Page 46 of Stone Sentinels

“I... I did this, Baron,” she sobs. “I killed all of them.”

I brush the hair from her face and try to ease her shaking. She leans against me as I help her stand. Eilish looks to Pyre and they share a strange moment, some sort of silent conversation of which I’m not privy. “We need to find the others and come up with a plan for whatever happens next.”

My eyes once again roam over the land and stop at the remnants of the cottage. So much knowledge and so many answers destroyed due to Cambion and Theren. No matter what the others say or think, I blame Cambion even though I know leading his brother to The Veil wasn’t what he intended.

It’s enough to know that he stole from Pyre and willingly endangered our mission due to his selfishness and arrogance. I recognize that I once possessed the same qualities, but at least I’m making an effort to do what’s right by those around me. For the suffering and betrayal that I endured, I could have become what Morrigan’s false prophecy predicted, but I didn’t. Part of that I owe to Pyre, but the rest I did on my own. I am my own being, as Cambion is his own being. It was his decisions that led to this day and his decisions that destroyed this part of the realm.

A loud growl catches my attention and I hand Eilish over to Pyre. Gripping my blade, I creep low to the ground.

Kolvar.

The satyr’s big, burly body is panting as he shoves out from under a pile of bodies. He cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders.

“Fuckin’ hell, that was a wild ride,” he grumbles. “Saw some of the Unseelie soldiers tuck tail and head east when Pyre started with that magic of his. Should we hunt ‘em down?”

Pyre shakes his head. “Some of them won’t make it far, and those who survive the treacherous lands of The Veil deserve to live another day. Things will settle over time, but we need to find the others and leave here before the spirits of this battlefield begin to rise.”

“Pyre,” I say quietly. “Where are Noni and the others?”

CHAPTER TWENTY

DRAGAN

The Veil

The explosion rocks the ground beneath my feet. I turn to the direction of the cottage and see a flash of white that ripples across The Veil. My instincts kick in and I throw myself on top of Noni while Flumph hovers beside me. A wave of energy nearly pushes us into the lake. Nymphs swim away from the water’s edge and take refuge beneath the surface. When The Veil settles after a few passing heartbeats, I stand with Noni in my arms. She twitches and grimaces with tightly shut eyes, whimpering in pain.

I must find Pyre.

Flumph stares in shock at what’s left after the blast.

When what was once green burns asunder and blackens to smoke and blood, an age of lawless destruction shall birth new life and a reunion of enemies.

I pored over the book of prophecies for hours to decipher that one passage just this morning. To think it would actually come to pass so swiftly makes me feel as if the forces that control our fates are mocking us. Flumph lands on my shoulder.

The wound caused by Lithenli burns as I walk along the path that leads to the explosion site. My stomach flips as nausea courses through me. The pungent stench of death clings to the air.

“This ain’t good, Shadow King,” Flumph says. “Theren done fucked everythin’ up real bad.”

“Not just Theren.”

“Yup, I knows it was the asshole elf we been travelin’ with. Fucker owe me a new crossbow,” the sprite complains. His face crumples into a contorted frown while he continues griping under his breath.

We weave our way through the destruction left in the wake of the swell of power that flattened nearly everything in sight. My mind wanders to Eilish and I find myself hoping she’s still alive.

If she isn’t… I can’t even continue the thought. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Not to mention our mission wouldn’t last one second if she was slain.

My heart clenches painfully, but I shake the feeling off, unwilling to analyze it. Eventually, we come on Pyre, Eilish, Baron, and Kolvar.

“Eilish,” I say as soon as I see her.

She’s covered in dirt and blood but she’s stunningly beautiful. She runs to me and throws her arms around me as I hold her in response, being careful not to disrupt Noni. When Eilish pulls away from me, she glances down at the brownie in my hands and her smile drops.

“Noni?” she whispers.

Pyre catches sight of Noni and immediately takes her from my hands, I notice his own are shaking and his skin looks ashen.

“What happened?” he asks bitingly.

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