“We need a shield,” Xander called out. “Aileana?”
I shook my head. “My magic won’t survive against flames.”
Fire and earth rarely mixed. Xander and I were the exception to the rule, it seemed.
He cursed colorfully.
This was bad—but I wasn’t the only powerful elf here.
Inching around on the pathway as the lava churned beneath me, I turned and faced the others. Looking past Xander, I met Ryllae’s gaze. The Death Elf crouched between my mate and Kysha, her knuckles white as she gripped the path.
Ryllae was powerful. I might have been the High Lady of Life and filled with Earth Elf magic, but she had her own powers. I’d seen her work now, multiple times. And the way her powers had interacted with mine during the trials…
She wondered who she was, but I was almost positive I knew the answer. How was it that the two of us, both scarred in our own ways, were the opposite of the other? One a warrior, the other not. One of Life, and the other of Death. Both mated to strong males.
Fate was at play here.
Like me, she had her own journey to travel. Wounds to heal. Trials to overcome. But perhaps this was part of our trial. Maybe this was what Ember had been referring to.
If there was anyone who could help us now, it was the Death Elf princess. I called out her name. Fear passed across Ryllae’s face, and she tightened her lips.
“We need you,” I said.
Ryllae shook her head. “I don’t know—”
“Make a shield,” I urged her.
I had seen her father construct something similar the first time I tried to kill him when he ambushed us in the Queen’s Tower. That night had ended rather poorly, but hopefully, today would have a different outcome.
“A shield,” Ryllae repeated as the molten lava became more erratic.
The hissing fire grew louder, nearly drowning out Daegal’s voice as he said, “You can do it, Dark One.”
The flames roared, and apopcame from nearby. Flaming lava landed mere feet from me, searing the bottom of the path.
“Please try!” I yelled.
“Alright.” Ryllae took a deep breath and crimson threads of power slipped from her palms. They swirled in the air as the ground rumbled once more.
A wave formed on the other side of the Heart, easily twice the size of Xander’s dragon, and moved toward us with unnatural speed.
Maiela screamed, “Ryllae! Hurry!”
I really didn’t think that was helpful.
My suspicions were confirmed when the Death Elf gasped, “I’m trying.” Tears ran down her face as she kneeled, drawing magic around herself. “I promise, I am doing my best.”
There was a commotion as Daegal shuffled along the path, somehow making it past Maiela, then Kysha, without falling into the lake. He wore not only his sword, but his sister’s bow as well, having insisted on taking the weapon to help the crossing.
The flaming wave grew closer and closer. The heat was becoming unbearable, and my throat dried. I had never needed water more than I did at that moment.
Daegal reached Ryllae, placing his hand on her back as he crouched over her.
Crimson magic swirled. The wave of fire grew closer and closer. My heart thundered in my chest. Sweat poured out of me, and my throat dried. Ryllae’s magic swirled in the air. A roaring filled my ears as the wave grew impossibly larger.
Resting flat on the trembling path, I hugged it as tightly as I could.
I love you, Elyxander.