Page 46 of Condemned to Love

I nod, feeling confident. "Alright," I say finally, straightening up. "We've done all we can to prepare. Now all that's left is to fight like Akeldama himself when dawn breaks."

I look around at our small group, these warriors I've come to trust with my life. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we make those bastards regret ever setting foot on our land."

Everyone disperses at that, making their way out of the room and to their corridors. My eyes land on Elowen, who hasn't moved yet. I give her a slight smile.

"Want to walk with me, Red?"

She nods, giving me a grin that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

I walk Elowen to her room, our footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. As we reach her door, we both hesitate, neither wanting to break this moment of peace before the coming storm.

"Tomorrow," I say, my voice low, "you'll finally get some of that revenge you've been waiting for."

I expect to see a fierce light in her eyes, but instead, Elowen looks subdued. Her gaze is distant, lost in thought.

"Hey," I nudge her gently, "I thought you'd be more excited about this. Isn't this what you've been training for?"

She looks up at me, her green eyes filled with an emotion I can't quite place. "I always thought I wanted to fight the dark elves. It would have been easy because I had nothing left to lose," she says softly. "But that's... that's no longer the case."

Her words hit me like a physical blow. I understand their weight, the implications behind them. Without thinking, I pull her close, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. She responds immediately, her arms wrapping around my neck.

When we break apart, breathless, Elowen takes my hand and leads me into her room. The door closes behind us with a soft click, shutting out the world and its impending dangers.

For these last few hours of peace, there is only us. We make love with a desperate intensity, each touch, each kiss a silent promise. As we finally drift off to sleep, I hold Elowen close, cherishing these moments of tranquility before the dawn brings war to our doorstep.

22

ELOWEN

Icrouch behind a thick tree trunk, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. Aldric stands beside me, his presence both comforting and electrifying.

The heat from his body radiates against my skin, a stark contrast to the cool morning air. Our squad is spread out through the trees, hidden and ready, each warrior a shadow among the foliage.

Across the clearing, I spot Jessa leading her own group, her fierce determination visible even from this distance. Her braid swings as she moves, signaling to her team with quick, precise gestures. I admire her strength, remembering how far she's come since we first met.

Above us, the air thrums with the powerful wingbeats of our aerial legion. Nikolai's imposing figure hovers over Jessa's position, his dark wings a stark contrast against the fading night sky. His presence is both reassuring and intimidating, a reminder of the raw power at our disposal.

Dawn's first light begins to creep over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold. The wildspont portalshimmers in the clearing, its magic pulsing with an otherworldly energy that makes my skin tingle.

Our magic wielders are gathered around, but in order to reserve their strength, we’ve decided to launch our attack immediately. They’ll focus on counteracting the spells that dark elves use while our squads focus on the hand to hand since the dark elves are weaker at that.

The air around it seems to ripple and dance, distorting the very fabric of reality. I hold my breath, muscles coiled tight, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. My fingers brush the hilt of my weapon, drawing comfort from its familiar weight. This is it, I think. The moment we've been preparing for. Whatever comes through that portal, we'll be ready.

Suddenly, the portal flares to life, its magic pulsing with an otherworldly energy that sets my teeth on edge. Dark elves pour through the shimmering gateway, their arrogant faces twisted with malice and cruel anticipation.

The sight of them ignites a fire in my gut, memories of past horrors fueling my rage. I don't hesitate for even a heartbeat. Without waiting for them to take more than a step onto our soil, I lunge forward, my muscles coiled and ready.

I dive straight into the fight, my blade singing as it cleaves the air. The first dark elf barely has time to register my presence before I'm upon them, my fury unleashed in a whirlwind of steel and determination.

My sword flashes in the dim light as I clash with the first dark elf. Our blades meet with a resounding clang. I duck under his swing, years of training guiding my movements. My blade finds its mark, slicing across his thigh.

Around me, chaos erupts. Vrakken warriors swoop down from above, their battle cries piercing the air. Jessa's squad charges from the opposite side, pinning the dark elves between our forces.

I spin, parrying another attack. My attacker's eyes widen in surprise at my skill. I use his moment of hesitation to my advantage, driving my sword deep into his chest.

"Elowen, watch out!" Aldric's voice cuts through the din of battle.

I whirl around just in time to see a dark elf raising his hands, crackling energy gathering at her fingertips. Before I can react, Aldric is there, his massive wings shielding me as he tackles the dark elf to the ground.

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