Page 95 of Rook of Ruin
“I love you.” Simon pulls the reins, and the horse quickly comes to a full stop. He hugs me to himself and gently pushes me off the horse. Landing on all fours, anger fills me. He glances down, and then takes off without turning back.
“Simon!” I run as fast as my breath will allow. Hooves and a heartbeat is all that thunders in my ears as I sprint. I curse and demand he come back for me, but Simon races ahead. If Iweren’t so angry and out of breath, I would marvel at him. He is inspiring, and he looks as determined and bloodthirsty as I feel.
Horses and warriors charge past me as I run, forever loyal to their prince. If fury had a name, it would be mine. I curse and yell, not stopping even as I fall behind. Two horses break off and turn back for me—my fucking fierce warriors. They halt before me and grin, and the blonde gives me her black steed and her spear, the two of them now riding together.
Far behind the battle, I watch as Simon’s powerful arm throws his spear. Another Roggenwolf sacrifice, and the green light glows larger. I lean down and maneuver my stallion to the left instead of going straight at Death. Spear after spear is thrown as demon wolves advance towards Simon. I watch in horror as Simon’s horse is taken down.
“Simon,” I whisper, my heart thudding even harder as I lose sight of him. Warriors close in around where he fell, shielding him from the onslaught.
The Wraith seems to be concentrating on the scene before her and not on us.
I need to get closer.
“I am vengeance,” I whisper as we move to flank her.
Closer.
“I am merciless.” My breath on the wind, I grip the spear.
Closer.
She turns to us.
Closer.
My breath briefly falters, like it was taken ruthlessly from my lungs. Her large eyes are a voided white.
Calmly, I whisper, “I am your executioner.”
Closer.
She opens her mouth. “Bright One.” Her eyes turn a brilliant blue. “We found you.”
The ground shakes, but my stallion doesn’t falter. We jump past the Roggenwolf ready to take my spear and through the green light that feels like death crawling through my skin. Overwhelming nausea hits me, and the steed almost screams as its legs hit the blackened earth below. I throw my spear, and it hits the Wraith’s torso. She goes down, but to my surprise, she stands.
Closer.
I narrow my eyes, swiftly taking out my shortsword. “I am your death.” And I take it. With fucking glee, I take her life and watch as her severed head leaks black blood all over the ground. I move my steed out of harm’s way, then watch as Simon and our warriors finish off the last Roggenwolf.
Cries of victory and cheers fill the air.
The Wraith dead. I dismount and notice slight burns on the legs of my horse—but little patches of what seems like healed earth grow.
“Bright One. We found you.”
Simon runs to me, lifting me in his bloody arms. He kisses me, and I wrap my arms around him. It is passionate and quick. In the midst of blood and gore, we find comfort in each other’s arms. He grips my body in a tight hug. “I love you.”
I gaze into his dark brown eyes, anger still running through me. “I love you. Don’t you ever do that again to me. Don’t you ever leave me again. Swear it.”
“I can’t.” His brown eyes want me to understand. “I will always do everything I can to protect you.” I don’t get a false apology because he isn’t sorry.
I sigh. Now is not the time for an argument. “Discuss it later.” Not a question, a command.
He nods.
“The Wraith spoke to me, called me Bright One.”
Simon shakes his head. “No, Orlaith, you are mistaken. They can’t speak when they channel.”
