Page 111 of A Trial of Two Worlds
Nalusa falaya—the fallen.
And judging by Daxton and Adohan’s grim expressions, there were far too many for us to fight.
Pushing past the fatigue in my legs, I forced myself to stand at Daxton’s side, my jaw dropping to the floor at what my eyes beheld. Within the mist, dark-cloaked figures began to appear out of the tendrils of air. One after another materialized out of nowhere, creating a line of hundreds, if not thousands, of fallen standing shoulder to shoulder with the moving ebony mists at their backs.
The wilt was finally showing its true hand. The weapon that had been growing since the curse first fell upon Valdor. An army of the undead triggered by my victories in the trials and a sense that their hold on Valdor would soon come to an end.
“Daxton.” I coughed to try and clear my throat. “Have you ever seen this many gathered before?”
“No,” he answered. “I’ve never witnessed this many fallen creatures together like this.”
For once, words from my mate did little to comfort me.
“But,” Adohan said nervously, “it does make sense. The wilt has been growing for five centuries. Taking High Fae and other creatures under its control. This… This must be the result.”
I knew my magic could heal the fallen of the wilt, but I couldn’t even begin making a dent in the numbers standing before us.
“The wards will keep them back,” Adohan said with confidence. “We just need to get to safety behind Crimson City’s walls.”
“Get ready to run, Spitfire,” Daxton told me. “I can teleport us once we’re closer, but right now at this distance, I—”
“I know,” I breathed. “We’ll make it.”
“Shaw,”I said, reaching out for my beta.“We need to retreat. Get yourself, and anyone else you can, back inside Crimson City walls.”
“Already on it,”he said.
I felt Daxton tense beside me as he pushed forward to the opening. His eyes widened with fear as he screamed, “Zola!”
My eyes darted to the Shadow Jumper as she alone began marching toward the hundreds of fallen creatures materializing in the blackened mists.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Skylar Cathal
“Zola!” Daxton roared her name with desperation, his shoulders heaving as his gaze fixed on his spymaster’s trail.
She paused and turned her head. “Go,” she signed as she began charging forward once more.
“What is she doing?” Adohan demanded.
“She’s—” I could barely form the words. “She’s trying to give us time to escape.”
The three of us raced down the stone steps, leaping from the final level as we looked out onto the wilted land between us and the fallen.
“We can’t leave her,” I told Daxton, knowing he felt the same.
“I’m not planning on it.” My mate’s jaw clenched as Valencia appeared in his hand. “You’re going, though.”
“Fat chance!”
“Skylar!” Daxton yelled as he turned toward me. “For me. Keep your promise. Turn and run.”
Bastard.
“Daxton, I can’t—”
“You must!” His eyes darted to Adohan, who cameto my side.
