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A BALL OF FIRE ILLUMINATED the night sky behind them. Laerwen turned her head to see the dark shadow racing to catch up to them. She knew Andahar would be on the back of Nero.
Lorcann kept the dagger pointed in her kidneys so she didn’t dare move another muscle. Her wrist had been bleeding profusely and soaked through her vest and tunic. She could feel the stickiness of it on her skin beneath the material. She was starting to feel lightheaded from the loss of blood. Lorcann had significantly injured her, handicapping her to the point she didn’t think she could fight back.
She didn’t know how she was going to get out of this but she hoped Aura—and now Andahar and Nero—could help her.
I can kill him for you.
Aura’s voice boomed in her head. She was aware the dragon could simply fry the mage to a crisp and it would be done and over with. She could easily agree to that but then she wouldn’t have avenged the deaths of her parents or Randir if she allowed that to happen. And she really wanted to kill that bastard.
No. I need to be the one to do it.
By your command.
“Land here,” Lorcann commanded.
Aura, do as he says.
The dragon alighted on the top of the mountain just as a puff of noxious smoke emitted through the top. Laerwen covered her mouth and nose with the edge of her vest.
Lorcann clamped a hand around her upper arm and pulled her off.
“Tell your dragon to fly away.”
Laerwen hesitated for a moment. If she did, she could simply call her back again. The mage pressed the tip into her back again.
“Tell it!”
“Go, Aura.”
Aura’s eyes blinked and she snorted smoke as if to say she wouldn’t leave.
“Go. It will be fine.” And I will call you if I need you.
That seemed to appease her and she lifted off, flapping her giant wings on the wind and disappearing in the night sky. Laerwen could see the encampment below them. It was ablaze, lighting up the ground as though it were a beacon. She could hear the screams and yells of men as they fought and killed each other.
“Are you ready to die, Princess?” he asked.
“I guess you didn’t get the royal decree,” she said. “I am queen now.”
“Doesn’t matter to me. You’ll be dead either way.” He grinned, showing off those yellow, stumpy teeth.
She held up her bloody wrist. “You have what you need. I’m bleeding. Just take my blood.”
He shook his head. “No. I need your blood in the molten rock of the mountain.”
“What do you intend to do? Throw me in the pit of lava? If the volcano erupts, you’ll be killed too. Then what?”
“I need you dead.”
She wasn’t sure if he was thinking clearly. Nor was she sure he wanted her dead because he wanted to wipe out her entire race or if he truly believed the power of her blood in the lava.
Another belch of steam from the mountain. He took her arm again, his fingers biting into her flesh. “Come along, dearie.”
Lorcann dragged her along the edge of the mountain toward a fissure. It was as though he knew exactly where he was going and mayhap he did. He may have already scoped out the volcano while they were off planning a war.
Overhead, she thought she heard something—a flap of a wing. She glanced up in time to see the darkness move across the sky blotting out the stars. She knew Nero was overhead. She saw the talons extend in time for her to jerk her hand out of Lorcann’s grasp and duck.
It wasn’t clear to her if Nero was trying to claw the man to death or if he was merely trying to scare him. Whatever his intent, he managed to knock Lorcann off his feet just as Andahar leapt from the saddle. He landed close to her and put himself between her and Lorcann, his blood-stained sword at the ready.
“Andahar...” His name came out on a breath when she’d meant it to be anything but reverent.
“What happened to you? Are you all right? How badly are you hurt?” He fired off the questions so fast she couldn’t reply. “Never mind all that. Let’s get you out of here.”
Before she could respond, Lorcann launched from the ground at Andahar. It had taken the king by surprise and they both tumbled backward to the ground. She saw his sword fall from his hand as the mage put the dagger up to his neck ready to slice. Laerwen reached for her own dagger at her waist—why had she only just now remembered it?—and clutched it, trying to make her mind work and decide what to do.
