…and screamed.
Garof’s arms reached behind his back. The vampire twisted to show an ornate dagger hilt protruding from his back. Larissa stood behind the vampire, her arm lowering from driving the blade into the undead. Terak reached for her, but his wounds were not healed enough yet that he could move much.
Larissa stepped back from the vampire as he fell to the ground. The wound was smoking, and his visible skin was starting to crackle and blacken.
The vampire was a repulsive sight. Larissa’s face held a sick horror as she observed him. “Larissa,” Terak called, to break through her fascination as much as for help.
It worked. The most beautiful smile lit her face and she began to move toward him.
Tremors rocked the mountain, knocking her to the ground, as well as a younger girl behind her that only now Terak noticed. The tremors stopped, and Laire’s voice magically echoed through the caverns the way a PA system would. “Attention all good guys. You did great because I’m getting readings the ceremony was stopped. But bad news anyway. This mountain is magically booby-trapped so that if the ceremony doesn’t go through, the mountain will implode on itself. We’re holding it together the best we can, but we suggest getting your tushies out here ASAP if not faster.”
Larissa turned to the girl behind her. “Run out now!” The girl did not have to be told twice and escaped, and though he would have told a child the same thing, a momentary shiver of loathing hit his gut on how easily the girl ran from those who had helped her and left them to their fates.
His bones were already knitting together, so he used his arms to push himself up. Since he could yell at Larissa to run all he desired and she would never leave, he needed to push past the pain and get them out of here.
He took a step forward and hit a shimmery blue wall. A force cage. Terak punched into it, but he could not get through. Larissa stood on the other side, her eyes wide in fright.
The vampire still lay on the ground, black smoke continuing to rise from his all-but-decomposed corpse. A rusty laugh escaped from a now lipless skull. “It was a good fight, Gargoyle. I think it only fitting we die together. It’s not a very strong cage. The weight of the mountain bearing down will pierce it, and you’ll be crushed to death. I’d say this battle is a draw.”
No, this couldn’t be happening, this couldn’t be real. She had been the target, and now she was safe and sound. This was supposed to be the end of it. She was not supposed to see the male she loved trapped before her, waiting for a mountain to crush him to death.
“Leave me!” He was bloody and bleeding in the cage, his arm hanging at an odd angle. “This place will soon be destroyed. Go!”
He was trapped. She could travel through the force field, but there was nothing she could do to free him. This power that had necromancers hunting her was worthless when it mattered.
“Meyja-”
“What does that mean,” she interrupted, her eyes clear on his. “You swore you would tell me once this was over. What does it mean?”
His eyes were intense on hers. “It means beloved above all, even above the Clan.”
And if there was any question of what her choice would be – which there wasn’t – that decided her beyond any doubts. She pushed inside the force field.
His arms and wings came around her as if he could not help himself, even as he said, “Meyja, I don’t want you here. Think of your father, your brothers. They need you. I need you to live. I need you to leave.”
She snuggled into his embrace. “For once, I’m only going to think about what I want and not consider my family. I’m not going to ever leave you, Terak. If this is where it ends, I’ll face the end with you.”
He sunk to the floor, keeping her in his arms, kissing her face, her hair. “Love you, Meyja. I have always loved you. Forgive me for not telling you before this day.”
She nuzzled into him. “You did. I didn’t understand.” The rumbling was louder now, the heat building. She curled into Terak’s arms.
Shadowy arms around her, and Larissa was pulled downward through the floor.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Hi there, Sleeping Beauty.”
So I’ve died and gone to hell. It was unmistakably Fallon’s voice above Larissa’s head, and the swordswoman wasn’t on her favorite persons list. Considering Fallon’s general attitude, there was no way she was on anyone’s favorite persons list.
But Fallon had come to free her. And she had fought with Terak. And she did look cool carrying around such a big sword.
Okay, maybe purgatory.
“Take your time waking up. It’s fine. It’s not like we have anything else to do except sit around and stare at you.”