AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We were going to help.”
“I got it.” Dianna shrugged, her lip curling in disgust when a piece of entrail fell from her shoulder. She kicked it aside and said, “Also, remind me never to do that again. That was disgusting.”
Before we could laugh, the cavern shook. A roar pierced the atmosphere, so loud and thunderous it forced us to cover our ears.
Dianna’s head whipped back, her eyes growing brighter as she scanned the sky. Her lip curled back in a soundless snarl. Even covered in wounds, her body near exhaustion, she squared her shoulders.
Kaden had returned.
The air groaned beneath the weight of a thousand wings. Kaden had brought those beasts Samkiel had told us about, the ones we had seen back in the cavern. My stomach sank, and my hopes with it. There was no way all of us would survive this. Yes, I had healed Neverra, but she was tired, and I had depleted my power to the point where I could barely stand. Dianna, even with her rage sustaining her, was burning out.
“Dianna,” I said. Her head was still back, her gaze tracking the roar of the swarm of wings. “We will stay if you wish it.”
Dianna didn’t even look at us as she spoke. “Parties over kids, time for you to go home.”
“Not an option.” I read the sadness and regret in Neverra’s eyes, but she only squared her shoulders. “We either leave with you or stay with you.”
Neverra knew if we stayed, this would definitely be the end for us. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. When I looked back at Dianna, her eyes were fixed on our joined hands.
“Seriously?”
“Deathly,” I said.
Neverra nodded. “Whatever you decide, we are with you. We will stay and fight, and we will lose together, or we can try to find a way out before it’s too late. But regardless, we will do it together.”
Her face tightened. “You’d stay?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. Neverra nodded.
Dianna looked at us in disbelief. “Even after everything?”
“Friends don’t abandon friends,” Neverra said, a small smile softening her face. “And you definitely need new ones.”
Dianna’s chest heaved as Kaden let out another war cry. I knew she was weighing her options. The one creature she had hunted for months was finally within her grasp. The vengeance she longed for or us. She didn’t know us, not like Gabby had, and she owed us nothing. So we would wait for her decision. What we wouldn’t do was leave her. She had been abandoned and betrayed too many times in her life. Neverra squeezed my hand in agreement. Either we all left, or we all died.
“We won’t abandon you, Dianna,” Neverra said gently. “We are not them.”
Dianna looked at Neverra, her fists clenched and her breathing labored and harsh. Kaden howled, and the beasts answered him. Dianna’s eyes scanned the open sky again before closing tightly. One breath and then another, Kaden drawing closer with each. Minutes turned into seconds, the sky darkening from the horde he’d brought with him. The noise was deafening, but I heard Dianna whisper, “I’m sorry.” Then she opened her eyes and said louder, “We’re leaving.”
Forty-Seven
Samkiel. A Few Hours Later.
A flock of birds sang, heralding the day. The sun was bright as it rose, casting the world in a mirage of colors. It kissed the mountain tops and gilded the trees, waking animals and beasts alike.
Rashearim pulsed with life, laughter, and music as everyone prepared for their day. The city celebrated another victory, having again fought back the encroaching darkness.
I heard the castle staff begin to stir and leaned against the balcony railing, the tips of my hair tickling the sides of my arms, my bloody armor discarded at my feet. I stared at the three-headed lion, and the symbol of Unir and his power, our power, glared back at me.
Unir’s heavy, armored boots pounded the floor, several guards trailing him. He didn’t need them. He didn’t need anyone, but they stayed and obeyed like always.
“I am surprised. Usually, you would be down there, celebrating with your friends. Are you ill?”
I shook my head and straightened to my full height.
He towered at my side, taller even than me. The gold and gems braided into his hair sparkled in the sun. I saw the stag, my mother’s symbol, the one she had made for him, still resided amongst several others. That one was special and always would be, no matter if it tarnished.
“I remember the jewels you wore, like the back of my hand. I remember you never let hers tarnish, and I remember how you used to fidget with it when stressed. Just as I remember, this is only a dream, and you but a memory.”
