Page 62 of War Of Fire and Fortune
I had no choice. I had to go after the source to save her.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Then I vanished.
I Hollowed across the field toward the Celestial Fae from the throne room, but my shadows would be useless against her.
So I went in with steel. I came at her with my twin swords, and she turned just in time, catching my blades with her own. Sparks flew. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air.
“Why are you doing this?” I snarled, blades flashing as we clashed again.
She wept as she fought. “Because he has my son. If I disobey, he’ll kill him.”
I hesitated for a heartbeat. Glanced toward where my mother was locked in deadly combat with my father. Of course. He wouldn’t have a Celestial’s loyalty unless he held something over her. We’d been right.
“You don’t have to do this,” I pled. “I’ll help you find him. Just stop.”
She came at me again. Swords rang, dancing in a blur of motion. She was quick and skilled.
“I can’t,” she sobbed. “He said he’d kill him if I stopped.” For a moment, everything about this woman reminded me of my mother when I’d been a child. She was so broken, so pliable and willing to do anything and everything my father asked of her so she wouldn’t reap the consequences. She was bent beneath my father's will, terrified to disobey, twisted into something unrecognizable just to survive.
“I’m sorry,” I said, and then I moved quicker than shadows and her head rolled from her shoulders, her body crumpling softly after it.
I turned back to Emelyn and my breath caught, my eyes going wide.
“No!”
She had collapsed to her knees.
Across the battlefield, I saw Valla, her lightning dancing in her raised hand. Her grin was wide and cruel. The lightning flared. Thunder cracked. And the bolt screamed toward Emelyn. Toward my mate . . .
I didn’t think.
I didn’t breathe.
I Hollowed straight into it.
Chapter Forty-Six
Atreya
Ihad waited for this day my entire life. And now that it was here, I would not waste it. I saw Valos in the distance, Valla and him separated with their own small armies while more skyships poured in from above. The Sky Elves were taking them down slowly, but there were so many of them and no way for us to keep all of them away from Woodhaven. Some of them were already launching fireballs over the edges of the ships to rain fire down over the city. I could hear the shouts and screams of women, children, warriors, and men. This had gone on for long enough.
Valos was mine to kill.
I Hollowed and was immediately in front of him, thrusting my blade toward his gut, but he blocked it and knocked me back with a grunt and chuckled.
“After all these years, I knew it was my wife plotting my demise.” The gleam in his eye before he would always do something atrocious to me was there now, just as it had been all those years ago, and I had to force my body to remain like steel. This man did not control me anymore. I readied my blade, and he laughed a little harder this time.
“Do you really think you can kill me, Atreya? You have and always will be a weak, worthless woman.”
“I”—swing—“am”—thrust—“not.”
He blocked all my hits. “But aren't you? You couldn’t even take your children when you ran from me.”
I knew he would throw one of the hardest decisions I’d ever had to make in my face. The only way I could build something to protect them had been to leave them until they were old enough to understand. But I’d always hoped I would be able to save them. All of them. But Valla was lost to me. I eyed her in the distance, and she was smiling maniacally as she slayed one man after another. I’d never understood what had happened to her. But I would do whatever I could to save her now, no matter what it took.
“I couldn’t, but now Kade and Everhet are safe. And I will do whatever I can for Valla.”
