Page 108 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

I pull Morte into a chaste kiss before I sift out.

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Morte

My world dissolves into agony,a pain so fierce it feels like an inferno raging inside me. A scream bursts out of my mouth, raw and animalistic, as if some wild creature has taken hold of me. I curl in on myself, gasping for breath but finding none. Every nerve ending is alight with searing flames, and each beat of my heart a hammer blow against my chest. This is pain beyond anything I've ever felt; beyond anything I could have imagined. It's as if my very essence is being consumed by a fire that can't be extinguished.

Az's grip on my arms tightens, holding me up as I convulse. He's saying something, but the words are lost in the deafening roar of pain that floods my senses. Every fiber of my being is consumed by the torment, as if I am the one being flayed alive.

It takes what feels like an eternity for the excruciating sensation to ebb to a crushing ache, and for my mind to clear enough for coherent thought. Gasping for breath, I manage to choke out a question. "Why do I feel his pain?"

Emeric's voice is barely a whisper as he crouches down to meet my gaze. "Pretty sure he’s your soul bonded mate,” he says gently, his expression softening with sympathy.

My mind is still reeling from Emeric's words when the pain returns with a vengeance, a searing hot poker through my chest. I can barely breathe, let alone stand, as I cling to Emeric and Az for support. "He needs help," I gasp out, desperation clawing at me. "Please, come with me."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Morte," Az says, his voice heavy with concern.

"Don't think I don't feel you in here, too!" I slam my flat palm against Az's chest, stunning him. "Do it for me!"

Az's expression softens, understanding dawning on his face. "Alright," he says, his voice quiet. "We'll go."

The three of us sift to the castle, the urgency of the crisis evident. My chest tightens with a sudden pull, drawing me towards the throne room like a fae fly to a flame. With each step, the fear and dread inside me grows until it feels like I'm drowning in a sea of emotion.

As we burst through the doors, I'm struck by the scene before us. Aggonid and Caius are on their knees, their faces grim with fear. They are held down by impenetrable metal bands that shine like platinum, extending from their wrists to the floor. The material appears to be unbreakable, and its silver hue stands out against the darkness of the castle’s interior. Romarie guards surround them, wearing uniforms of blue and black, weapons raised, and menacing eyes fixed firmly on the two prisoners.

The room is filled with an eerie silence broken only by the clank of metal and the murmur of voices as the guards exchange orders. Then all I can hear is the rustle of clothing as they shift, the clicking of weapons being primed, and the deep breaths taken by Aggonid and Caius.

Az and Emeric keep a firm grip on my shoulders, holding me back from rushing towards the men who've suddenly become the center of my world. Confusion and fear war inside me as I try to make sense of what's in front of me.

And then I see her.

Her blue flesh is pale in the torchlight, but the runes flash on her skin when she turns her attention towards me. Irid stands poised in front of my mates, a sword in each hand, her face painted with a wicked smile. Her eyes glimmer with malicious intent and her gaze is fixed firmly on me now.

Her long, dark blue hair cascades in waves over her shoulders and her body is draped in midnight leathers that give her an intimidating presence. "Welcome to the family, sis." Irid's voice carries a deadly tone that silences the other guards as she speaks. Each word is uttered with calculated intent, dripping with malice and disdain."My brother is going to need someone to help him through his grief. Not that he gave me the same consideration."

The memory of one of our first conversations comes filtering back to me."Your survival benefits us both. I need the Wild Pursuit to end. And you are my only chance of making sure it does."

My breath hitches in my chest as dread curls in my stomach. The guilt and unspoken words between Aggonid and I roil around us like a tempestuous sea, drowning me in its depths. I meet his ruby gaze, and I can see the same regret mirrored in his eyes.

Deeper than the ocean, and more powerful than a hurricane, our regrets ebb and flow between us until I'm nearly overwhelmed by the weight of it all.

Forgive me.Aggonid's voice echoes in my mind, as though he were whispering the words right in my ear, burrowing them right into my soul.

Before I can even begin to mutter the words of a spell, Irid's blade falls with a sickening thud, crushing through bone and flesh, cleaving Aggonid's head from his body with a sound that echoes through eternity. I'm rooted to the spot in shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend what has just occurred in a split second. My eyes fill with tears that stream down my face as I choke on a scream of pure anguish and crash to my knees, agony slicing my chest.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MORTE

The gruesome sight of what just transpired replays over and over in my head as my world shatters into a million pieces.

The room blurs in a nauseating spiral around me, and Emeric and Az's arms feel like a leaden weight on my shoulders. I can barely breathe, barely think, as I stare at Aggonid's motionless form in front of me, the agony of it as though my soul has been torn from my chest.

Wails erupt from Caius, and my shrieking continues far past the shredding of my eardrums.

My heart shatters like glass until every bit of me has been broken. As my tears fall like rain, I see Irid turn menacingly to Caius and something inside me clenches with sheer terror and hopelessness.

My head erupts in a fiery rage as my sanity is shattered, surrendering my mind and body to the darkness that has taken over. My beast roars to life, its presence taking control of my being, plunging me into a never-ending abyss of despair as she surges across the room.

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