Page 60 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
He's hurt. He can't keep going like this. Concern for Cade surged through me, but I couldn't let it distract me. I had to keep fighting, had to keep pushing.
Hunter, seeing Cade's injury, redoubled his efforts, his attacks growing more desperate. He fought with a ferocity that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, his strikes finding their marks with brutal efficiency.
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.
Keep going, Ash. You can't falter now. I focused on the golden light within me, drawing on its power to fuel my attacks. Each burst sent Sythers reeling, their advance momentarily halted.
The battle raged on, the air thick with the scent of blood and the terrible smell of burnt flesh. The Sythers seemed to multiply, their numbers barely dwindling despite our relentless assault. Cade’s injury was taking a toll on him; his movements were slower, his breaths more labored. Hunter fought valiantly, but fatigue was setting in, his strikes becoming less precise.
I channeled more of Eden's power, careful not to overextend myself. Just enough, Ash. Control it. I focused on the golden light within, shaping it into controlled bursts that sent Sytherstumbling back. The glow from my hands illuminated the battlefield, casting eerie shadows on the twisted faces of our enemies.
Cade, grimacing in pain, managed to send another torrent of fire from his staff, incinerating a group of Sythers that had been advancing on him. Hunter, breathing heavily, dispatched another Syther with a swift strike to the heart.
But the numbers were against us. For every Syther we felled, more seemed to replace them from the trees. Their attacks grew more coordinated, their tactics more cunning. They anticipated our moves, adapting and countering with chilling precision.
A Syther with a fearsome snarl lunged at me, its spear aimed at my chest. I stumbled back, channeling a burst of golden light that sent the creature crashing into a boulder. As I turned back to the battle, I saw Cade, his face pale and drawn. He was injured, and even with his ferocious will, his strength was waning. His thrusts were labored and his fire magic more erratic, more desperate.
We have to get him out of here. I looked around frantically, assessing our options. But where can we go? The dragons are pinned, and we’re surrounded.
As if sensing my thoughts, a group of Sythers encircled me, their eyes glinting with malice. Cade was struggling to keep his footing, Hunter was fighting valiantly but was overwhelmed also. The lead Syther stepped forward, its eyes narrowed as it raised its spear.
“There's nowhere to run Gold-Marked. We are here for you. The others may die, but the queen wants you. She wants you so badly."
"The queen can go to the Infernal Depths and rot there for all I care!" My fists were balled up, radiating with golden magic. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Who said anything about you going anywhere?" the lead Sythers snarled with an awful smirk.
My stomach fell to the ground and terror rushed through mylimbs like red rivers. "What do you mean? Speak or I'll incinerate you from the inside!"
The queen is coming for you,” it growled, its voice a chilling echo. "She's done waiting on Prince Cade to do his duty. She's coming... for you..."
My heart sank as the reality set in. My limbs went numb and my heart pounded like a hammer striking hot iron on an anvil. We were in trouble, deep trouble. The house was no longer a safe hiding place. We were outnumbered, and Cade was injured. The fight was far from over, but the odds were stacked heavily against us.
My mind raced, desperate for a solution, a way out. But as I looked around, all I saw were Sythers, their eyes glinting with a dark promise of death.
And as the lead Syther advanced, its spear poised to strike, I knew that this battle was far from over. But the outcome, at least for now, was grim.
I had got to get out of this mess and help Cade. But there are so many of them... I can't let these monsters kill them. I can't let them win. But there are so many of them... and they're so relentless. I can't lose now. Not after all I've been through. I've got to find a way... There's got to be a way...
CHAPTER 28
Istood surrounded by Sythers, their long arms and feral snarls sending a chill down my spine. Cade and Hunter were in their own battles, both fighting valiantly but blood was trickling down Cade’s armor, staining it a deep crimson. I clenched my teeth, trying to hold back the panic surging through me. I had magic—Eden’s golden radiance—but I was gasping for breath, worried I wouldn’t have enough strength to face down the horde of enemies before me.
“Cade!” I yelled, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation.
He responded with a roar, a flare of flames exploding from his staff, but there were too many Sythers between us. Hunter was also pinned down, his dagger flashing as he fended off multiple attacks.
The lead Syther stepped closer, its eyes glinting with a cruel malice. “Don’t worry,” it sneered, “we won’t kill you. But you’re not going to enjoy the pain you’re going to endure before the queen finds you.”
“I’m not giving up,” I growled, clenching my fists as the golden light pulsed within me. “And I won’t let you hurt the others.”
The Syther laughed, a sound that grated against my very soul. “You’re weak, girl. Weak for a woman, and weak even for a slave. Why does the prince hide you like he does? You’re not pretty for a human. I wouldn’t even feed the stringy meat off your bones to my Sythers. You may fight with your magic, but you’re tired, exhausted from magic, and now you’re mine. The queen will reward me greatly for this. But please... don’t give up. I want to enjoy this!”
As the Syther advanced, I prepared for the onslaught, steeling myself against the impending attack. My heart hammered in my chest, a relentless pulse that echoed through my entire being. Suddenly, I saw a glimmer beside me, and there, appearing for a flicker, was a shimmer of Cornelius. His wise eyes met mine for only an instant, and his words cut through the chaos of the battle.
“Ash, run. Run as fast as your legs can carry you,” he said, his voice low but urgent.
Before I could respond, Cornelius vanished, but in his place, an illusion of Rone mounted on the back of an ogre materialized behind the Sythers. They were stunned, their eyes widening in fear as they launched their attack on the fearsome beast and hunter with his whip snapping.
