side, and in the process, we have rediscovered the depth of our connection. The wounds of the past will begin to heal with a newfound trust and understanding.
With Shayde’s help, I slowly rise to my feet, the remnants of pain dissipating. Dafni lies defeated at our feet, her threat neutralized. A part of me wonders if Dafni became a Lich like her mother. I guess we’ll find out in a few moments.
As we gaze into each other’s eyes, our love rekindled amidst the chaos, I know that we have been given a second chance. Together, we will forge a path forward, stronger, and more resilient than ever before.
But we are not out of danger yet. The battle may have taken a toll on us, but the war rages on. We have a world to save, a darkness to vanquish. And with Shayde by my side, I know that we will face whatever lies ahead, hand in hand, our love and strength intertwining.
As the sun begins to rise, casting its golden rays across the battlefield, we take a moment to gather our bearings. The wounds may have scarred us, but they have not broken us. We are warriors, fighters, and our resolve burns brighter than ever.
In the distance, I see people approaching close near the water’s edge and I squint to try to see who it is. The supporter we met in town, Declan Powell, walks side by side with my best friend, Evie Woods. I want to squeal and run to tackle her but decide to wait until she’s at least a few feet in front of me before doing any dog piles or hugs of any nature.
Exhaustion is setting in, plus recovering from being wounded, however, if I’m being honest with myself, it’s all worth it to feel the arms of the man I love around me once more. He fought his own demons to be here today, however, he has some serious making up to do, and I’m all for letting him do it.
With renewed determination, I hold out my arms and grin as Evie runs the remaining distance toward me. We laugh when she collides into me. I squeeze her as much as I can, not wanting to let go. I love her like the sister I never had.
When we do finally release one another, I catch her glaring at Shayde, and I chuckle.
“He’s good.”
“He better be good to you,” Evie states. “Or he answers to me.”
Shayde nods and adds a bow. “Yes, ma’am.”
The darkness may still lurk, but we will not be consumed by it. For all we carry the light within us, a beacon of hope that will guide us through the darkest of times. Besides, the only shadows I’ll welcome are the ones I’ll be experiencing with Shayde.
Together, we all step forward, embracing our shared destiny. We are warriors and survivors.
