Page 103 of Feathers and Thorns

“I’m so sorry,” she whimpered quietly. “You deserved so much more than this.” She used all of her upper body strength to pull him across her lap, crying out as the dagger shifted.

He was so cold. He had never felt this cold before. She took his hand in hers, and it felt like she was back in the city watch’s office with the body of her father.

“I wish we had more time. I would have … We could have …” Her words were stuffed back down her throat by the knot of grief that tightened around her neck.

She traced the line of Rook’s jaw, trying to remember how it felt while he was still alive, and turned her gaze to the sky. She let loose a banshee-like scream as her system was flooded with emotions.

It was as though every terrible memory and feeling she had experienced in her twenty-four years had decided to resurface all at once. Fear, anger, grief, hate, heartbreak, and loss attacked her psyche, willing her to break, but she couldn’t. Wouldn’t.

If this was to be her last moments in this world, she would not waste them in an anxiety-induced coma. She would hold Rook tight and watch on as her friends fought to save their world, staying strong for him, for them.

Groups of fights rained across the field, and more and more bodies fell.

Soren’s eyes refocused on Adriel, and she found Baz and Enara shortly after. Where is Jai? she thought, taking another look. There. He was on the ground, doubled over, an angry red line showing through a large gash in his armor. Her hope dwindled.

Enara and Baz were fighting with everything they had, but Adriel’s arm was back in play. He kicked Jai in the chest, grabbing up the trackers weapon, along with his own. He dual-wielded the long swords, and Soren knew then it was over.

Coraxis went flying, and Enara was knocked to the ground. Baz tried to get to her, but Adriel’s blades were relentless. Baz dodged Jai’s sword, but Adriel cracked the pommel of his into his back, causing him to drop his weapon and fall to the ground at Enara’s feet. They tried to reach for each other, but Adriel pulled him up by his auburn hair, holding him to the side as if he couldn’t stand to be in his presence.

Enara struggled to her feet, but Adriel kicked her to the ground again, looking between them. His face grew into a saccharine grin, and he licked his lips.

“You love him, don’t you?” he sneered.

“Please,” Enara replied, her heart breaking. “Take me, kill me, but spare him.”

Baz was struggling in Adriel’s arms, trying to grasp at anything, but even his strength could not compare to a god’s. Both of his hands grasped at the one Adriel had around his throat, and he strained to look at Enara.

When their eyes met, his showed no fear. The gold flecks sparkled brighter than ever, and he looked at once like the boy from school who had lent her his jacket on a cold autumn day. Her heart constricted as his eyes softened, as if to say, “It’s okay.”

Before she had a chance to respond, Adriel said, “Let me cure you of that weakness,” and then he snapped Baz’s neck.

Enara heard screaming that she thought was her own then realized the cry came from Soren. She looked back to see her brother propped in Soren’s lap, and then her eyes returned to where Adriel held Baz’s body. He was so still that he looked like a doll she used to play with as a child.

She did not move, or cry, or scream, or even speak. Because to do any of those things would be to admit the truth of what had just happened. That Baz was dead.

Her heart cavity felt like a black hole, sucking her into the void, and her stomach twisted painfully.

Adriel dropped Baz’s body then held his blade toward her. She refused to look at him and instead reached a hand toward Baz’s, wanting to touch him one last time. At the sight of his lifeless body, she turned to the side and retched, earning her a tsk of disappointment from Adriel.

“Humans,” he scoffed. “Even your stomachs are weak.” He then raised both swords, crossing them in front of Enara’s neck, poised to decapitate, when booms sounded from the gate and he smiled.

“You know what?” he said, lowering his weapons. “I don’t want your blood sullying my blade. I think I’ll let my beasts have you.” He backed away a few steps, and Enara got to her feet, standing between whatever was coming and Baz’s body.

Black creatures filtered in through the portal, and she readied herself. The booms kept coming, and then a horrific screech filled the sky as one of the creatures fell to the ground in front of the gate and fire flew from the archway, finishing it off.

Enara smiled. Then, before Adriel could grab her, she was running to one of the nearby bodies to take up her sword. She knew in her heart that whoever was coming through the gate was an ally. And she was right.

The Anistera rebellion was here. Luscinia and Abraxos, as well as their brothers and sisters, pushed into Irefeld and filtered over the field, snuffing out all enemies in their path.

Adriel forgot about Enara and began cutting down his brethren as he commanded his beasts to surround him.

Baz’s body was left alone in the dust, though Enara mentally promised him that she would be back as she charged toward a nearby beast with fury in her eyes and love in her heart.

* * *

Soren was still staring into Rook’s pale face, her mouth open in a silent scream, when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

“Let me help.”

---