Page 75 of Favored By the Stars

"Not to everyone," Thorn said quietly. "But to those with the right abilities..."

"Wonderful," I muttered, the weight of this new knowledge settling heavily on my shoulders.

"We need to keep moving," I said, straightening my shoulders. "If I'm so easy to track, standing still just makes us easier targets."

Thorn nodded, his eyes scanning the entrance ahead. "The shadows are thinning. I think we can make a run for it."

I glanced at Wyn, who looked exhausted but determined. Volker stood ready, and Van's fingers twitched as though already playing a melody to aid our escape.

"On my count," Thorn whispered. "Three... two... one..."

We burst from the temple entrance into blinding daylight. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness after hours in shadow-filled corridors. The pendant pulsed against my chest, as though it was trying to reassure me.

"This way!" Van called, veering toward a dense copse of trees to our right.

We sprinted across open ground, vulnerable. My lungs burned with each breath, but I pushed harder, keeping pace with Thorn's longer strides. Behind us, I heard shouts, but they weren't voices calling orders. Oh no, these were the shouts and snarls of feral fae, of those poor corrupted souls that hadn't been able to fight against the Void Dragon Empress's influence.

"They're coming!" Wyn gasped.

I risked a glance backward. Figures poured from the tree line, at least a dozen of them. At their center stood a mage in a silver mask. No. I'd trusted him. I knew that Eldric and I had only had what was probably a temporary truce, but I hadn't expected it to be quite so temporary.

The pendant grew warm against my skin, responding to my fear and anger. I wanted to lash out, but I still wasn't convinced that it was Eldric. Maybe this was another mage who had a penchant for silver masks? I silently begged the Moon Goddess to let it be so, but there was no reply, not that I'd really been expecting one. Still, betrayal hurt, but I couldn't let it distract me. If we could just escape, then at least the pendant would be ours, and we would only need to worry about our next steps.

I whirled around, following Thorn's sudden sharp intake of breath. His eyes had narrowed, fixed on the silver-masked figure directing the corrupted fae.

"Eldric!" Thorn shouted, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Face us yourself, coward!"

The silver mask tilted slightly, but Eldric made no response, merely gesturing forward with one elegant hand. The corrupted fae snarled and advanced, their movements jerky yet purposeful.

"I know it's you," Thorn called again, drawing his sword. "Or have you become so weak you need these poor souls to fight your battles? One on one, Eldric, winner takes all!"

A bitter laugh echoed across the space between us, distorted by the mask but unmistakably Eldric's. The sound sent chills down my spine. This was no temporary ally anymore, but something else entirely.

"It's definitely him," I muttered, readying myself beside Thorn. "But what does he want?"

"The pendant," Van hissed. "It must be."

We had no more time for speculation. The corrupted fae lunged forward, their twisted bodies moving with unnatural speed. Thorn met the first one with his blade, slicing through corrupted flesh. I channeled power through the Crescent Diadem, creating arcs of silver-gold light that cut through our attackers.

"There's too many!" Volker shouted, defending himself with a short blade.

Beside me, Wyn's face contorted with concentration. Her hands traced complex patterns in the air, shadows gathering around her fingertips. "I can help," she whispered, her voice strained.

Before I could warn her to be careful, darkness pooled at her feet, rising and solidifying into shadowy constructs, wolves with gleaming eyes that leapt to our defense, tearing into the corrupted fae.

"Wyn!" I called, alarmed by the darkness swirling around her.

From across the battlefield, Eldric raised his hands, void-black energy crackling between his fingers. He hurled the spell toward us, not at me or Thorn, but directly at Wyn.

"Look out!" I screamed, but it was too late.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

Senara

As Wyn's shadow constructs intercepted the spell, a brilliant flash of light erupted, causing part of it to shatter dramatically. A shard of void energy shot straight into Wyn's chest, piercing the air with an unsettling hum. She gasped, her wide eyes reflecting both shock and disbelief as darkness momentarily veined across her skin, creating a chilling contrast against her silver hair.

"Wyn!" I exclaimed, reaching out instinctively for her as she stumbled backward, her balance faltering.

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