Page 157 of Soul Forge

“If you hadn’t slammed us into the side of a mountain, the Behemoth would still be asleep!” Lillian argued.

"Youslammed us into the mountain with your fucking portal,” he growled, taking a step forwards. Elda took hold of his arm, silently urging him to stay calm. “Did you know it was there?”

“Not until I got close,” Lillian hedged.

“And you kept going?” Elda gasped. “Do you have any idea how stupid that was?”

“About as stupid as taking your pathetic little lonely crusade against the Corrupted,” Vel supplied before Lillian could answer. “We dragged our asses after you to save you from exactly what just happened.”

“I didn’t ask you to save me!”

“Fuck this,” Vel muttered. “I have to get away from you before I try to kill you again.” He stalked away from them and sat heavily in the sand, dropping his head into his hands and massaging his temples with his thumbs.

“Allof us followed you, you know. The others are on their way,” Elda told the fae.

“Then why are you two here alone?” Lillian sneered. “More people would have been helpful.”

“If we hadn’t gotten here when we did, your portal magic would still have roused Ose,” Elda snapped, folding her arms across her chest. “You’d have been left to face her alone. You’re lucky we arrived in time. You’re lucky Sypher went so far just to keep you alive.”

“He tried to kill me too!”

“Can you blame him?” Elda asked. Lillian opened her mouth to respond, but the elf silenced her with one raised finger. "Thinkabout it. You know what you did to him. Imagine how that would damage you if it were the other way round.” She turned away and approached Vel before the other wielder could respond.

“We should leave,” he muttered. “There’s no way the Corrupted didn’t hear that racket. I’ve expended too much energy to stay here.”

“We can double back and meet up with the others on their way here,” Elda reassured him. “Why haven’t you given Sypher the reins back yet?”

“Wanting rid of me so soon?” he asked wryly.

“No, you just look exhausted.”

“Both of us are, but right now, I’m the stronger soul. His magic is expended. Mine is depleted but not gone. Until we’re done travelling, I’m more capable of protecting you. For once, he agrees with me.” He paused, lifting his head to look at her. “Were you hoping for him to come back when you kissed me?”

“No,” she answered honestly. “I just wanted you to recognise me again, Vel. That creature–”

“Is what I really am without the angel soul,” he interrupted. “You’re alive right now because he loves you enough to fight me even when he’s exhausted.”

“And what about you?” she prodded.

He arched an eyebrow. “You’re growing on me,” he admitted. “But rationality isn’t my strong suit. It’s a miracle I didn’t gut you for touching me.” He frowned. “How did you push me back like that? You barely touched me.”

“I think it was magic, but it didn’t feel like me controlling it.”

“Your Spirit, then?” She shook her head. “Hmm. We can mull it over later. Right now, we need to get moving.” He got to his feet and offered her a hand, tugging her up beside him. She followed him back to Lillian. “Idiot, it’s time to leave.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you,” the fae snapped.

“Then portal yourself away from here. I don’t care what direction we go in as long as it’s away from Rift. We have to leave before–”

The cry of an enormous wraith sounded from behind the disintegrating body of Ose, cutting off his sentence. The three of them turned to see two massive birds rising over the corpse. On the back of the largest, a shock of flame bright hair fluttered in the wind.

“Beforethathappens,” Vel muttered, drawing his sword once more.

Elda watched the demon soul brace himself, rolling his neck and stretching his wings wide, beating them a few times like he was trying to ease an ache. He turned and glared at Lillian.

“This?” he said, gesturing over his shoulder at the approaching Corrupted. “This is your fault. I hope you remember that.” He blinked, and his eyes shifted back to red.

“What are you doing?” Elda choked, pulse thundering when Sypher returned. “Vel said you were depleted. You should be resting!”

---