Chapter 10:

X

Aether and Shade


Aden’s spell did little more than shove the silver-haired warrior back a few feet. He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over his adversaries. There was a manic energy radiating from him that sent a shiver down Kara’s spine. A protest lodged itself in her throat, a desperate, silent plea for Lyra to stop. The Elf was right; this was not their fight, and they had no right to interfere. Her eyes flickered to the enigmatic—and admittedly, very handsome—Elf. His fine features were a mask of irritation and frustration as he stood with his arms folded across the chest of his Sentinel uniform. Kara sighed, the memory of their searing kiss in the ballroom surfacing unbidden. As if sensing her thoughts, a smirk touched his lips as his gaze met hers. A hot blush crept up her neck at the unnerving possibility that he could indeed read her mind, and she quickly looked back toward the fight.

Suddenly, her mind was flooded with a strange energy, a psychic torrent of grief and wrath, all of it tainted by the agony of a terrible revelation. Kara focused, honing her senses to decipher the chaotic influx. She couldn't recognize the jumbled images that flashed through her consciousness, but their intensity was so overwhelming that it forced her to her knees, a cry tearing from her throat. The Elf was instantly beside her, his lips moving rapidly, but she heard nothing over the disembodied voice of a woman she’d never met, pleading with someone unseen. A glimpse of a stunning, almost cruel-looking woman in a white gown and an ornate crown triggered another wave of rage, and Kara felt herself sliding into darkness.

To what extent do you know...? Kael’s mental voice was the first clear thought to pierce the chaos before she fainted.

Lyra, still trying to gather her strength for one final fire spell, felt Kara’s sudden psychic distress. She turned just in time to see her sister collapse. Convinced the silver-haired menace was responsible, a fresh wave of fury surged through her. With fire leaping between her fists and coursing down her arms, she charged him. Reya, still panting as she maintained the shield spells over Aden and Kiro, scrambled out of her path, shouting a warning not to underestimate Kael’s power. Aden, mid-spell, cast a curious glance at Lyra as she rushed past.

With a final shriek, Lyra unleashed her magic just as Kiro stumbled backward. The fiery vortex tore past the stunned commander and slammed directly into Kael. He cried out as a plume of thick smoke engulfed him. A triumphant smile spread across Lyra’s face as she clapped her hands and helped Kiro to his feet.

He was gasping for breath, his eyes darting from Lyra to the smoke-shrouded spot where he assumed Kael still stood. He heard Aden let out a low whistle, and Kiro found himself agreeing. For someone who had possessed her abilities for a day at most, Lyra was an exceptionally powerful Fire Mage.

Why would you aid this traitor, lovely one? That smoky, deep voice echoed in Lyra’s mind, halting her mid-celebration. Why serve a princess with no courage? Join me... stay by my side...

The voice trailed off as the real Kael burst from the cloud, launching himself at Kiro with a guttural scream.

Still mesmerized by his mental presence, Lyra could only watch as Kiro began to beat the unfortunate dragon-man. Kael was simply absorbing the blows, offering no resistance. Lyra wanted to demand why, but the words wouldn't come. Soon, Kiro had him cornered, the sole of his boot pressed firmly into Kael’s chest and the tip of his energy sword hovering inches from his throat. The silver-haired man panted, looking up at Kiro with amber eyes that gleamed with a chilling, wild light. The sight unnerved Lyra.

Just as Kiro opened his mouth to deliver a final taunt, a whooshing shadow threw him cleanly aside. The shadow came to a stop, and Lyra gasped, recognizing the Elf who had so flustered her sister at the ball. He helped Kael to his feet, his green eyes silently asking the silver-haired man a question. Lyra shuddered as the crazed warrior simply shook his head and began to laugh—a terrible, unhinged sound. What could have driven him to such a state? As his mental voice had suggested, it had to be connected to Kiro and the Princess.

Her thoughts were cut short as an enraged Kiro leaped to his feet, charging the Elf and Kael with his blade blazing. The Elf snatched his laughing companion and jumped clear of the path, exposing Lyra, who stood a few steps behind them. Blinded by the blood streaming into his eyes, Kiro charged straight at her. In that moment, Lyra was certain she was going to die.

Time seemed to warp and slow. She saw Kiro shouting inhumanly as he raced toward her, his sword aimed at her heart. Then, to her utter confusion, she saw Kael leap out of nowhere, his amber eyes meeting hers. As he landed in front of her, taking the full force of Kiro’s sword strike, they no longer held insanity—only the stark, piercing clarity of sacrifice.

A scream tore from Lyra’s throat. She understood what had happened, even if she couldn’t comprehend why. Kael had thrown the fight to save her. His blood spattered her face as she watched Kiro grin savagely at his fallen foe. The silver-haired man staggered backward, hands clenched over the fatal wound. He turned, offering Lyra a faint, pained smile as she clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle her sobs. Why would he protect an enemy? Why? The question whirled in her mind as Kael collapsed to his knees, blood dripping from his lips to pool on the ground around him. Kiro stepped back, preparing to deliver the final, decapitating blow.

Tears blinded her as Lyra shook her head, trapped by the amber intensity of her savior's gaze. His eyes closed, and he fell to the ground.

The Elf, having rushed back at the sound of Kiro’s roar, gaped at the scene. The objective of his mission lay dying as twilight bled into night. The Sentinels' leader stood panting, his energy sword fading into stillness. And Lyra, as he had deduced from the Fated’s thoughts, was kneeling beside his target: Kael Runo, the Dragon of Might. This was a disaster. He knew how critical his task was to the entire enterprise. If Kael died, the situation would become complicated, if not impossible.

Shaking his head, a rare flash of alarm on his normally composed features, the Elf rushed to where Kael lay in his own blood. Lyra looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. She looks just like her sister, he thought, pushing aside all consideration for the Fated.

He took Kael into his arms, giving him a gentle shake. "Kael! Kael Runo! You cannot let this defeat you! You are the vessel of the Dragon of Might! You are powerful! KAEL!" With each word, the Elf’s voice grew louder, his deep green eyes shimmering with furious intent until he was shouting the name.

Suddenly, the Elf’s body erupted in a dazzling light that blinded the others and shocked even him. In his mind, a familiar woman’s voice whispered an ancient spell.

As the light subsided, he looked down at Kael, his resolve hardening. He nodded once, focusing on the renewed warmth the light had left within him. Shouting an old incantation, he summoned a glistening drop of blue and white light that materialized above him. He felt it accumulate brightness, sensing when it had reached its full potential. With a final, decisive nod, the drop of energy fell into Kael’s chest and vanished. A radiant glow spread throughout Kael’s body, obscuring his entire figure in its brilliant light.