Page 83 of Up In Flames
“I'm so sorry, Ember. So sorry,” Ara sobbed.
“Shh, it's not your fault,” I said.
“I thought he was gone. I felt free.” He clung to me, shuddering. “I truly thought we had won.”
“We will win, Ara. He doesn't have you.Ihave you. And I'm not letting go.”
“Please, don't,” Ara whispered. “Don't let go, Ember. I can't go back into the bones.”
My wraith shot out of me again and slammed into Aranren. It didn't fly through him this time but instead lingered. It seeped through his every cell, seeking out the seed that Death had hidden inside. Where was it? My soul sought Ara's and together we searched.
Meanwhile, my lovers circled us, and the other lords joined them, appearing out of the darkness as if they were wraiths themselves. I closed my eyes to focus on Ara, clutching him as tightly as he held me.
“I'm taking him to the citadel,” I said.
“We will follow,” Xaedren growled. “Go!”
I faded, taking Ara with me. I felt us leave. But then we hit something and reappeared. Laughter echoed all around us.
“You're inmydomain,” Death said. “You cannot leave by fading. You have to walk the path back to the living. Have I taught you nothing, Ember?”
“Fuck,” Rath whispered.
“Ember!” Ara shouted.
I felt it too—a bone sliding over his skin.
“No!” I shoved more magic into Ara. I gave him all I was and then I remembered that even though Aranren wasn't connected to my other lovers, I was. I instantly reached for them, and they gave freely, pushing their power into me.
My men fell to their knees around us, their expressions stoic and determined. Aranren belonged to all of us now, and we fought for our own.
Death growled. It vibrated through the stones.
Another bone.
I shattered it.
Another.
I kept fighting, smashing bone after bone as they slid into place. They fell more rapidly. I couldn't keep up. My strength began to dwindle.
Ara took a shuddering breath. “Flee, my love.” He pushed me away. “This is hopeless. Go while you still can.”
I stumbled to my feet, but I took him with me. “Together. I just need to get you out of here, and then I can fade you somewhere safe.”
Ara cried out and shuddered. I tried to pick him up, but he was bigger than me, and I was weakened by the fight.
“I've got him,” Lord Vexen said as he scooped Aranren up. “Which way, Ember?”
I almost said that I didn't know, but as I clutched Ara's hand, I felt it. Death was inside him, too busy trying to take control to guard himself from me. Through Death, I saw the way out.
“This way!” I shouted. “Someone hold onto Vexen and the rest of you clasp hands.”
They did, forming a line of lords, and I led us through Death's domain, stumbling every few feet as I fought his hold on Ara. Bone after bone slid into place, and I started bashing several at once, Spirit forming misty fists my lover. Hope bloomed. I could see the archway leading out. It was only ten feet away. Eight. Six.
I screamed as Death shot down the line between Aranren and me. A bone formed over my heart.
“No,” Ara moaned. “No, not him! You take me!” He writhed in Vexen's arms. “You leave him alone, you fucking bastard!”
