Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
Senara
The world tilted as Thorn leapt from the crumbling watchtower, his arms wrapped tightly around me. Wind whipped my hair as they plummeted towards the ground far below. The horde of corrupted fae swarmed at the edge of the tower's roof, some even falling off as they continued to try and reach us. Their twisted faces and grasping claws fading from view.
My heart pounded. This was it. The end. I clutched Thorn fiercely, burying my face in his chest. His warmth enveloped me, a final comfort as death rushed to meet them.
"I'm sorry," Thorn's voice was barely audible over the rushing wind even though I could feel his lips moving against my hair and the rumble of his voice in his chest vibrating into me. "I couldn't save us."
I raised my head, meeting his anguished gaze as I tried to say something but the ground hurtled closer. All I could do was squeeze my eyes shut and brace for impact. At least we would die together.
Suddenly, searing heat erupted around me. My eyes flew open as flames engulfed Thorn's body, spreading to consume me as well. A scream ripped from my throat, agony filling me as fire licked across my skin.
"Thorn! What's happening?" I cried, struggling in his grasp.
His eyes blazed with an otherworldly light, his Sun Kissed mark seeming to take over both of his eyes instead of just the one.. "Trust me," he growled through gritted teeth.
The inferno intensified, the pain becoming unbearable. My vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. Just before I lost consciousness, time seemed to freeze and I became acutely aware of everything around me, the bite of the cold wind even through the heat of the flames, the scent of something burning filling my nose, which wasn’t surprising.
It was the sound of Thorn’s voice that had me glancing up at him to see if he was experiencing the same strange pause in time that seemed to surround me. I found him watching me with sorrow and regret filling his gaze. He blinked and the emotions morphed into a fierce determination, his voice grew to a primal roar as he chanted words in an ancient tongue. Even though we were still falling, we had slowed to a crawl. It was enough that Thorn could let me go and draw the small throwing knife he kept on his belt.
"By the eternal flame, I offer my life's blood," Thorn intoned, his voice resonating with power. "Spare her, take me instead!" I wasn’t sure why I understood him all of a sudden unless he’d switched back to the common tongue. Somehow I didn’t think he had though. It was more like my brain was being forced to understand exactly what he was doing.
Before I could make sense of anything he’d drawn the knife across his wrist. Crimson droplets surged out of him only to hang suspended in the air, glowing like embers. I gasped, "Thorn, no!"
But it was too late.
The blood ignited, and a searing heat engulfed us both. I screamed as flames licked her skin, certain I was about to be incinerated. Then, miraculously, the pain began to ebb, but time began again, rushing to catch up with itself.
We hit the ground with bone-jarring force, sliding through dirt and stone. Before my body could even register the impact, great wings of fire burst from Thorn’s back and spread around us, cradling our bodies in a cocoon of golden light.
"Hold on!" Thorn shouted, his arms tightening around me as we surged skyward.
I clung to him, my mind seeming to be two steps behind everything that was happening. "How—what did you do?"
"An ancient rite," he gasped, his face etched with strain. "The Blood Fire Phoenix..."
As we soared higher, my panic began to subside. The flames no longer burned; instead, they felt almost... comforting. I looked down to see the horde of corrupted fae converging on the ground where we’d landed, a suspiciously grave shaped indentation disappearing beneath the mass of bodies. The creatures shrank beneath us as we went ever higher, their howls of rage fading into the distance.
"Thorn," I whispered, awe and fear mingling in my voice. "Are we... flying?"
He managed a weak smile. "We are. But don't look down." I wasn’t sure how to break it to him that I already had.
I couldn't help but laugh, the sound bordering on hysteria, as we climbed higher still. Suddenly, I noticed a warm glow on the horizon. The first rays of dawn were breaking, bathing the world in soft, golden light.
Something stirred within me, a connection I'd never felt before. It was as if the very essence of the sun was flowing through my veins, intertwining with Thorn's own fiery magic. I felt more alive, more powerful than I ever had before.
"I can feel it," I breathed, meeting Thorn's gaze with wonder. "The sunlight... it's like it's a part of me now."
“That’s my magic that was protecting you,” Thorn called over the whipping wind. “Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. The Blood Fire Phoenix is a last resort to escape. To protect someone while getting them to safety.”
