Page 102 of Soul of Thorns
How had all of this happened? I don’t remember much. The manticore grabbed me, squeezed my neck until I’d passed out. And the next thing I knew, Caelynn was fighting him, her sure movements, sharp eyes, and magic rippling off of her in waves.
I don’t know how she got here or what kind of deal she may have made for my life.
What I do know is that her wound is pouring blood, her face is slack, and her eyes are entirely black.
“Caelynn,” I whisper before yelling, begging. “Caelynn!”
She can’t be dead. She can’t die now.
She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t move.
Behind me the wraiths battle. The manticore’s body lies between us.
With shaking fingers, I gently brush the fabric of her shirt away from the gushing wound. The skin is greyed, the blood as black as her magic. My magic is low, but my palm flickers, eager to save her. I hesitate, wondering if it’s wise.
Should I let her go? If I heal her body, will the Night Bringer take her? Will I just be wasting my magic?
“Kill her,” a pained voice mutters. “She must die. Completely.” Caelynn’s wraith.
The hair on my arms stands up straight as an iron dagger skids over the rocky ground and bounces off my knee. Steam lifts gently to the sky where the two wraiths had been fighting, and I know at that moment that Reahgan is gone. I can’t bring myself to even care.
He loved me. And if I ever get the opportunity, I’ll mourn for him. But today, right now, it’s her I care about.
Through teary eyes, I look up to Caelynn’s wraith. My eyes narrow at the strange expression on his face and the soft glow of golden light emanating from his chest. “I thought you wanted her alive and me dead.”
The wraith looks up into the hazy red sky. “He’ll take her if you don’t do it.”
Caelynn’s body convulses in my arms, her mouth opening in a silent scream.
“It’s already begun,” the Night Terror says. But she doesn’t move. She doesn’t come for us.
“Caelynn!”
“Do it now! Destroy her body so he cannot take it,” the wraith cries. “She’ll die thinking I was willing to betray her,” he adds in a whisper. “But it must be done.”
“No.” I whimper. I can’t do it. How could I...
“You are weak.”The voice coming through Caelynn’s lovely lips is gravelly and sinister. Not her.
The breath freezes in my lungs.
No.
“She is mine now.”Caelynn’s lips curl into a cruel smile.
“No!”
Panic and desperation take over, and my magic flares to life again. I blast my healing magic into her body, violent and harsh. Her whole body convulses, mouth foaming, and then she falls still. Her wound has stopped bleeding, but otherwise, I’m not sure what good I’ve actually done.
Her eyes fly open, and they are glowing golden, almost auburn.
“Caelynn!” I call, elation flooding me. It worked!
“Kill me,” she croaks. “Please.” Her face crumples, and black tears streak across her cheeks.
The dagger is in my hand. An iron-studded, obsidian blade. So much like the one that killed my brother—that began this whole terrible journey.
I press the blade to her chest with trembling fingers. Her soft flesh sags against the blade. I should obey her wishes. This time... this time, it’s the only thing that makes sense.
