“Could you give us more direction than that?” Ryllae asked, standing in the safety of Daegal’s arms. His hands were crossed against her chest, and he held her tightly against him. I didn’t blame him. After my trial, I didn’t want to let Aileana out of my sight either.
“Many paths lay before the six of you,” Inferna said sagely, her body growing larger until she loomed above us. “Follow your hearts and listen to each other. When times are hard and doubt rises, look within yourselves. The balance must be restored, but only the strong will reach the Gilded Amulet before time runs out.”
“Do you have anything more specific?” Kysha asked, stepping closer to the burning Spirit. The halfling seemed bolder than before, and I wondered what her trial had been. “Perhaps you might have some advice that is less cryptic?”
“Kysha,” Maiela hissed, pulling her wife away from Inferna. “Look who you’re talking to.”
A laugh that was like wood popping on a fire came from the blazing female.
“Courage runs through your veins, halfling,” Inferna said. “Not many speak to me in such a fashion.” She pursed her lips, considering our group for a moment. “In return for your bravery, I shall award you with a gift.”
The Spirit of the Flames waved her hand, and a fireball burst to life in her palm. She twisted the sphere of yellow and red flames before turning and lobbing it at the cavernous wall behind us. Aileana yelped, and Ryllae cried out as the ball arched over our heads. I pulled my mate against me once more as the fire hit the rocks in a shower of embers.
“Follow this path,” Inferna advised. “But beware, Chosen Ones. Not all in Shadowfell is as it seems. Tread carefully. Watch everything. Remember, the Gate will no longer open for you. The only way out is with the amulet. Be strong of heart, mind, and body, and you will survive.”
“Wait—” Aileana started, but Inferna disappeared in a flash of white light.
Everyone stared at the space where the Spirit of the Flames had been.
My mate was the first to speak. “Well, we’re in it now,” she said. “I suppose all we can do is keep going.”
Without even stopping to see whether it was safe, my Earth Elf walked towards the curtain of embers. She showed absolutely no fear, and though I loved her for it, it also irked me like nothing else.
“What are you doing?” I asked, grabbing hold of her hand as she approached the fiery wall.
Aileana stopped, staring at where I held her wrist. “You heard Inferna. We need to go.”
“And you think walking through fire is the right move?”
Her brows furrowed, and she shot me a look that said,do you think I’m an idiot, you imposing dragon?
“I’m not walking through the flames,” she answered me with more than a few drops of snark in her tone, pulling out of my grip. “I have a plan.”
Her palms opened, and green ribbons filled the air. Extending her hands in front of her, she formed an opaque shield of pure earth magic. Raising her arms, Aileana held up the magic and diverted the raining embers, forging a path through the fire.
Aileana raised a brow as a look of triumph crossed her face. “I told you I had a plan.”
I dipped into a bow. “Forgive me, my love, for doubting your strength and cunning.”
She laughed. “I’ll forgive you… for a kiss.”
“A price I’m happy to pay.” Crossing the distance between us, I brushed my lips over hers before standing to one side.
One by one, the others hurried through the newly formed pathway.
“Go, Xan,” Aileana said, still holding the shield. “I’ll meet you on the other side.”
I moved swiftly, not even breathing, as Aileana moved beneath the shield. Thank the gods, her green magic remained intact as she traversed beneath the flaming embers. The moment she made it over to me, the shield broke apart, dissolving into dozens of harmless green leaves that floated to the ground.
“This looks familiar,” Daegal said dryly, gesturing to our new surroundings.
He was right. This part of the cave looked identical to the one we had just left, with one exception: there was an exit. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and dust, as though this place had been abandoned for many years.
Moving ahead of the group, I closed my eyes, running a hand down the cold stone.
“What’s he doing?” Ryllae whispered to Daegal.
“Listening,” the Fortune Elf answered quietly. “Let him work.”