Page 45 of Beyond the Treaty

“Freedom for Mythrendel.” Darius wasted no time in answering, as if he knew what it was going to ask. He stepped through the entrance and sighed in relief, then turned to face me, waiting for my question.

I nod, ready for whatever question it throws my way.

“Do you desire a life with Prince Azrael or Lord Kae- len?”

The question hit me suddenly. I never expected to be put on the spot like this!

My face hardens as I see Azrael gazing into my eyes with hope. I close my eyes...

“Prince Azrael.”

I keep my eyes closed and step through the threshold. I’ve made it. I exhale in relief and open my eyes again to find Azrael in front of me, wearing that gorgeous smile of his.He palms my cheek, stroking his thumb along my cheekbone. Do I tell him I love him? Is it too soon?

Darius leans heavily against the cave wall, clearing his throat. “Shall we proceed?”

Azrael quickly plummets to the ground with fatigue. I manage to catch him, with what little strength I have. “I’ve got you,” Darius makes haste to assist me.

“Come on, Prince, let’s save Mythrendel. And then you and your woman can live in harmony and all that lovey-dovey crap.”

Azrael chuckles whilst using us as posts to lift himself.

“I am alright now. Thank you,” he says, catching his breath whilst not taking his eyes off mine. “Let’s go. We are so close to the nexus now.”

Darius and I supported him as we made our way deeper into the cave. The runes grew brighter, their glow illuminating the path ahead. At last, we reached a chamber where the nexus pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

Azrael took a deep breath, gathering his remaining strength. “We need to activate it in order to gain access to the fragment,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Elara, with your fragment

power, do you think you can help?”

I nod, feeling the energy within me surge in response.

Together, we approach the nexus, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

CHAPTER 27

The nexus reacts to the energy from my palms almost imme- diately. I grab the crimson tome from my pack and place it next to the pedestal, It glows a fire red like the runes covering all the walls. I take a deep breath and place my hand on the centre rune.

A bright red beam explodes from the pedestal, shooting up towards the cave ceiling. Once again, the ground trembles beneath us, echoing a roar all around the cave. I shield my eyes again. Why does it have to be so bright in such a dark cave?

“I’m fine!” I shout towards Darius and Azrael.

The light from the beam flew through me, and the runes on the pedestal shifted. Rearranging themselves into a different pattern, another figure appeared, but this time in the shape of a man.

“Who dares awaken the Nexus of Obsidia?”the voice of the man-like figure echoed in anger.

The red light pulsed, casting jagged shadows against the cave walls. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as the spectral figure solidified before us, his towering form exuding authority and barely contained fury. His eyes, burning embers of molten gold,bore into me as if he could see straight through my skin and into my very soul.

“I said,”the figure reiterated, his voice resonating with power,“who dares awaken the Nexus of Obsidia?”

I swallowed hard, my hand still pressed against the rune- covered pedestal, the crimson tome beside it pulsating with an energy that thickened the air around me.

“I am Elara,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “And we need answers.”

The figure’s expression darkened, his form shifting like smoke in the breeze. The cave around us trembled once more, as if responding to his displeasure. Behind me, Darius and Azrael had their weapons half-drawn, poised to fight if necessary. But how could we combat something that wasn’t even alive?

“Elara,”the spirit mused, his gaze narrowing.“The name means nothing to me. But the tome... the tome should not be here.”His fiery eyes flicked towards the book, his expression contorting into something inscrutable.

I tightened my grip on the pedestal. “We don’t have time for riddles. We must know what’s inside this book and what the council has been concealing from us.”

---