Page 56 of Crowned By the Shadow
“Then we’re out of time,” Van said quietly. “We’ve lost.”
“No.” The word came out sharper than I intended. I looked around at my companions. We were battered and exhausted, but still standing. “We haven’t lost until we give up. And I refuse to give up.”
Thorn moved to my side, his presence steady and reassuring. “What’s your plan?”
I took a deep breath, centering myself. “The artifacts. They were created to bind the Empress, to maintain the balance between realms. Together, they might be enough to reinforce her prison, or at least to fight her if she breaks free.”
“And if they’re not?” Ronan asked, joining our circle.
“Then we improvise,” I replied with more confidence than I felt. “We’ve faced impossible odds before. This is just...moreimpossible.”
A weak laugh escaped Van. “Well, when you put it that way, how can we refuse?”
“I can’t fight like this,” Volker said, gesturing to his wounded arm. “Besides, we’re exhausted, injured. We need time to recover.”
“Time is the one thing we don’t have,” I reminded him gently. “But you’re right about one thing. We need to be at our strongest.” I turned to Wyn. “Your new powers... can they help heal Volker?”
She considered for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I think so. The balance between light and shadow... it might work.” I knew I could try to use my own magic for the same thing, but something within me told me I needed to hold on to every ounce of power I had from now until we faced off with the Empress.
Wyn knelt beside Volker, placing her hands over his infected wound. Shadows and light intertwined around her fingers, flowing into the injury. Volker gasped, his body tensing, then gradually relaxing as the angry red lines faded.
“How did you do that?” he asked when she withdrew her hands, revealing healthy pink skin where the festering gash had been.
“Balance,” she replied simply. “Light heals, shadow transforms. Together, they can restore.”
I looked at each of my companions, Thorn with his unwavering loyalty, Wyn with her newfound power, Ronan with his quiet strength, Van and Volker with their ancient knowledge. Together, we were more than the sum of our parts. Together, we might have a chance.
“Rest,” I said. “Eat. Gather your strength because we need to prepare for the fight of our lives.”
As they dispersed to their tasks, I walked to the edge of the river, staring at my reflection in the moonlit water. The Moon Mark on my skin, now threaded with gold, seemed to pulse inrhythm with my heartbeat. I touched the pendant at my throat, feeling its familiar weight.
Thorn came and found me by the river’s edge after a few moments, his warm presence comforting against the chill of the night. The pendant pulsed gently against my chest as I turned to face him, my heart heavy with the weight of all we had learned.
“We’ll find a way,” he said softly, reading the worry in my eyes. “We always do.”
I leaned into him, letting his strength steady me. “I know. But this time feels different. The stakes are so high, and time is running out.”
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. “No matter what happens, I’m with you. I’ll fight by your side until the very end.”
I looked up at him, seeing the love and determination burning in his gaze. “I couldn’t do this without you,” I whispered. “Any of it. You’re my anchor, Thorn. My north star.”
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “And you’re mine. My heart, my soul. My everything.”
The words settled deep in my chest, warming me from the inside out. I rose onto my toes, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that said everything I couldn’t put into words: my love, my gratitude, my fear of losing him.
He responded instantly, his mouth moving against mine with a passion that stole my breath. His hands slid into my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. I clung to him, pouring every ounce of my love into the connection between us.
When we finally parted, both breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine. “I love you, Senara,” he murmured. “More than life itself. No matter what the future holds, that will never change.”
“I love you too,” I whispered back. “Always and forever.”
We stayed like that for a long moment, just holding each other, drawing strength from our bond. Then, with a soft sigh, Thorn pulled back slightly.
“We should get some rest,” he said, though reluctance threaded through his voice. “Dawn will come all too soon.”
I nodded, but tightened my grip on him. “Not yet. I... I need you, Thorn. I need to feel alive, just for a little while. To forget about the danger and the darkness and just be with you.”
Understanding flashed in his eyes, followed by a heat that sent shivers down my spine. “Are you sure? Here?”