There had to be a downside to it. All magic came with a price as far as I understood it, either using mana or life force itself, unless it was an object imbued with magic like a potion. I needed to know what he’d just done. “At what cost?” I asked.
“I don’t know yet,” he said, the words coming too easily. Was he lying to me to protect me? Again?
I studied Thorn's face, searching for any sign of deception. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes focused ahead as he navigated our flight path. But there was something in the set of his shoulders, a tension that hadn't been there before.
"Thorn," I said, my voice soft but insistent. "Please, don't lie to me. What did you sacrifice?"
He sighed, a sound almost lost in the rush of wind around us. "Senara, I—" He broke off, wincing as if in pain. The fiery wings faltered for a moment, and we dropped several feet before he regained control.
Panic surged through me. "What's happening? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he ground out, but his face had gone pale beneath his tawny skin. "We need to land soon. I can't maintain this form for much longer."
I scanned the landscape below us, searching for a safe place to touch down. We had left the corrupted fae far behind, but who knew what other dangers lurked in this unfamiliar territory?
"There," I pointed to a small clearing in a copse of trees. "Can you make it?"
Thorn nodded grimly, angling our descent towards the spot I'd indicated. As we neared the ground, I could feel the heat of his magic beginning to fade. The fiery wings flickered and sputtered, threatening to disappear entirely.
We were still much too high up when Thorn's strength gave out. The wings vanished in a shower of sparks, and we plummeted. I braced for impact, but Thorn twisted in the air, positioning himself beneath me. We hit the ground hard, and I heard the sickening crunch of bones breaking.
I rolled off him immediately, my hands fluttering over his body, unsure where to touch. "Thorn! Oh gods, Thorn, are you okay?"
His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glazed, his face tight with pain. "Senara," he murmured. "You're safe. That's all that matters."
"No," I choked out, tears stinging my eyes. "No, that's not all that matters. You matter too, you idiot!" I reached out again, wanting to soothe him but scared to touch him for fear of causing more pain. "Tell me how to help you. There has to be something I can do."
A sad smile tugged at his lips. "The ritual requires a sacrifice,” he groaned. “I've given up years of my life to fuel this magic."
Horror washed over me as the implications sank in. "How...how many years?" I whispered, dreading the answer.
Thorn's silence spoke volumes. When he finally responded, his voice was barely audible. "I don't know exactly. It could be decades. It could have been... most of what I had left. With these," he paused, gasping in pain as he tried to move.”Injuries it doesn’t really matter though, does it?”
The world seemed to tilt beneath me as the full weight of his words sank in. "No," I breathed. "No, there has to be another way. I can't lose you, Thorn. I won't." Tears stung my eyes, a lump forming in my throat. "Why would you do that for me?"
His gaze softened, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "Because you're worth it," he said simply. "I couldn't let you die. Not when I had the power to save you."
A maelstrom of emotions swirled within me – gratitude, fear, anger, and something else I wasn't quite ready to name. I wanted to berate him for his recklessness, to demand he find a way to undo it. But I knew it was too late. The sacrifice had been made.
Instead, I leaned closer, wanting to touch him, but holding back so I didn’t hurt him. "Thank you," I murmured, my voice thick with unshed tears. "But don't you dare think this means you can leave me anytime soon. Tell me what I can do to help. Do you have anything in your pack?” As soon as the words left my mouth I realized that our packs had been abandoned in the watchtower during the fight.
“There’s nothing you can do. Either my body will heal this or it won’t,” he wheezed. His face had gone paler than I’d ever seen it and I knew that the likelihood of his body healing his injuries was slim to none.
Panic flared in me. I’d meant what I said. I couldn’t lose him. I didn’t care if we went to the elves and he still wanted to have the soul bond broken, at least then I’d know he was out there somewhere, living his life. None of it would matter if he was already dead.
I stared down at him desperation flooding my veins, and I felt that strange stirring within me again. The connection to the sun, to Thorn's magic. It pulsed beneath my skin, growing stronger with each passing moment. Without fully understanding what I was doing, I placed my hands on Thorn's chest, focusing on that warm, golden energy.
