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“We need to run, now!” Leora shouted, as two enemy soldiers broke through the lines and hurtled directly towards them.
Thessa managed as much magic as she could muster right before two Celestials jumped in their path—a white-haired witch with violet bangs and one with a triple pigtail. They cast a double ray of moonlight so bright it blinded their attackers.
She’d never seen Celestial magic used defensively. It was working brilliantly.
Leora and Thessa gasped in harmony as Wayland crashed into the soldiers. He slit one throat on impact before whirling around to snap the neck of the other. Where the capital had goneverywrong was not training their soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. Elemental hands were always too precious to be bothered.
“Get out of here,” Emiel demanded of them.
Thessa did just that.
“Damn you, Tess!”
She was aiming forhim, dodging anyone in her path. Rebels surrounded the tree and fought in a frenzy to protect what remained of Soren. Without a second thought she funneled through them, shoved her dagger into the bark for leverage, and climbed.
Soren’s serpent head was dangling, yet he managed a low hiss when she arrived.
“I’m going to help you,pleasedon't waste your energy on biting me.” She wasn’t sure if he understood her.
Are you in there, Soren?
No reply.
Using her dagger, she plucked all seven arm-length bolts from his scales, marring him in the process. He had no skin left. She threw each one as far as she could, hoping and praying to impale the soldiers who’d done this to him.
Once freed from all his bolts, Soren’s body crumpled to the ground.
I’m Sorry.
Jussal was there, alongside Christof, and others, to catch and carry him away. The vantage point from the treetop gave her a view of the entire scene. Serpents had swarmed the capital. She couldn’t tell Echidna’s from Soren’s but there were too many to count. Bystanders were fleeing in fear with hopelessness and confusion etched across their faces.She blinked, focusing on a group of rebels escorting a handful of townsfolk away from the bloodied streets.
Her mouth fell open in horror at what she saw next.
No, no, no.
Echidna was surrounded by enemy soldiers, bathing in fire. Without her, Soren’s bond was broken, and her serpents would roam uninhibited.
“Get down from there! You’re a target.”
Brenneth had climbed the tree to meet her.
She’d clung to the branches in shock. “Take me to him.”
“I will.”
Brenneth helped her down, then tossed her over his shoulder. As he ran through fallen bodies, their cries filled her ears.
50
MENTAL NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL HEALER AT CSA:
Despite breathing and herbs, there’s no cure for this type of wound. Healing takes time.
After Brenneth had carried her back into camp, Thessa faltered at the sight of Soren’s serpentine skin, seared beyond recognition. She’d sat there for however long, watching the healer’s work.
Her mind was in a silent fury, while her heart screamed. Although her eyes were opened, she couldn’t see. Without him, the world was uninhabitable; her mind was once again, uninhabitable. So, she’d drifted away. Not even the gurgling pain of others, or the tears of the mourning could steal her attention.
When day faded into night, Thessa still hadn’t moved. She had no purpose to. Familiar faces passed by, trying to free her from her torment, but nothing would help her escape this.