I watch in awe as the broken shards prove more effective than blades crafted by weapon masters.
The giants who still stand, a measly six in total, try to scatter. But every jagged piece of rock finds a home in the body of a warrior.
The giants drop like falling leaves in autumn.
Once the screams fade, I let out a long breath, finally covering my exposed chest.
Ra’Sa’s arms are around me in a second, scooping me off the ground, pulling his coat over my bare chest and pressing my face to his.
“I’m so sorry,Ruh’flor,” he says into the side of my head. He doesn’t approach me tenderly in grief. He loves so fiercely, so thoroughly that it puts a blanket around my fragile heart.
All of my emotions continue to spiral and storm inside of me, but I don’t get swept out to sea; I remain right there in my mate’s arms.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he says. His words aren’t accusations; they are cracking with pain as if he could only seem to see the alternate universe where I am lying on the ground and not Maria.
“They were going to kill you,” I weep. “I couldn’t let that happen. Not for me, and not for the girls. We depend on you.”
He cries out, and I grab his face, pressing his lips to mine. Just to know what he tastes like once again. He kisses me deeply, ravaging my lips with his need to have me close.
I’m the first to pull back to look at the men around us.
“I love you,” I pant.
Ra’Sa brushes my back.
“I will not leave your side again,” I say firmly.
He sighs, then helps me stand. “Fine, stubborn woman.” His hand lingers on my back a second longer.
Humans have already started to search the makeshift battlefield, helping to carry the wounded and bury the dead.
Ra’Sa holds his hands out in front of him, using his magic to create an impression deep in the ground.
Afterwards, we make our way through the chaos. Ra'Sa is ever watchful, his gaze darting back and forth, his senses attuned to the slightest hint of danger.
Nicolás comes running a second later. “Rasa!”
My mate’s body tenses. “What’s happened?”
“We found this on one of the giants," he says, handing a ragged parchment to Ra'Sa.
Ra'Sa takes the note, his eyes scanning the words, his lips tightening into a grim line.
"The king has left Zlosa," Ra'Sa reads aloud, his voice low. “Fektir tried to kill him.”
I look at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “Really?”
“We must move quickly," Ra'Sa says, his gaze locked on the note. “Rholker’s departure is crucial for King Teo. I must send another message to let him know."
I nod, swallowing hard. "What should I do?"
Ra'Sa turns to me, his eyes filled with determination. "Help the others pack. We leave Zlosa as soon as possible. Without the king, this war is done. We won.”
Nicolás catches onto the words and lets out a whoop. He runs back through the crowd, thrusting his fist.
“¡Por la libertad!”?2 he screams.
Humans stop their jobs while others come out of hiding. They all start to shout alongside us.