Page 64 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

He doesn't respond, and instead rushes straight at the wave of combatants weaving through the woods.

Terror constricts my throat as I watch him disappear into the shadows. Fifteen. I count fifteen glowing orbs. My fingers tremble as I release arrow after arrow, some slicing through their flesh, others thudding into dead tree trunks. The lights bob and weave in the night air like fae flies, mocking my glaring attempts to take them out.

Suddenly, the lights stop bobbing, each of them standing in place as though they've been frozen. With my last arrow plucked, I hurl throwing knives at the dark forms, desperate to bring down my enemies before they come for me. As soon as a spark flickers in the sky, a force slams into me from behind with enough power to knock me off balance. I try to turn around, but there's no time—it hooks into the shoulder straps of my cuirass and lifts me up into the air.

I howl my war cry as I'm snatched from the epic battle below and catapulted into the sky. My lungs gasp for air as I'm swept away by the giant flying beast, its powerful talons digging into me and its wings pounding against the air. I drift higher and higher as the wind rushes past me, carrying with it my fate.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

MORTE

Istruggle against the heavy straps but I’m unable to release them or unfurl my wings with my armor encasing me. A firework explodes in front of us, and I lose my grip on my knife, watching helplessly as it plunges into the trees below.

Fuck!

My body thrashes and writhes with every ounce of strength I can muster, shaking the creature off-balance. Its wings pitch and yaw as I keep rocking, my limbs flailing in a blind fury. Its talons cling to my armor, but I twist and turn out of their grasp. I thrust forward again and again until the beast finally releases me on one side.

The night sky erupts above us with firecrackers of different colors, leaving a trail of scorched embers in their wake that expand like a spider web of glowing brilliance. The creature that holds me tight decides I'm not a threat and releases its grip, hurling me towards the tree line with dizzying speed. I can hear the thunderous flap of its wings as it rushes to battle another adversary, leaving me to my fate of the darkened forest.

I plummet, reaching for the giant sword at my back just as a dragon catches me in its giant maw. Its slimy tongue pushes me down its throat with the force of a hurricane, threatening to drown me in its depths. With an iron grip I cling to the sword, defying death with each passing second as I slide back down its throat. I roar with rage as I scramble to keep upright in its mouth, sword still tight in my fist. After readying myself to do battle within the belly of a monster, I shout with a feral defiance as I plunge the sword through the hatch and into the monster's gullet, tearing through its rancid flesh like a hot knife through butter.

The creature bellows in pain, only to be met by my ceaseless onslaught. Blood spatters from its wounds, raining down upon me like a crimson shower.

A deafening roar rattles my bones, my eardrums wailing in pain at the sound. I cling to the hilt of my sword, each muscle screaming with effort and strain as the dragon chokes and gargles in an attempt to dislodge me. I draw on a deep reserve of strength, and with a fierce shove of my feet, I thrust off from its tongue whilst digging in the blade deeper.

The screeching whine of metal against soft tissue echoes through my ears as I dig the blade in further, the dragon's throat compressing around me with its death throes. A hot blast of air sears my face as I am suddenly weightless, a realization dawning that I have killed this ancient beast and we are both falling fast.

We crash to the ground with a cacophonous bang, my body shaking violently from the force, sweat, saliva, and blood lifting off me as the vessel around me turns to ash and floats along on the wind. I push myself to my knees through the pain, each breath feeling like a thousand needles piercing my lungs as my limbs scream in agony against the weight of the impact. I raise my head, fear coursing through me as I see a figure rise before me, shrouded in shadows against the twilight sky.

My heart pounding, I frantically back away, desperate for a way out. When I don't see a glinting gemstone on his chest, I let out a shaky breath of relief. He approaches me cautiously, extending a hand to help me stand.

The minute my feet touch the ground, a searing pain shoots through my leg and I wince in agony. He notices it immediately and scoops me in his arms. I look up and meet his eyes, recognition blazing in them.

"Emeric?" I rasp, my throat dry and cracked. Fear and confusion mingle on the air.

His mouth moves, but I can't hear his words. Blinking, I shake my head, trying to clear it. My eardrums have ruptured, and I can hardly hear him. I point to my ears, but it takes him a moment to catch on.

He carries me inside a large home, kicking the door shut behind him. As he places me on a long, pewter-colored couch, I wince at the pain radiating down my leg and the blood pouring like a river from a deep gash in my thigh.

"Is Az here?" I try to crane my neck, but I'm so stiff, I can't move.

Emeric shakes his head. My chest deflates. I hope he's okay.

With quick hands, Emeric unbuttons my pants and carefully slides them down my legs so he can get to work on healing my injury. Bruises mottle my legs, ribbons of blood snaking their way down from the wound.

His lips move as though he's reciting something, and he presses a hand to the gash. I suck in a breath, screwing my eyes shut at the pain. The sting doesn't lessen, and my eyes fly open as Emeric casts me a worried glance before he mouths, "trust me."

Az's words echo back to me:He's a pain in my ass, but one of the only people you can trust around here.

I give him a curt nod.

His head moves towards my thigh, his tongue swiping once at the injury. What the fuck?

Ohh. Oh. The pain lessens. He laps at my thigh, his eyes taking on a glazed quality as I groan, my head lolling to the side as he works. Each swipe of his tongue diminishes the hurt. My heart hammers in my chest, his touch both soothing and thrilling at the same time. His tongue moves faster, lapping and licking at my wound. The cut vanishes almost as though it were never there, like a drop of ink in the ocean. The layers of flesh that had been cut fall away like petals of a flower to the cushion beneath me.

Emeric leans into my hair, the silky feel of his black curls brushing my face. My heart catches in my throat as his warm hands cup my ears and begin to heal the damaged eardrums. Almost as once, I feel the insistent throbbing at one ear disappear, and then the other. His lips hover against my ear as he whispers to me and the delicate touch of his breath fans my skin.

"Thank fuck." I sigh.

---