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Soren’s backed up so far I have to lean around him to see what’s happening. I can feel the anxiety coming off of him in waves; the only thing overshadowing his fear is his determination to keep both of us safe.
That doesn’t keep my fear at bay, though, and I find myself struggling to breathe through the panic, more and more sure we’re all going to die here in this dirty, abandoned military base.
I’m trying to convince myself not to scream in fear when I look up, drawn to the sound of flesh pounding flesh coming from the stairwell. I do a quick headcount—Caelan fighting, Vae backing him up, Gav fighting hand-to-hand and taking headshots between kills, Silas smiling like a really terrifying hyena, face covered in black blood as he yanks a dagger out of a Severed’s eye socket.
Then, like death given form, Daxen steps into the basement. He surveys the scene with a calculating gaze before stepping into the fray with a look of cold, hard determination on his face.
His movements are cold. Precise. Controlled. His blades carve a path with arcs of silver as he cuts down Deadwalkers with an unwavering focus.
Not once does he falter. He doesn’t curse. Doesn’t shout. Doesn’t grunt. Simply takes his place with the other Alphas, closing the final hole in the wall of muscles situated between the Severed and me.
“Idril!” My mother’s voice is frantic. I whip around to face her, and she wraps her thin fingers around my arms and squeezes, demanding I pay attention.
“Listen to me, Idril. This is it. I don’t have much time.”
“I am giving you all that’s left of me.” Her eyes are bright and fierce as she explains, “My life. My fire. It will burn in you, always. But, my love, listen to me—you have to let it in. Accept who you are. Who you were always meant to be.”
“I don't understand!”
Her smile is full of love. “Remember what I told you? About the flame?”
I nod, wishing fervently that I could tell her all about the flame and ask her how she knew it was truly there. I have so many questions. So many things I want to talk to her about.
“Do you remember how I taught you to keep it alive? How we used to practice together?”
“I remember,” I whisper, ignoring the tears streaming down my cheeks and the throbbing ache in my heart. I think back on all those days spent together and all the strange things she taught me and stories she told.
“Good,” she responds fervently. “Let it in. Accept who you are and don’t fear it, my little ember.”
It feels like she’s speaking in a thousand riddles, and I want to push for more, but with an exhausted sigh, she releases my hands and falls back against the top of the dais.
It’s like someone pulled a plug. All her energy drains away right in front of me. Exhaustion is evident in every line of her flesh and every labored breath she takes.
The sounds of fighting echo around us, but I don’t care about anything right now except for my mother.
“I don’t know what I am,” I admit on a sob. “I don’t know anything, mama!”
Her eyes harden. She holds my gaze steadily, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother look so fierce.
“You know exactly who you are,” she says, leaving no room for doubt in her tone. “You are my daughter.”
The light from the runes pulses as though they’re validating her declaration. The illumination from the glow is so bright it’s almost blinding.
Once the glow dims, I glance over my shoulder to check on my Mates—
Right as a Severed shoots up from where he must have been hiding underneath a pile of his dead friends. My mother’s hand snaps out, latching onto my arm as the Severed—black maw stretched wide, showcasing razor-sharp teeth and a black tongue—lunges at Daxen’s unguarded back.
Panic tries to take hold, but my Mother’s grip tightens. I close my eyes as the flame in my chest ignites, expanding to become a raging inferno. The single flame begins to separate, splitting into a thousand smaller tendrils. One by one, they slip into my veins, flowing through me and filling me with a warmth so intoxicating I nearly forget how to breathe.
My mother’s voice pierces the air—a melody I know as well as I know my own name. Her words float through the air like glowing embers, landing on my arms and chest, sinking into my skin, and imprinting on my soul.
Three words. Words I’ll remember until the end of my days. The last three words I’ll ever hear my Mother speak.
“Let it burn.”
My eyes snap open. The Severed hangs suspended in the air, mid-leap, mouth wide open, jaw unhinged, teeth longer than Shade’s, shining in the glowing light of the runes. Just like before, my mind clears and I simply… react.
I throw my hand out in front of me. A defiant scream tears from my chest, and the fire inside of me explodes from my palms in a fountain of flame. It soars, spinning through the air toward the Severed lunging for my Mate.