She hesitated long enough to have Nero fly by with a screech, clawing at the man and shoving him off the king. His claws shredded Lorcann’s back. Lorcann tumbled to the side as Andahar snatched up his sword and got to his feet. The mage was slower to get up, though, and stumbled.
Laerwen didn’t wait another minute for her chance to attack. She ran at Lorcann and managed to stab him in the shoulder. He shrieked and reared back, his dagger hand slashing at air. She’d lost her grip on her dagger and it now stuck out of his shoulder. Good thing she’d come with extra. She snatched the one out of the holder strapped to her thigh.
“Laerwen, what are you doing?”
“I’m killing him!”
She went for him again but this time Lorcann was ready. They tumbled together and she was so close to his disgusting face she wanted to gag. He grabbed her around the waist, holding her close.
He licked her cheek.
It had taken her by such surprise, she froze.
He reached for her hair and grabbed a handful, yanking her head back and putting the dagger to her throat.
“You wish to die now?”
“Let her go.”
Overhead, Aura screeched her unhappiness. Laerwen heard the flapping of her wings as she flew by. Nero was nothing but a black blob in the sky. But she knew he was there too, circling.
“Or what?” Lorcann taunted Andahar as he backed up, step by step. He headed for the fissure. “You cannot hope to save her. She will die this night as will so many of your men. You too if I’m lucky.”
Oh, she hated him. He pulled and tugged on the strands of her hair as he carefully backed away from Andahar. But as he took another step, the steam from the volcano puffed up again. Laerwen held her breath but Lorcann coughed and let her go.
The mountain rocked under their feet so violently she lost her footing. They all did. She knew she was falling and tried to turn her body so she would land on her good arm, not the injured one. As she landed, her body jarred and pain lanced through her.
She looked up to see Andahar also on the ground. He pushed to his hands and knees, shaking his head to clear it. Lorcann was on his side, writhing as though he were in pain.
The ground rumbled again followed by a cracking sound. She scrambled to her feet and stumbled to Andahar just as he stood. They wobbled together, falling into each other. He held onto her to keep her steady.
Behind them, the mountain had started to cave in. The fissure widened, opening a large chasm. Lorcann was on his feet now, stumbling to get away from the rift.
“What’s happening?” Andahar shouted it so he could be heard over the din.
“The volcano—”
It was all she got out. A flash below caught their attention and they looked down to see a bright white light growing bigger and brighter.
“Cormac opened the Barrier. We have to get out of here,” Andahar said.
“But Lorcann—”
“Will die here. We’re leaving.”
“No.” She pushed away from him. “I’m not going until he’s dead. Until I kill him.”
Andahar stared at her as dawning came over his features. “That’s what this is about, isn’t it? Your revenge. That’s why you wanted to be the bait for Lorcann in the first place. You intended to kill him all along.”
“I have to avenge my people’s deaths.” She stole a glance to the mage, saw him making his way across the rumbling mountain to get back to her. He was just as determined to kill her as she was to kill him. She gripped the dagger tighter in her fist.
“Laerwen, you’re injured. And the volcano could blow. I won’t leave you.” And then he looked to the sky. “Nero!”
She wanted to shout at him, tell him no, she wasn’t going. She wanted that mage dead. She wanted to make sure he gone and would never come back again to hurt her or any of her people. But as she stood there, she realized she had become like Lorcann. She had allowed her hate and vengeance and thoughts about hell-bent revenge cloud her mind and keep her from what truly mattered—Andahar and living in peace. Aye, Lorcann would be dead not by her hand. But so long as he was, what did the how of it matter? Andahar was right. She should let Nero or Aura burn the mage to a crips.
“Come on, Laerwen.” He waved her toward him with urgency.
It was then she released her anger and hatred and dropped her dagger, letting it clatter at her feet. She reached for his hand, their fingers almost touching. But as she did, Lorcann grabbed her from behind, placing the blade at her throat again. His labored breathing was in her ear, the moist heat fanning her skin and turning her stomach.
“This time, we won’t be separated.”
