Page 90 of When the Moon Met the Sun

Forcing myself to face the shadows again, I focused on my breathing. Then, I threw my energy out into the surrounding shadows until a connection was solidified between myself and a shadow not too far from Rayven.

Each time I shadow wielded, the tingling sensation and form shift came faster than the previous time. I tunneled all of the energy I could muster up into that connection, until I could no longer feel the blood dripping down my neck and arm, or any part of my body at all.

Rayven’s shadow came closer, and I tethered my energy to his. I imagined it as though I was reaching out to take his hand in mine, as you would in a physical form, and the connection between us as friends and shadows filled in the gaps.

Once we were firm in our tether, he shot forward, slipping beneath the edges of the large tent and spearing towards the safety of the South.

I couldn’t help but look back at my father one last time, the image of him, his blood, and the crystal through his heart burned into my mind.

I heard the panicked shouts begin behind us just as we slipped away.

The King was murdered.

King Horace Heartshire is dead.

***

Being tethered to Drayven, I didn’t have to put much thought into where we were going, I simply held on and trusted him to get us back safely.

I allowed him to drag me along, making sure to keep pace with him as we soared across the battlefield, leaping from shadow to shadow.

A battlefield that was slowly growing emptier by the minute, as I watched more and more Northerners and griffins turn tail and run—or fly—the other way. Dimitri must have given out the signal, because soon the wordretreatwas all I could hear as Northerners yelled to those around them to flee.

Once it was obvious the children of the sky were giving up, cheers rang out across the hills, from both the Islanders and the South.

After the cheers died down, the reality of the situation seemed to overwhelm the surrounding soldiers.

We had won, but at what cost?

And what had made them retreat?

I was sure Byn and I would have to make a formal announcement explaining what happened, and that King Horace Heartshire of the North of Inphis was now deceased.

My father.

I… I actually did it.

I killed him.

The fact crashed into me like a typhoon. I may not be able to feel my body the same in this shadow form, but my emotions were definitely still present, and overwhelming.

The guilt, the sadness, the frustration, the hurt, the anger—all of this and more swirled around in what I imagined was the shadow equivalent of my chest, wrapping around my heart and squeezing until it ached.

As we moved, aiming for the trees we had set up camp in before the battle, I couldn’t help but glimpse at each body we passed. I checked to see if it was somebody else I knew, if I had lost another friend. If I’d lost more of my family.

The guilt hit harder with each too-still form I saw, and my thoughts grew louder until I couldn’t hear any of the soldiers we passed, whether they were cheering or crying.

If I had killed my father sooner, would these soldiers still be alive?

How many of these people have family, and are wishing to the Stars that they come home safely, not knowing they’re already gone?

Does taking the life of my father cleanse my soul of all the soldiers that fell today?

The rise in my emotions sent me spiraling, and I couldn’t even tell how long it had been since Rayven and I fled the scene. In the middle of my panic, I forced myself to focus on my surroundingsfor just a heartbeat. I quickly noticed that we were almost to the safety of the trees, and that it had begun to turn dusk.

The battle had lasted less than a full day.

Next to my own panic, I felt Byn’s emotions rising in me once again, just as heavy as my own. He lost his brother today, and countless soldiers. The weight of which, I knew, would stick with him for the rest of his days.

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