Page 155 of The Sins of Silas

“I memorized it on the road. I wasn't sure it would work, but…” Her tired eyes lifted to mine, and then she pulled me into her arms.

I held her back, the feeling of her body pressed against mine providing the most satisfying comfort.

“I love you,” she whispered.

My jaw slackened at her soft words, my entire body going rigid as if she had actually frozen me with her ice magic. “Lena…”

“You don't have to say it back. I just had to tell you. I just needed you to know.” She withdrew, beaming at me with unreleased tears pooling in her eyes. “Now, put on your armor. Let's take Faltrun as our own.”

The battle was pure chaos. The Faltrunian generals were shouting orders—orders that were quickly drowned out by the cacophony of combat. Not only did every soldier in the kingdom come out to fight, but its citizens did as well. By the way that the people here looked at those of magical decent, it was clear their hatred ran just as deep as it did in my own kingdom.

This would not be a simple conquering, but as the Mages here fought with desperation to regain their freedom, their magicoverpowered the humans. Sprinting outside, I grasped the first discarded sword I could find. I was stopped in my tracks by a body on the ground.

The body of a child. A young Mage boy.

Lena's eyes widened at the sight of the corpse. “I-I told them to stay inside…the children were supposed to remain inside!”

Bile rose in my throat, and my eyes darted around.

Where is Saoirse?

Panic rose inside me at the thought of that little girl out in this combat, alone, afraid.

“We have to find Saoirse!” I panicked.

Lena agreed, and the two of us charged forward, fighting against any and every soldier who crossed our path.

She was ethereal as she moved, exuding a confident aura I never saw in her before…one I had hoped she'd come into one day. She moved like the wind, searing as she took down those who opposed her, those who threatened her kind.

She was a beautiful whirlwind. A force to be reckoned with.

She was everything I dreamed of and more. A spitfire, a siren.

I hissed as a blade just barely missed decapitating me, distracted by Lena's captivating beauty. Blood coursed down my face, leaking from a cut trailing down my once smooth cheek.

Great. Now both sides were fucked.

I bared my teeth as I engaged in combat, taking down soldier after soldier after soldier.

Hiding behind a house, my eyes caught the sight of several children huddled together, shivering and covering their pointed ears.

I hurried to them, scanning over each face.

She isn't here.

“Where is Saoirse?” I asked them quickly but gently.

A young boy, probably ten, sniffed. “S-she went to fight! She wouldn't listen!”

My heart stopped, and I quickly rotated, skimming the crowd.

When I saw her, everything stilled.

I watched in horror as Saoirse's eyes blew wide, an arrow piercing through her little chest. She held a dagger in her tiny hand, Boots in her other.

She was trying to fight.

The man shook as he held the bow aimed at her, lowering his weapon fearfully as he recognized what he'd just done.

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