Rising Dawn (Guardians of the Maiden #4)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Cassiel

T he sky was burning.

Smoke wafted over the barren ground, charred black from scattered fires, and littered with burnt feathers. Kāhssiel’s chains clinked as he lifted himself up on his knees. The dried blood on his lips cracked as he coughed and pressed on his aching ribs.

The Hyalus tree leaves rattled softly, and he briefly closed his eyes as he heard her faint voice in the wind. It echoed back the promises they made right here.

Sheli…

The back of his eyes ached with unshed tears, and his veins hummed with his trapped flame.

My Sheli … can you feel me? I’m here.

But there was only vacancy in his chest. It had been empty since she had been cut out of him. His heart thudded weakly. No more, it begged. It did not want to keep beating. Not without her.

“All this death and bloodshed, only to end defeated. All for what? For some witch?”

Kāhssiel lifted his tired eyes to Raziel where he stood before him, clad in armor. His white wings looked gray in the dull dawn. “Am I defeated?”

You are in Skath chains, Kāhssiel. You have no power now.”

He smiled sardonically and scoffed. “See Raziel, you continue to underestimate me. As soon as I am out of these chains I will come for you. For all of you.” He looked at his generals standing beside Raziel and lurched forward. The guards jerked him back by his chains, and Kāhssiel’s six white wings flared out as he strained against them. “Each of you has betrayed me and nothing will stop me until I have melted the flesh from your bones. I will burn you to ashes and raze the Realms to the ground. You cannot stop me. As soon as I am free, I will fill this world with a sea of flame until there is nothing left of it!”

Seraph fire blazed in his eyes, searing them with his promise.

“I WILL BURN IT ALL!”