"Leave my mountain," I roar. The Ardorflame pulses with energy. Lava bursts from the ground, whirling in the air before me and forming a sword, cool to the touch when I grip its hilt. "Enduares, to arms!" I shout out, lifting my sword high into the heavens. "We fight for our home!"
The courtyard explodes in a deafening chorus of sound as my people yank out their weapons and surge forward to be by my side. I can view the shock on the other giants' faces as our army thunders toward them, swords glinting in their hands. The clang of steel on steel reverberates through the cavernous space, cut through by the screams of the wounded and dying. I feel exhaustion creep into my limbs, sweat pouring down my face as I block blow after blow. But still, I press onward.
I spy Mother Liana across the way, muttering with her crystals. Her voice rises higher than the clamor of battle, her eyes shut tight in concentration. The gems attached to her neck and ears sparkle as they shift about in the flickering light of raging fires.
I lunge and strike as I move forward, cutting off an arm before plunging through a chest. I catch sight of Vann with his hammer, and Svanna with her pickax. They clash against two giants simultaneously as they move closer to the houses.
A sound comes from my left, and I use the weight of my blade to gain enough momentum to swing through the air, aiming for the giant's back. The blow connects with a sickening thud, and I feel the satisfying weight of the molten rock as it slices through the giant's flesh. He roars in pain and staggers back before tumbling to the cavern below. I dodge to the side, narrowly avoiding his massive sword as it falls through the air. Without hesitation, I strike towards another giant, my sword finding its mark in the newcomer by plunging through the giant's armor and into his chest.
I pull my sword free, watching as yet another giant falls to the lower level. They brought ten, and I have killed four. The fiery power within me continues to surge, the molten rock at my feet responding to my every command. There are only two left.
This time, when I shoot a stream of lava out, it crashes into the giant's body, and the heat of the liquid fire melts through their armor and incinerates his flesh. I watch as he screams and writhes in agony. Finally, the last giant dies, and I gaze at the bodies strewn about our festival decorations like broken dolls.
The cavern is filled with the sounds of our victory, the cheers of my people ringing through the air. I release the power within me, my focus shifting back to the reality of the moment. The haze clears from my eyes, and I sink to my knees. My breaths rush through my nose, scalding me from the inside out.
My arms are wreathed in fire, the heat of the glowing magma stinging the tips of my fingers. The flesh between my toes still tingles from the residual power of the lava, and my eyes burn from the acrid smoke that fills the air.
I can hear Mother Liana's footsteps as she approaches me, the sound of the heels of her boots clicking against the solid rock of the cavern floor. I do not need to look at her to know that her eyes are dancing with the heat and flames of the battle, her gaze hot enough to set the air alight. She leans over me, her fingers lightly raking against my skin. Soft sounds escape her lips as she traces the outline of my wounds, a small smile curling the sides of her mouth.
"It seems as if you are being well handled by the magic, Ma'Teo."
A groan escapes my lips as her fingers press into my flesh, her power mingling with the magma that courses through me. Slowly, the power ebbs away, and I feel a cooling sensation from my insides coat my skin. Behind the magic, I reach out across my mating bond to feel the comforting presence of my mate. I am met with silence.
"Do you see Estela?" I ask.
No one answers.
I push to my knees, dizzy and ready to faint, and stand. I look around the crowd and find my people are already starting to clean up. Liana reaches for me again, but I push her away, half running, half crawling across the bridge to the palace. I still can't breathe properly after using the magic.
"Ma'Teo!" Liana calls. But I don't stop. My heart is pounding in my ears, and my stomach churns with a mix of fear and anger. Estela was nowhere to be seen, and the thought of her being taken by the giants sends a fresh wave of fury coursing through my veins. As we run past the mushroom garden, I find a bloody scene on the steps.
Then I see Lord Lothar lying in a pool of his own blood, his body twisted and broken. Liana curses and leans down to help him, but I continue to my room.
Estela is nowhere to be seen. My heart feels like it drops into my stomach as I look around frantically. There is no trace of her in my chamber, and the rage I felt moments ago has given way to a growing sense of dread. My mind races, trying to piece together what might have happened.
I run back out to the palace steps and find Liana healing Lothar. "He lives," she says.
I stumble to his side, and grab his blood-soaked shirt. "Where is she?" I roar."Where is my mate?"
His eyes blink open, and he lets out one gasping breath. "The... elves."
Chapter40
Eudialyte
ESTELA
“Mamá is dead,” I say down to the wailing baby in my arms. “You can’t cry in front of the king, or he’ll be angry. Make a good impression.”
A giant warrior leads me up the white marble steps to the palace to meet with King Erdaraj. He looks down at me and Mikal with palpable disgust.
“Make that kit shut up.”
“Yes, sir,” I say and hold Miki closer to my chest while I pat his back. Once nuzzled against my clothes, he eases a fraction. The fractured pieces of my soul settle while I walk. Though not alone, I feel that way.
“We’re going to meet your father, mi amor. You should feel lucky—to know your father is a rare thing,” I murmur against his thick black curls. Mamá had hidden the baby in her belly, and I don’t really understand why. He should be happy to have another son. I feel him gurgle against my ear as we cross to the throne room.
More white. Too much white. The ceilings are tall and the cool breeze drifting through threatens to knock me over. Mikal is already too heavy.