Page 39 of Immortal Origins
She never wanted any of this to happen.
She just wanted everything to go away. The tournament. The trials. The kingdom. She couldn’t take it.
She had no idea where Ernaline was and couldn’t think of finding her anymore. All she could think about was finding somewhere away from everything.
Then she remembered the crack and threw herself into the direction of the familiar blemish in the city wall. She found the location of it in her mind, knowing she wasn’t far. She just needed to reach it.
The sounds of celebration died behind her and it wasn’t until she was sure no one else was near did the tears finally fall. She screamed until her throat was as raw as her anger. She slumped to the ground, beating it with her balled fists until cuts formed and her blood stained the dirt.
What kind of world was this?
Would he ever forgive her?
How could she save him when she couldn’t even save herself?
“I’ve finally found you.”
Patience thinning, Ambrose’s head snapped up at the sound of the voice. Walking towards her was the lieutenant who had been watching her during the king’s speech. The wind picked up and Ambrose wiped her face, and pushing herself to her feet, eyes locked onto the mage that stalked towards her.
“Careful, young mage. This one is strong,”the spirit warned.
“Who are you?” she asked, her hand reflexively going to her hip.
Damn it.
She didn’thavea sword. She knew that.
“You mean you don’t know who I am?” He pursued her slowly.
“No.” Her eyes narrowed as she stepped to the side. “Should I?”
“I knowyou.” He walked a circle around her with stalking footsteps. “I’ve known you for weeks. Months now.” The charge around him vibrated as the wind whistled. “Waiting. Every day. And here you are… finally alone.”
“Why?” The current inside her swelled with her heartbeat.
The mixture of their charges sparked in the air.
“Was it really so forgettable to you?” the lieutenant demanded. “Was he of no consequence?”
Ambrose’s hands shot up reflexively. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The breeze turned to a rush, howling as it moved. The lieutenant released a roar like his control was on the brink of shattering. “Youkilledmyson.”
She had no words. That was the last thing she expected but now the reason for the hatred in his eyes was clear. She felt utterly defenseless against the mage that opposed her. Her magick still too unreliable to count on in an actual fight, and she had no sword to protect herself. All that new training and it counted for nothing.
“He means to kill you and he can.”
“Shut up. Please.”She pushed the spirit from her mind, refusing to take any precious focus off the man.
“I didn’t mean to kill him.” How many times was she going to have to say that?
The lieutenant glared at her, shoulders tense as the wind whipped his silver hair and crimson cape. “I’m going to mean it when I killyou.”
Ambrose launched herself to the side—down onto her knees—as she dove away from the burst of wind that slammed into where she’d been standing.
The lieutenant left her no time to recover as he turned and launched another blast of wind at her.
She lifted onto the balls of her feet and light as she could, twirled her body away from the force. “Stop! You can’t hurt me. It’s law.”
