Page 126 of Of Blood & Stone

“You fucker.”

Kharis sighed. “I’m sorry. I was supposed to help you find this tree, and I was supposed to protect you, but I failed.”

“You’re just like him,” he wheezed.

Just like his brother.

Kharis’ mouth opened, but he said nothing.

“You two can fight all you want when we’ve gotten to the tree, alright?” Sylzenya interrupted, “We have to go,now, Kharis.”

Elnok didn’t think his skin could feel any hotter until Kharis’ veins glowed gold. Gritting his teeth, Kharis whispered another apology as he grabbed Sylzenya’s arm and dashed forward. Elnok’s stomach dropped, muscles screaming in pain. Air rushed past him, slapping his face and rushing into his lungs as he choked on his own saliva. Dark trees blurred past them as if they were strokes of black paint on canvas, monster growls andchitters coming and going; they wouldn’t have a chance to attack with Kharis’ speed.

“There!” Sylzenya yelled above the whooshing of air.

Craning his neck, Elnok’s blurred vision distinguished a ball of light in the distance—yellow and sparkling.

Glinting in and out of existence, like a star about to leave the night sky.

“Faster, Kharis!” Sylzenya screamed.

Elnok fought down gulps of air, Kharis panting and chest heaving as they rushed towards the magical willow, the distance closing. Its glow faded in and out, in and out?—

“Come on!” she cried.

Elnok fought for another breath.

“I can’t go any faster!” Kharis yelled back.

Another yellow light glowed, and Elnok’s stomach flipped over a second and third time. Sylzenya screamed, her eyes glowing and her veins crackling like lightning as she ran with him.

Powerful. Beautiful.

A true goddess.

Aretta’s Willow flickered for another moment, then it faded into the darkness.

“No!” Sylzenya and Kharis yelled. They stopped, the air flat and smelling of rotten flesh. Coughing blood and poison onto the ground, Elnok’s heart sank.

This would be it, then. He looked towards Sylzenya, her face covered in dirt, blood, and tears. Those beautiful dark blue eyes so like the ocean. He wanted to tell her she would be alright, they’d find the tree without him. She had Kharis to help kill Distrathrus, and if anyone could do it, they would.

“Syl,” he wheezed, “Sylzenya?—”

A golden light flashed before them. Elnok shut his eyes, the light so oppressive it burned his vision. Air rushed into hisface again as Kharis dashed forward. The smell of rotten flesh vanished. Everything felt cool, as if fresh, chilled water had doused the flames in his body.

Opening his eyes, Elnok gasped. Gold sunshine filtered through green leaves while butterflies and birds fluttered over a field of flowers. A woman with bright hazel eyes and hair black as night stared at him.

A woman he hadn’t seen in ten long years.

“Welcome, Elnok Rogdul of Vutror.” His mother smiled. “You’ve made it just in time.”

Sorrow, confusion, and relief welled inside him as she waved a hand over his face; he fell into a deep sleep.

Sucking in a long breath, Elnok woke. Sunlight burned his eyes. Memories of his mother floated in his head, her gentle hands pressed on his chest, a strange prayer chanting into the golden air, butterflies fluttering along her white robes.

A dream.

“This is no dream, Elnok Rogdul,” his mother’s familiar voice assured.

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