At least with her captured, neither of the dragons would attack. Lorcann backed away heading now for the bigger opening.
“We’re going to visit the fires now,” Lorcann said. “You be a good king and stay here.”
Andahar’s face pinched with fury was the last thing she saw as Lorcann stepped off the rim.
* * *
BY SOME MIRACLE, ELDRIN found a healer for Cormac. But the mage was still in a weakened state. Gweneth hadn’t left his side the entire time. They found a place out of the fighting so the healer could attend to him. He spent several long minutes with the mage. He’d managed to stop the bleeding while Derron paced a hole in the ground behind him.
“We’re running out of time.” Derron didn’t hide the urgency in his voice.
“Can he open the Barrier now?” Eldrin asked the sorceress.
“Cormac?” She looked to him with question in her eyes.
He sat on the edge of a rock, breathing deeply. As though he were trying to catch his breath.
“I will try.”
“He’s too weak.” The woman put herself between Cormac and Eldrin. She folded her arms across her chest.
Derron hurried around her to stand next to Eldrin. “What do you mean he’s too weak? We need that Barrier open.”
“We didn’t account for him being injured.” Fire flashed in her eyes.
“Our men are dying,” Eldrin said. “As are yours. I suggest you figure out how to get that Barrier open and now.”
“I can do it.” Cormac rose to his full height and stepped next to her, though he still looked ashen.
“Are you certain?” She placed a concerned hand on his shoulder. “If you’re too weak—”
“Eldrin is right. Men are dying. I made a promise to the Fae and the Elves I would open the Barrier and that’s what I’m going to do. Come, Gweneth.” He held his hand out to her.
“I’ll cover you,” Eldrin said.
Cormac nodded. “You may want to step back. Once the Barrier is open, we will pull the Fomorians in. Try to get your people out of the way.”
“I’ll push back the troops,” Derron said. “Just get that Barrier open as fast as you can.”
Gweneth took Cormac’s hand as Derron trotted away. The three of them walked several steps from the fire consuming the camp and the men fighting. Eldrin followed, killing anyone who attempted to step into their path and thwart their progress.
He only paused once to glance into the night sky to see the dragons flapping around the top of the volcano. He couldn’t see his brother or Laerwen on the mountain. He sent a silent prayer to the gods to keep them safe.
Cormac and Gweneth turned to face each other, their hands clasped. They closed their eyes and chanted something. Words Eldrin didn’t understand. They were not Elvish words nor were they Fomorian. It was a language he didn’t know. As they chanted, the air around them crackled. Sparked. As though coming to life.
Several men tried to attack them but when they saw what was happening around the mage and the sorceress, they quickly retreated.
A white cloud of magic swirled around the two of them. Light flashed and sparked and another second later, the wind kicked up. It was so fierce, it blew from them and puffed out over the land, extinguishing the fires as though they were nothing more than a candle flame.
Magic hit Eldrin like a fist punching him in the gut. The force of it knocked him back and he fell to the ground. He heard shouts and screams. Behind him, the wind gained strength and power.
When he glanced over his shoulder, he could no longer see Cormac and the woman in the cloud of magic. Derron was suddenly at his side, shouting something to him he couldn’t hear. He grabbed him by the arm and hauled him to his feet, made a motion to follow him.
They took off at a run away from the couple. The ground rumbled and overhead they could hear the squawk of a dragon. Eldrin glanced up but could still see nothing in the darkness. Nothing but the shape of Nero as he flew in circles over the top of the volcano. As though he was agitated and couldn’t get to someone or something.
Then a resounding crack sounded throughout the land. The earth rumbled with such violence they all collided with the ground. Eldrin rolled to his side and looked back. There seemed to be a rip in the air and an opening widening to show the other side—the Unseelie realm.
And then the suction started. It was as though something had gripped him by his ankles and pulled. He clawed at the ground, trying to stop but it was really no use. He was being dragged toward the opening, toward the Unseelie realm. He was going with the others—mostly Fomorians but some Elves and some Fae, too—those who couldn’t get out of the way and who were unfortunate enough to be pulled into the vortex.
