Page 84 of Up In Flames
Aranren fell out of Vexen's grip, onto the cold stone, and I went with him, still holding his hand.
“No,” I whispered. “Hold on, Ara. I'm not letting go. Don't you let go either.”
We swayed together, and Aranren laid a hand on my cheek. “I love you, my light. Never forget that.” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “I'll be watching over you from the afterworld. Always beside you.”
“What?! No!”
Ara looked up at Vexen and said. “Take my head. Do it now!”
“No!” I shrieked and clung to him. But it wasn't only me doing the clinging. Death was digging inside me, sliding deeper.
Suddenly, I felt Aranren draw upon it. He summoned the Death Magic, but instead of using it to defend himself against the sword that Lord Vexen lifted, he used it to sever Spirit's cord between us. The Death strike came just as the physicalone did, but the blast of the spiritual, the backlash of that great bond dying, sent all of us tumbling away from Aranren. All of us including Lord Vexen.
Death laughed, the sound becoming physical. It thrummed on my skin. I was so depleted, but I managed to get to my feet. Around me, the other lords got up faster, hands on the swords. In the center of our scattered circle stood Aranren, his head bowed and sunlight hair streaming down to cover his face. Slowly, he lifted his head, and the Corrupter met my stare.
“No!” I shouted and ran for him.
Someone barreled into me.
I kept shouting and fighting the hands that held me. But I was so weak. I couldn't escape that powerful grip. I reached over a broad shoulder, arm extending, trying to reconnect with Ara, trying to send him the protection I had promised him. But then we were past the archway, the other lords, including my lovers, dashing out on our heels.
“Fade!” Rath shouted. “Get him out of here!”
And then I was gone.
Chapter Forty-Two
With a strange sense of time repeating, I stared up into Lord Vexen's face as he carried me out of the arrival chamber. Once more, I cried and begged him to help me, to take me back to the Corrupter's fortress. Back to the man I loved. To help me free him from Death.
“I'm so sorry, Ember,” Vexen said, bending his head to press his forehead to mine. “So sorry. I wanted you to be happy.”
“No,” I sobbed. “No. He was safe. He was free. It was only a day!” I screamed and pounded on Vexen's chest. “Only one fucking day!”
“Here, give him to me,” Xaedren said.
Lord Vexen hissed. Hehissedat my lover.
It was odd enough to break through my pain and horror. I sniffed and stared at Vexen, taking in the hard set to his face, his glowing eyes, and the way he clutched me.
“Oh, Goddess,” I whispered.
Vexen shifted his stare back to me, instantly softening. “I've got you, Ember. You go ahead and rage. Let out your pain. I will take it from you.”
“It's you,” I said, my body going limp. It was at the point of shutting down, so drained and full of sorrow that it couldn't function.
“You finally see me.”
“I've always seen you.”
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Keltyr demanded.
“I don't know, but I don't like it,” Xaedren growled.
“You will release our mate this instant, Lord Vexen,” Taroc said.
“He's calming Ember,” Rath snapped. “That's all that matters.
Vexen cupped my cheek. “No, you haven't. Not the way you're seeing me now.”
