Page 61 of Up In Flames
Aranren moaned.
“Ara?” I tried to dart around the shadow, but it shifted too quickly, sliding into my way. “Ara!”
“Ember!” Then Ara screamed.
“No!” I pounded on the shadows. Every strike froze my fists, but I kept fighting. “Leave him alone!”
“Ember, run!” Ara screamed. “Fade, my love. The pendant!”
The pendant? My hand went to the crystal at my throat. Oh, Goddess. Ara had given me a way to escape not only Death but himself as well.
“No!” Death snarled.
“Ember, I truly love . . .” Ara's voice trailed off.
“Ara, I'm not leaving without you!” I shouted.
Death disappeared.
Through the fading shadows came the Corrupter. I knew Ara was gone as soon as I saw that serene face. The man I loved was locked in a cage of bones once more. I had destroyed it, only for Death to rebuild it in seconds.
“Ara, no,” I whispered. “Fight him.”
“There is no fighting Death, Ember.” The Corrupter opened his arms. “Come to me. It will all feel like a dream soon. A bad dream.”
My heart broke. It shattered into sharp slivers that cut my other organs. But I was immortal. I would heal. And I had other lovers to think about. I couldn't let this one draw me back into Death. It would do none of us any good.
“I love you, Ara. The real me loves the real you. I will never stop trying to free you. I promise. I'll come back for you. Just hold on, my love. Don't give up hope.”
The Corrupter's expression went from sweet to vicious. He lunged for me as I faded. The last thing I saw before I was swept away, was his hands bent into claws, swiping through my fading form. My inner sight showed me even more—those graceful fingers encased in gauntlets of bone.
Chapter Thirty-Three
As soon as I reformed in the Wraith Lord Citadel's arrival chamber, I doubled over and crumpled to the floor to sob. I couldn't stay there. I knew that. It was dangerous to linger in that chamber. And yet, I couldn't move. So violent was my sobbing, I couldn't control any of my muscles.
“What the fuck?” someone growled. Then, “Holy shit! Ember!”
Strong arms gathered me up and carried me out of the arrival chamber. I looked up to see a pair of pale green eyes staring at me, made all the brighter by the lord's deep, golden-brown skin. Dark hair, striped with gold highlights, was braided back to either side of his handsome face. A pair of full lips, blushed with pink, moved, but I couldn't hear his words.
I sniffed. “Death took him.”
“Who, Ember?”
Other shouts came. Footsteps thudding.
“Ara. He's gone again. I almost freed him, but I failed.” I laid my cheek on Lord Vexen's shoulder. “Vexen, he's gone.”
“You . . . you know my name?”
“Of course, I know your name.” I sniffed again. “Will you take me back? I have to get back.”
“To the Corrupter?” Lord Vexen asked in horror.
“I promised I would free him.” I clutched at Vexen's tunic. “Will you help me?”
“I will, but not right this minute, Ember.”
“Why not?!”
