Page 306 of The Edge of Darkness

Shit was about to get really interesting.

“Ready for round three?” I asked Aremis as he stopped at my side, gathering his breath.

“If you were a red-headed female with fire-wielding powers, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

I did a double take, my jaw falling open at his unexpected response.

“Don’t tell Maeson I said that,” he said as he wiped the sweat off his brow.

I let out a raucous laugh. “Finally! A sense of fucking humor!”

“I’ve always had a sense of humor. I just don’t always have filthy thoughts like you do.”

“It’s a talent,” I said, grinning. “Oh, and you’d better not die, because I am not taking your place as second-in-command. My talents only go so far.”

He snorted a laugh. “Duly noted.”

His face fell solemn again as he caught his breath and watched as our enemies charged across Salterra.

I elbowed him as we readied ourselves. “So . . . Maeson, huh?”

“You’re never going to shut up about that now, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Delightful. Death is looking more and more satisfying.”

I gave him a pointed look, but Nivelle let out a gasp beside me that had my attention immediately swerving to her.

“Maeson! Where’s Maeson?” she said frantically as she leaned around me, searching.

Aremis turned as well. “She’s—” He paused. “She was just over there, near Laurent and Senna . . .”

A pulse of light shot forward, blasting back a group of creatures as they neared, and all of us jerked our attention back to Auren, Niall, and Torin. All three were whirling amidst their powers, annihilating the storm of creatures and shadows. But the onslaught was heavy, and a multitude crashed around them, bounding in our direction.

“She can handle herself,” I reassured Aremis and Nivelle as I summoned my lightning.

“No!” Nivelle yelled. “I have to find her. We need to stay together! The Aether, Roirdan . . . it’s nearly time.” She glanced back out at what was racing toward us.

“Velle—no!” I grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her to me. “You must stay close to me. Skadi⁠—”

“Skadi is the least of my concerns! We can’t release the Aether without Maeson!”

She was right, but damnit, I swore to protect her. I couldn’t let her go off into this by herself. She meant too much to me, if anything were to happen to her . . .

I abandoned all thought, captured her chin in my grip, and kissed her. It was quick and brutal, but it meant everything.

She kissed me back, and when she pulled away, her expression was full of so many things she wanted to say.

Then, without warning, she tugged free and launched into the fray.

“NO!” I reached for her, but she was gone, carried off by a sea of black as it swarmed Aremis and me.

A claw-tipped shadow lunged for my throat, and I swung my sword, striking true and turning the entity to nothing but air.

I stumbled back, my mind a mess of anxiety and adrenaline. “FUCK!”

A blur of black rushed at me, but I ripped my helm from my head and slung it into the jaw of the creature, knocking it unconscious. I heaved in breaths, fighting the tightness in my chest. An arrow landed not three feet from me, but all I could do was stare at it. My shield flickered around me as I lost focus.