Derron collided with him. They banged heads and immediately Eldrin groaned and saw stars. Pain lanced through his head, down his neck and shoulders. But Derron’s weight was able to stop Eldrin from heading toward the opening. He latched onto him and as Eldrin looked up, he could see the Fae king had shoved his sword into the earth. His hand clamped around the hilt in a death grip. His other hand had hold of Eldrin’s upper arm, his fingers biting into his flesh and bone. Eldrin had lost his sword and used both hands to grab onto Derron.
“Don’t let go,” he mouthed.
As the words escaped his mouth, an explosion rocked the entire realm. Eldrin looked up, saw the smoke spiral out of the top of the volcano. And another moment later, molten rock spewed upward.
“The volcano—” Eldrin started.
“I see it!” Derron shouted back.
But they couldn’t move. And they were right in the path of the volcano.
The only thing Eldrin could think of at that moment was that his brother and the queen of the Hin’dar Rhule were on top of that mountain. He had no way to get to either of them.
Suddenly there was silence. Eldrin dropped to the ground as Derron released him. He huddled there a long moment, trying to get his bearings. Finally, he managed to look up and see the Barrier had been closed. Dead bodies littered the ground. There were a few Elves and Fae that were left alive. And no Fomorian in sight.
Cormac had done it.
Eldrin saw him curled against the ground, the sorceress crouched next to him. Derron yanked his sword out of the ground and started for the two of them. Eldrin peeled himself off the ground stumbled after him.
When they arrived she looked up at them. Tears glistened on her cheeks.
“It was too much for him,” she said. “We couldn’t make it through after everyone else.”
“Is he dead?” Derron asked.
“Not yet. But he’s very weak.”
“We’ll find the healer again,” Eldrin said.
“It may be too late for that,” Derron said. “The volcano is starting to erupt.”
To press his point, the ground rumbled again and the top of the mountain spit more lava. It fell toward the ground, sizzling against the earth not far from them. They all flinched.
Those who had been left alive retreated. Overhead, he could see the moon dragons head down from the sky and pick up the survivors. Lady Talaiel must have known the Barrier was open and sent them as soon as she saw the volcano begin to erupt.
“What’s happening? I thought the volcano wasn’t supposed to erupt until the eclipse.” Eldrin turned his gaze on the sorceress.
Her eyes were fixed on the mountain. “Our magic must have affected it.”
“Powerful enough to cause volcano to erupt?” Derron asked.
“Aye. Powerful enough.”
“We have to get out of here,” Eldrin said. But what about Andahar and Laerwen? They were still on the mountain. He couldn’t leave them there.
“I’ve already called the dragons,” Derron said, his gaze fixed on the night sky.
Ambrielle and Luna swept down toward them and landed. They scrambled toward the dragons. Derron climbed on the back of Luna. Eldrin motioned for Cormac and Gweneth to take Ambrielle.
Eldrin had to see if his brother was all right. He had to find them on top of the mountain. He called for Aura and a moment later, she appeared out of the smoke and shadows and landed near him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Derron called.
“Take them to safety. I’ve got go find Andahar and Laerwen. They’re still on the mountain.”
Derron stared in disbelief.
“I can’t leave them there,” Eldrin said. He shooed them away. “Go.”
Reluctantly, Derron gripped the reins. As the others headed away from the former Fomorian camp, Eldrin headed to the top of the mountain.
Into the fire.
* * *
AS LORCANN BACKED AWAY from Andahar and stepped off the rim, the mountain rumbled beneath their feet with a violent shake. A few feet away, the first spewing of lava shot into the air, arced and then cascaded down over the edge of the mountain.
Laerwen experienced the first flurries of fear. She had never been this close to one of the volcanoes when it threatened to erupt. Andahar was probably gone by now, though he said he wouldn’t leave her. Would he? She hoped he saved himself at the very least.
