“Sh-Shortie,” he croaked, his breath rasping.
I smiled with relief, my own tears running onto my lips. I knew the danger was far from over, but at least he was fully conscious—that was something.
“Ash, Ash. Don’t you dare die on me, okay?”
Slowly, with a low groan, he moved his hand up to his chest and placed it over mine.
“You and I? We’re not finished yet.” He smiled.
At his words, I felt a strange sensation in my chest, a dull ache—like my heart was literally ripping inside of me. The thought of losing him suddenly became too much to cope with. I just couldn’t. I wouldn’t go on without him.
I looked up, taking in what was happening around us.
Tejus, Hazel, Derek, Caleb and Aiden were fighting off the shadow—they had surrounded Ash and me, creating a sword-wielding barrier between us and the entity’s army.
“We have to get out of here,” I whispered to Ash.
I looked back desperately toward the crowded ranks of the army. Every one of them was completely caught up in the fight, especially the witches and jinn. Most of the bull-horses were either being used by battling sentries or had already met the same cruel fate as their riders—but there were a few of them left.
There was one riderless bull-horse, standing in the middle of the path, whinnying in horror as guards, vampires and other supernaturals surrounded it, all battling furiously.
“Ash.” I leaned down toward him. “I need to leave you here for a moment, okay? But when I’m gone, you need to keep the pressure on. Can you feel where I’m pressing? You need to do that, okay?”
He nodded, and both of his hands came up and pressed my top against his chest. With a sob, hardly daring to leave him for a second, I ran toward the bull-horse. My small size in comparison with the sentries was for once helpful. I was able to push my way between them without too much trouble.
“Ruby!”
My mom whirled into my path, her expression horrified at my appearance—I realized I was streaked in blood.
“It’s Ash!” I cried before she could say anything, screaming at the top of my voice to be heard over the sounds of battle. “I think he’s dying. Help me! Please, please, help me!”
She grabbed the reins before I could reach out and touch them, and then wrapped her other arm around my waist, holding me up against her. Barreling sentries and vamps alike out of the way, my mom dragged both the bull-horse and me through to the front of the armies.
Tejus, Derek and the rest of the vampires moved out of the way for us, continuing to hold the shadows back from Ash’s body. My vision blurred as I realized that his arms had gone limp—his hands were no longer tight over his chest.
“NO! NO, NO! MOM!” I screamed, rushing toward the ground. She grabbed me, pulling me away from his body.
“Up on the horse, Ruby!” she roared.
“NO!”
“LISTEN TO ME—up on the horse!”
My mother bent over Ash’s body, picking him up in her arms as best she could and carrying him over to the bull-horse. I scrambled up on the saddle, ready to take him.
“To the immortal waters,” she breathed, “it might help. Don’t stop.”
She handed me his body, and I sat him up in front of me. He was out, stone cold. But I could feel the slight palpitation of his heart as his back rested against my chest. There was still hope.
“Look after yourself,” my mom yelled furiously from the ground.
I nodded, spurring the terrified bull-horse into action with a sharp kick. It reared up, and I unsheathed my sword, ready to fly through the black mass.
They would not touch me.
In this moment I was invincible, the enemy nothing more than it had first appeared—shadows and dust.
The bull-horse leapt into the gloom, and I swiped my arm tirelessly, moving faster than I thought was possible. A scream tore from my lungs. It echoed in the gloom, my battle cry—my voice in the darkness that promised vengeance and pain to those who might stop me.
We rode harder, the faces of the dead men appearing like a tunnel either side of me as I ran my sword though them like butter. Their ashes flew into my screaming mouth, choking me with their bitter burn.
Soon the gloom cleared. The wisps of dawn could just be made out in the east. I rode on, dust flying behind us, my breath coming in short, heavy gasps as I willed the creature on faster. I would not lose him. I would not lose everything I had.
We’re not finished yet, I silently returned his oath to him.
We’re not finished yet.
Tejus
My men were dying.
Ash’s still body, lying in Ruby’s mother’s arms, wouldn’t leave my mind. I fought with an anger and ferocity I hadn’t known I possessed. The energy to carry on, wielding my sword although my arm felt numb and dead, came from the sentries around me—taking and giving our power to one another as we continued our fight.