Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
When they’re all linked, a thunderous noise fills the air, then Awo’s voice rumbles in the air. “A life for theirs.”
He’s not saying we can’t save them.
Not thinking twice about what this means for me, my eyes lock with Ares. “Go!”
“Alchera! Don’t you fucking dare,” Raighne shouts, his tone desperate and filled with fear. “Don’t do this to us.”
Ares shakes his head again, giving me a pained look. “This isn’t right, Alchera. I would follow you to the darkest pits of the shadowlands, but what you’re asking of me…”
With a pleading expression, I place my hand on his arm. “I forgive you, Ares. Do this for me. Take them to safety.”
He closes his eyes, intense heartache tightening his features. “You showed me how to be strong. You saved me.”
My throat closes up with emotion as I stare at Ares. “Go.”
“Please,” Raighne begs. “Ares, just grab her and come home.”
Ares shakes his head, the veins in his throat straining, then he opens his eyes and looks at me. He begins to fade, and I feel his cool breeze whisper through me as he tries to take me with them.
Then they’re gone.
Standing alone in the house while the thunderous noise around me grows, I let out a heavy sigh.
An explosion rocks the world, and I’m forced to my knees. The walls of the house shudder and crumble, and the ground quakes.
“Alchera,” Raighne groans, all his warmth pouring into me and giving me the strength I need to climb to my feet.
“I’m sorry,” I sob as I stagger out of the collapsing house.
The area to my left is engulfed in fire and black smoke, and above me, the sky is a dark inferno as the asteroid barrels toward the ground.
I run as fast as I can to get to Phoenix, and when I reach him, he slumps to his side. I fall to my knees and catch him in time to watch as he gasps for air, his eyes turning completely black.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You’re not alone.”
His eyes flutter closed, and I choke on a sob as I look up to where Thana is on fire.
A cry rips from me, and Raighne’s warmth engulfs me until my skin starts to shine as if a light is trying to break free from me.
“I love you,” Raighne whispers, his tone hoarse with heartache.
“I love you so much,” I sob. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let them die.”
“I understand.”
“I wish…I wish…” I’m crying too hard to form a coherent thought.
“I’ll be with you until the end. I’m here. I love you, my little dreamer.”
Hearing his words makes me realize Raighne will die with me, and it fills me with unthinkable fear.
“No!” My eyes widen, and Phoenix’s body slips out of my arms.
I climb to my feet, and lifting my head, I stare up at the destruction bearing down on me. With every ounce of strength I have, I try to force Raighne out of my mind.
“I reject our bond.”
“Don’t, Alchera!” he shouts and I swear I hear his words echo in the wind around me.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Be happy, Raighne.”
I close my eyes, and it takes everything I am as I let out a scream while trying to sever our bond.
I can feel Raighne fighting me, and desperate because I’m out of time, I cry, “Awo, spare him. Please!”
When I open my eyes, the asteroid’s shadow is all I can see as the sand and rocks lift from the ground and pressure squeezes the air from my lungs.
It will disintegrate Earth on impact. There will be nothing left of this world I once called home.
Sobs shudder through my body as I beg one last time, “Awo, save Raighne.”
Heat scorches my skin, and unable to suck in another breath, I feel a weird calmness settle over me.
This is where I belong.
Just as everything explodes around me and the Earth shudders and roars, everything lights up so bright I have to shut my eyes.
“Alchera,” I hear Raighne groan, sounding a million miles away from me.
And as I face my end, I whisper, “I love you, Raighne.”
Raighne
On my knees in the middle of the castle’s foyer, I focus everything I am to hold onto Alchera.
Brenna’s holding their mother, who’s sobbing as they stare at me, and Finian stands beside them, his face pale.
“Raighne,” Brenna whispers, her tone drenched in heartache while she stares at me in horror.
I glance down and see the essence of my soul shining through the cracks in my skin.
Alchera is dying.
No.
Closing my eyes, I use all my strength to hold onto her and groan, “Alchera.”
“I love you, Raighne.” Her words are faint, barely a whisper that trickles to me from afar.
Then the unspeakable happens, and I feel our bond snap with an intensity that slams me backward, sending me skidding across the floor.