She still pressed her injured wrist against her chest as Lorcann dragged her toward the opening. The yawning chasm grew wider as they approached and she could see more lava spewing upward. Her skin could withstand the heat but not for long. And that was what Lorcann wanted.
He grabbed her arm with one hand, keeping a dagger trained on her with the other. As they neared the opening, the fumes become more and more suffocating. She tried to hold her breath but she was already lightheaded. Her stomach cramped and she coughed several times.
The fumes got to Lorcann too. He coughed and sputtered, trying to gasp for air. But it was tainted with the stench of sulfur.
“Come meet your doom, your majesty.” His words were followed by another coughing fit, one he had a hard time coming back from.
He loosened his grip on her arm as another rumble rocked the mountain beneath their feet. She took the moment to kick his legs out from under him. He collapsed in a heap, still trying to breathe. Still trying to stop the coughing.
She kicked him in the ribs. He swore at her, though she couldn’t hear exactly what filthy words he spewed at her. His dagger had clattered from his hands. Now the mountain was really rumbling and it was hard to maintain footing. She almost lost her balance but managed to stay on her feet by placing them shoulder-width apart.
Lorcann scrambled for his dagger, trying hard to find it. She stomped on one of his hands and he screamed.
“That’s for my parents, you son of a bitch.”
When he looked up at her, she could see the fear in his eyes. For the first time, he actually looked as though he were terrified of her. Which did nothing but give her more courage.
As much as she wanted to kill him, she needed this situation to be over. Panic seized her and she knew she had to get off the mountain before it was too late. Before it really did erupt.
With a surge of adrenaline, she kicked him again. This time the toe of her boot connected with his cheekbone. She’d forgotten she held her own dagger. He scrambled backward to get away from her but she lunged, taking the moment to plunge the dagger right into the Fomorian’s heart.
They were eye to eye for a breath. His eyes widened in first shock and then fury as he realized what she’d done. She left the knife in his heart and shoved away from him, getting back to her feet.
“And that’s for Randir.”
She spit on him in one final act of defiance.
Andahar landed next to her. Startled, she looked up, saw he had leapt from the hovering Nero. Relief sputtered through her. Relief that he hadn’t left her after all. He grabbed onto her, pulled her to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Stubborn woman,” he muttered.
Behind them, the volcano exploded with another burst. Looking back, she saw the magma emitting from the growing chasm along with the thick white smoke. And Lorcann’s body was completely lifeless.
But Andahar wasn’t waiting around to make sure the mage was dead. He dragged her toward the dragon who had landed nearby. They scrambled onto the beast’s back as he lifted into the night sky. It was then she saw Eldrin riding Aura, heading right for them. She coughed with the noxious fumes and tears stung her eyes.
Tears of relief and joy.
Despite everything they had been through, Andahar had still come for her. He hadn’t abandoned her. Her mind whirled with all the things left unsaid between them. She would, eventually, have to face that. And she also knew that she had been a fool. She had faced death and nearly lost her life on the top of the volcano. She could have lost her husband, too.
Andahar was still that. She hadn’t lost him.
Nero and Aura flew as fast as they could away from the area. Even she knew the dangers. That they had to get away. But she had to see it through with Lorcann and she was glad now she had. The mage who had murdered her family was dead.
It was then she noticed the land was completely devoid of anyone else. As though they had been evacuated. She caught sight of the moon dragons winging their way through the night sky, the moonlight glinting off their iridescent wings.
An explosion made her turn to look, to see the molten rock burst from the top of the mountain.
She turned away. She could no longer watch as the volcano destroyed her realm. And it would. She knew. There would be nothing left of the land once the fury had ceased.
Laerwen leaned her head back on Andahar’s shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her and held her. All the energy fizzled out of her. Without the adrenaline flowing through her, she no longer had the strength to keep her eyes open or to even think of anything else. The last thing she remembered was her husband’s warm breath over her ear as he kissed her.