Page 117 of Ecliptic

“False King!”

“Liar!”

“Tyrant!”

Aedris’ eyes widened in terror. “Guards! Attack the treasonists!”

Terror clogged up my throat, but I’d done what I could. These elves knew who their true ruler was. And in a unified fury, they charged the sundial.

41

As the stampede of elves rushed toward Aedris, the guards dropped me and formed a protective circle around the king.

“Attack!” Aedris screamed at his soldiers.

A stray elbow caught me in the face, and my head snapped back as stars clouded my vision. Warmth pooled under my nose as droplets of blood fell onto my white dress.

I hadn’t meant to get entangled in a revolt, not when a bigger war marched closer every day. Yet here I was, standing directly in the middle of a revolution.

I swayed on my feet as Rowen and Maddock charged through the dust like two beautiful titans. They consumed my narrowing vision as they sprinted toward me.

Rowen caught me just before I fell. His emotions poured over me in desperate waves, a raging tempest that was easy to read as he noted the blood on my face and the gold collar at my feet. Whereas Maddock was barely containing himself. It looked as if he wanted to touch and examine me for himself.

Convinced that I was mostly unharmed, Rowen gathered me in his embrace.

Even though a battle erupted around us, I wanted to breakdown and cry in his arms. “I failed,” I said, holding onto him so tight that my fingers bunched the fabric of his shirt. Maddock hugged me from the back, offering me more comfort as he kissed my head.

I’d believed that somehow Hara’dune would help us defeat Erovos and save Indrasyl. But without their help, there was no other choice. I would have to . . .

“No, Keira. You were perfect. It’s not over yet,” he murmured against me.

Two sets of arms held me and stroked me as a battle raged around us.

Rowen said he wouldn’t survive if he lost me again, so how could I go through with Indrasyl’s plan, knowing it would kill us both?

I wished I could give him a reason to keep living without me.

Suddenly, Dyani, Rayal, and Thaydril cut their way through the commotion. The guards were armed, and the rioting elves were armed only with anger.

“You must go,” Rayal urged. “While there is pandemonium. If you are here when the dust settles, Aedris will throw you into the sand pits.”

“I’ll kill him,” Rowen snarled, kicking the collar away from me. “For making her bleed.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Maddock agreed, his hands still on me.

The princess shook her head. “He is too heavily guarded. You must go.”

“Come with me,” Thaydril agreed through the chaos. “I will open the arch for you and take you home.”

I grabbed Rowen’s corded arm. “Our role here is done,” I said, knowing there was nothing more we could do. “We need to focus on the battle ahead.”

“Can you run?” he asked, his eyes trailing down my body.

Barefoot and clad in a ripped dress that billowed around me like the ghost of my hopes, I nodded. Rowen and Maddock helped me to my feet, and without another word, we sprinted into the fray, weaving through the uprising growing more violent by the second.

One of the guards grabbed Rayal by the arm. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growled, handling and yanking her roughly.

Dyani pounced from the crowd like a mountain cat. “Get your hands off her,” she snarled and punched him square in the face. The guard howled in pain as his hands flew to his bloody nose.

---