Page 59 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
Hunter's blade swiped the air. "Not before we cut your disgusting head off your miserable body!"
"Then so be it." The Syther snarled, taking a lumbering step forward. "You've chosen death, and we, the queen's Sythers, will gladly reap it upon you."
"Get back in the house," Cade muttered to me. "Get Rosa and Bella inside now! The Sythers can't get inside while the spell is still up."
"Still up? It can come down?" I asked, my core full of fright, not for me, but for Bella and Rosa.
"It'll stay up long enough for us to kill these animals," Cade said. "Now go!"
"No." I turn, feeling his anger at me grow. "Bella, get Rosa inside! You'll be safe there!"
Bella ran without a nod, grabbling Rosa and leading her to the house.
"I'm not going anywhere," I growled. "I'm fighting now. No more hiding, no more running, no more escaping. We're doing this together from now on."
Whether the prince decided to welcome my help, or not fight it any longer, I didn't know. But what I did know was, I was finally in the fight. For real this time, and I'd have to use all the lessons that Cornelius taught me. It was fight or die then, and I sure as hell wasn't ready to die just yet...
CHAPTER 27
The Sythers charged, their gaunt forms slicing through the air with a sinister elegance. The lead Syther, distinguished by its size and brutal snarl, dashed across the stretch between them and lunged at Cade with its jagged spear and unnatural speed. Cade, unperturbed, planted his feet firmly and raised his sword, deflecting the attack with a clang of steel against iron.
In an instant, Cade’s hand flared with an orange glow, and as he clenched his fist, flames erupted from his hand. His phoenix head staff materialized, its ruby eyes shimmering as if alive. With a swift movement, Cade raised the staff, sending a torrent of fire blazing toward the Sythers. Several of them howled in pain as the flames licked their bodies, but they pressed forward, undeterred.
Hunter, agile and precise, darted between two Sythers, his sword carving in a deadly arc. One Syther fell with a gurgling cry, clutching its throat as blood spurted from the wound. Hunter spun, his dagger finding its mark in the chest of the second Syther. The creature collapsed to the ground, its lifeless eyes staring up at the sky.
I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest like adrum. This is it, Ash. You’re fighting beside Cade and Hunter. This is your chance to prove you’re not just a helpless slave. Eden pulsed inside me, her golden warmth filling my core. I focused on the power within, visualizing the golden light expanding, growing larger and brighter.
Don’t overdo it, I reminded myself sternly. Use only as much as you need. Remember Cornelius’s words.
A Syther rushed at me, its curved blade glinting in the sunlight. I thrust my hands out, and a brilliant pulse of golden light erupted from me, sending the creature stumbling back. The gold-hued radiance enveloped the Syther, lifting it high into the air before dropping it with a sickening thud onto the ground. Its bones crunched as its body hit the earth, and the creature lay motionless.
That’s it, Ash. You can do this. You can defend yourself.
"Keep fighting," Cade shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He was a whirlwind of fire and steel, his sword and staff moving in harmonious tandem. A Syther lunged at him, but Cade sidestepped, bringing his sword down in a brutal arc that severed the creature's head from its body. The head rolled spattering blood in circles below it. The Sythers charged, their gaunt forms slicing through the air with a sinister elegance. The remaining Sythers hesitated for a moment, their eyes fixed on the lifeless form of their comrade. But their momentary shock only fueled their rage, and they redoubled their efforts, surging forward with renewed ferocity.
Cade and Hunter fought with relentless skill, their movements fluid and precise. Cade's staff sent arcs of fire scorching through the air, while his sword deflected and struck with deadly accuracy. Hunter's dual-wielding of sword and dagger made him a formidable force, darting between the Sythers with lethal grace.
I focused on harnessing Eden's power, channeling it into controlled bursts of golden light. Each blast sent Sythers reeling, their advance temporarily halted. *Stay steady, Ash. Don't let theadrenaline overwhelm you.* I reminded myself, maintaining a steady flow of magic.
We have to keep pushing. I glanced at Cade, seeing the determination in his eyes despite the strain on his face. This fight was crucial—it was about more than just survival. It was about proving that we could stand against the queen's forces, about showing that we were capable of resisting her tyranny.
A Syther lunged at me, its spear aimed at my heart. I sidestepped, feeling a surge of adrenaline as I raised my hands. A golden orb pulsed from my palms, hurling the Syther back with a force that sent it crashing into a tree. The tree shivered, and the Syther slumped to the ground, unconscious or dead.
Bella is inside. She's safe. But if we fall, they'll get to her. They'll get to Rosa eventually. I can't let that happen. The thought of Bella and Rosa in danger fueled my resolve. I couldn't let the Sythers win. I couldn't let the queen take me!
Cade let out a grunt of pain as a Syther's blade sliced across his arm. Blood seeped from the wound, but he didn't falter. With a roar of defiance, he held his staff upward, sending a column of fire engulfing the Syther. The creature screamed in agony, its body consumed by the flames.
Hunter stumbled, narrowly avoiding a spear that whizzed past his ear. He gritted his teeth, his grip on his weapons tightening as he launched a renewed assault against the Sythers surrounding him.
I channeled another burst of magic, this time lifting a Syther off the ground and flinging it into a group of its comrades. The impact sent them all tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.
We're making progress. We're holding our own. But as I scanned the battlefield, I saw that the Sythers were relentless. For every one we felled, another took its place, their numbers seeming endless.
I focused on the golden light within me, drawing on its powerto fuel my attacks. I focused on my power, but tried to keep it controlled. It would only take one wrong burst to send me to the ground, depleted and helpless.
Each burst of my magic sent Sythers reeling, their advance momentarily halted. But the Sythers were learning. They attacked in coordinated waves, their movements more strategic. They seemed to anticipate our attacks, their defenses tightening.
Cade let out a cry of pain as a Syther's blade found its mark, slicing deep into his thigh. He stumbled, and for a moment, I thought he might fall. But with a surge of sheer willpower, he steadied himself, his eyes blazing with renewed determination.
