Page 24 of Within the Flames
Six
She landed with a thud as the Staran threw her out. She cupped her hands together, hoping she'd done enough to keep the flame alive. The last thing she wanted was to end up with nothing to rekindle Flint's magic with.
She got to her feet, trying not to stumble, but it was difficult with her hands occupied. But she needed to get into Malan's house. To get to Flint and save him from the lack of magic.
She pushed through the front door, ignoring all the people who tried to talk to her. None of them had any right to stop her from reaching Flint and doing what she needed to.
Rushing through the hallway to Flint's room, her foot caught and she fell to the floor. She held her hands to catch her fall, only realising what that would mean seconds before they touched the floor. She closed her fists tightly, hoping it would protect the flame currently burning in her left hand.
She rolled, panic building inside her. She didn't dare to open her and see the fate of the flame. She just needed to get it to Flint and do… well, she wasn't all that sure what she needed to do. The lampads hadn't told her any of that and she hadn't thought to ask. Though given their attitude, she doubted they'd have given her the answers she needed.
Back on her feet, she kicked open the door to Flint's room and half-ran straight to Flint's bed side.
His eyes were closed and his skin pale, he was just a shadow of his former self and it scared her. She hated thinking this had happened because of her. But she was doing something about it now. It had to work.
Not knowing what to do, she pressed her hands against Flint's heart, flattening them against his chest and willing the flames to jump into him. To do something.
Silently, she begged for some sign that her plan had worked.
But nothing came.
Flint didn't move. Not even a flutter of his eyelids.
She was too late.
Slowly, Macey lifted her hands and turned them over, expecting to see the flame lingering there still.
She stared at them in horror, before her gaze flickered to Flint's chest.
No flame there either.
What could have happened to it?
She willed the flame to reappear, but all that happened was the blisters on her hands starting to burn and pulse. She could have sworn they started to glow too, but that couldn't be right.
"Macey?" a female voice asked.
She swung her head around, registering that it was Amber talking to her.
Amber...
The cruel taunts from her trip through the flames trickled back into her mind, reminding her of how the other woman was ready to take her place.
Rage built up inside her, taking over every fibre of her being.
"Macey, are you okay?" Concern marred the red-head's features, but that barely registered in Macey's anger-fuelled brain.
"You," she hissed. "Howdareyou think you can replace me?"
"Replace you? What are you-"
"Don't think to deny it," Macey countered. "I know all of your plans."
"I don't have any plans. Macey, what happened? Where are the others?"
Macey didn't answer, instead, she fixed her hatred-filled gaze on the other woman. This person wanted her men. She wanted to take her place. At this point, it wouldn't surprise Macey to discovershewas the one to steal Flint's magic in an attempt to steal the power.
"Get out," Macey hissed.
