Page 86 of The Fae Lord

But that place is unreachable, and if I don’t act now, I will lose everything I am.

With a roar of fury and fear, I hurl my magic towards her, putting every last bit of my power behind it.

The cloud rushes forward, a tsunami of darkness. Alana’s eyes widen, her concentration breaking. She throws up her hands, a shield of purple light forming before her.

But before the shadows reach her, a figure leaps in front of her.

Finn, his wings spread wide. He opens his arms, and takes the attack. The shadows hit his chest with a force that sends him flying. He hits the wall, and crumples to the floor like a ragdoll.

I cannot stop it now.

The shadows engulf him. For a moment, he is lost from view, swallowed by the darkness.

Alana screams his name.

I stare in shock, the shadows thinning. It could have been her. If I’d hit her...

I am shaking. I stumble backwards.

And then, as the darkness clears, I see him. Finn is lying motionless on the ground, his wings bent at an unnatural angle.

Alana rushes to his side, dropping to her knees beside him. She gathers him into her arms, cradling his head against her chest. Tears stream down her face as she calls his name, begging him to wake up.

But he doesn’t move.

The jester is dead.

THIRTY-SIX

Alana

Idrop to my knees, my heart shattering into a million pieces as I stare at Finn’s lifeless body. His skin is deathly pale, almost translucent, and his once vibrant eyes are now dull and empty.

I can’t breathe, can’t think.

This can’t be happening. Not like this. Not now.

“Finn...” I run my hands over his chest, desperately searching for any sign of life. “Please, please wake up. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

But he doesn’t move, doesn’t respond. His body is still.

Behind me, Briony approaches slowly. She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Alana,” she sobs. “We should go.” She glances to her left.

Eldrion is clinging on to the edge of the roof, back towards us, breathing heavily.

“Finn would want us to go,” she pleads.

From the corner of my eye, I notice the elves and the Shadowkind guard disappearing down the steps back into the castle.

“I can’t leave him.” I turn back to Finn and cup his face in my hands. I brush my hand over his eyes, closing them, then kiss his forehead.

“Alana, please.” Briony tugs my arm, but I jerk out of her grasp.

“You go. I’m not leaving.”

“His wings...” It is Eldrion’s voice. I look up, blinking through the tears that blur my vision.

Eldrion draws closer. I stand and splay out my fingers. “You will not touch him,” I hiss.

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