"Senara," Thorn's voice was weak, but there was a note of warning in it. "What are you?—"
"Shh," I hushed him, closing my eyes and concentrating. I could feel it now, the ebb and flow of life force between us. Thorn had given so much of himself to save me. Now, it was my turn.
I could almost feel the moon goddess by my side, guiding me, whispering what I needed to do next to the borrowed power within me. Her energy coursed through me, filling me with the steady, calm light of the moon and stars, which acted as a counterweight to the fiery, unpredictable nature of Thorn’s magic.
I reached deep within myself, grasping at that power. With all my will, I pushed it towards Thorn, imagining it flowing from my hands into his body, mending broken bones and replenishing what he had lost.
A gasp escaped my lips as I felt the energy drain from me. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before—exhilarating and terrifying all at once. I could sense Thorn's life force growing stronger, his breathing becoming more even.
"Stop," he rasped, trying to push my hands away. "You don't know what you're doing. The price?—"
"I don't care about the price," I gritted out, redoubling my efforts. "I won't let you die for me, Thorn. I can't."
The world began to spin around me, darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. Still, I pushed on, determined to give Thorn every last ounce of strength I could muster.
Just as I felt myself begin to slip away, strong arms encircled me, pulling me back. "Enough," Thorn's voice was stronger now, tinged with a mixture of awe and fear. "Senara, that's enough. Come back to me."
I blinked, the clearing slowly coming back into focus. Thorn was sitting up, holding me against his chest. The pain and weariness had faded from his face, replaced by an expression of wonder.
"How did you do that?" he asked, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "That shouldn't have been possible."
I shook my head, feeling dazed and slightly dizzy. "I don't know. I just... felt it. Your magic, the sun's energy. It was like it was a part of me.” Silently, I added, Plus, the goddess guided me and told me what to do.
Thorn's brow furrowed. "The Blood Fire Phoenix is an ancient and powerful magic. It's not meant to be shared or transferred. And yet..." He trailed off, studying me intently.
"And yet?" I prompted, nervous energy flooding my system. The implications of what I'd just done were starting to sink in.
Thorn shook his head, a mix of awe and concern in his eyes. "And yet you wielded it as if it were your own. More than that, you combined it with something else - something I've never felt before. It was like... moonlight and starfire."
I swallowed hard, thinking of the goddess's presence I'd sensed. "The moon goddess," I whispered. "I felt her guiding me."
Thorn's eyes widened. "The moon goddess? But why would she..." He trailed off, lost in thought for a moment before his gaze snapped back to mine. "Senara, what you did was incredible, but also incredibly dangerous. You could have killed yourself."
"I couldn't let you die," I said fiercely, gripping his shirt. "Not after everything you've done for me."
His expression softened, and he pulled me closer. "Thank you," he murmured against my hair. "But please, don't ever risk yourself like that again. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, especially if it was because of me."
I nodded, too exhausted to argue. As the adrenaline faded, I felt a bone-deep weariness settle over me. I looked down at my hands, still tingling with residual energy. "What does this mean for us?"
Thorn was quiet for a long moment, his gaze distant. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and thoughtful. "I'm not sure. But I think...I think it means our bond goes deeper than either of us realized."
A shiver ran through me at his words. Our bond. The very thing we'd been thinking about breaking. And now...
"We should rest," Thorn said, breaking into my thoughts. "We're both exhausted, and we need to figure out our next move. Plus, we’ve lost the corrupted horde for the moment at least so we should take advantage of that.”
I nodded, suddenly aware of how drained I felt. As Thorn helped me to my feet, I couldn't help but notice how easily he moved, how the injuries that had seemed so dire just moments ago were now all but gone.
We found a sheltered spot beneath a large oak tree that hadn’t given in to the blight just yet, its sprawling branches offering some protection from prying eyes. As we settled down, Thorn pulled me close, his warmth a comforting presence against the chill of the early morning air.
"Sleep," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "I'll keep watch."
But even as exhaustion tugged at me, my mind raced with questions. What had I done? How had I done it? And most pressingly, what did it mean for our future?
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything had changed. The path we'd been on, the certainty of our destination - it all seemed less clear now. But as I felt Thorn's steady heartbeat against my back, I realized that maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing after all.