Page 111 of Touched

Peace is no longer an option.

Not when the Dark Ones, the FaeDorcha, are determined to destroy us. Not when they have allied with who knows what other Gifted. Not when they have warped some of our own, with lies and illusions. Convincing them to betray us and join them. Not when they have unleashed a dark force, a poison that corrupts and enslaves unsuspecting Gifted beings… Not when they alter humans, warping them unnaturally to do their bidding. Not when their quest for power is threatening to consume us all.

We have to fight back.

We have to survive.

We have to escape.

We must prevail. More than Laric is at risk…

This war has no bounds… no one is safe.

Not the Gifted… and not the humans.

We must reunite with Callum and the others. We have to come up with a plan. We have to hope there is still a chance for us, for our family, for our kind.

Reaching the tree line, we dip beneath the canopy of the forest and my heart threatens to burst free from my chest.

Callum.

A deep, profound relief escapes me, buckling my knees.

Callum reaches for me, catching me before I fall. His arms close around me. His mouth presses against my hair, inhaling deeply as he hugs me tightly. He kisses my cheeks. And then, my lips. Leaning back, I exhale, looking around at the army in front of me.

My eyes flit over to Cyrus as his strong arms wrap around Devyn. Her hands cup his cheeks, and she stares into his eyes.

I continue to scan the crowd before me.

Trevor is here!

I introduce him to my parents.

He smiles, waving. Then, gestures to the trolls, goblins, and centaurs he’s brought with him.

He then looks to Callum. Everyone does.

Pulling me into his side tightly, my cheek rests on his chest. His heart beats against my ear. Leaning down, he whispers in my ear, “I’m so glad you’re here, Aeris. I love you, little fairy. We’ll make it through this, together.” After softly pressing his lips to mine once more, he pulls away, facing those assembled around us. His voice is strong and clear as he says, “We must to go. Now. The FaeDorcha are closing in.” In response, smoke wafts through the trees, encroaching on us while explosions, the roar of fire, and the crumbling and collapse of Laric sounds just on the other side of the line. “We need to get out of here. We need a plan. A real one and we need toleaveLaric. Now. Once we clear the woods further east, we’ll take to the sky. We head to the Preserve. We can regroup and facilitate a plan… but right now, we need to move.”

Istare at my Kindred in disbelief.

Leave? He wants to leave?

I am not leaving. Laric is my home. These are my people. I cannot leave them here to die.

To do so would be a betrayal of everything and everyone that I love.

I won’t abandon them.

“N—no.” My voice wavers before I look directly at Callum, standing tall. “No. We will not leave,” I state.

Fire crackles in the distance, an unsettling reminder that there are others to think of… more are affected than just us. Straightening taller, I raise my chin. “We mustfight. Here and now. We’ve run out of time. Laric and those within it will be gone. We will take a stand.

“Ifwedon’t, who will?” I raise my chin.

I look at my love… my family. At those who have willingly joined us to save the Fae when called upon. When they didn’t have to.

My heart fills with pride knowing we won’t be going into this alone.

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