Page 111 of Diamond Kisses

But I kept going.

We all kept going, getting closer and closer to the castle.

Jewels appeared in the shadows, standing around and safe.

A few guards who’d fought beside them noticed us and headed in our direction.

I no longer had hope but reality.

We’d won.

Fuck…we won.

I almost went down again. The sheer relief made me want to sob and slam into sleep.

No more screams echoed in the stars.

No more gunshots.

No more carnage of war.

The fight was over.

My heart skipped strangely again, tugging me toward the fire, summoning urgently,urgentlyto find Ily.

Incessant tears burned my stinging eyes.

Ihadto see her.

I felt as if I’d die if I didn’t.

I’d finally delivered on my promise. I’d vowed to get her out. It’d taken me a while, and I’d stepped off the path a few times, but…I’d done it.

I saved her.

And she…she saved me.

My knees threatened to buckle again, but I managed to stay standing. Just.

Together, we came to a stop at the garden’s edge, buffeted by the smoky heat of the ruined fortress. From here, the windows of Victor’s pride and joy glittered with flames as curtains cindered and expensive fakery turned into ash. The deck continued to smoulder, the skeletons of tables and chairs signalling an end of an era.

Everything looked purged. Purified—

A deafening drone sounded in the sky, growing louder and louder.

It rang in my ears. It throbbed in my jaw.

Oh shit.

I braced.

Was Victor’s contingency plan about to detonate?

“What’s that?” I looked around in panic.

Ben stiffened. Stewart glowered at Victor. “What did you—?”

Something exploded through the smoke hiding the stars above. Something with spinning rotor blades and piercing bright lights.

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