Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ASHLYN
Fyn reached into his collar, searching for something beneath his shirt.
He pulled a bronze chain free. I couldn’t make out the brass object that bobbed at the end.
“I need you to wear this.” He lowered it over my head.
My fingers slid over ornate filament that swirled through the top. A slender rod gave way to prongs. It was a key. “Why are you giving this to me?”
He traced my cheek. “I need you to keep it safe for me.”
His eyes found mine before his lips did.
I folded into his kiss, into him.
“Promise me…” Fear struck his gaze. “That if it comes to it, you will go on without me.”
“I am absolutely not promising you that.”
Shouting voices carried.
“Please,” he whispered to me.
“I promise,” I said. “But only because it won’t come to that.” It couldn’t come to that.
The sound of branches snapping was too close to us.
“They’re tracking us.” Edward motioned us behind a massive tree.
“We need to try to see if you can cross,” Fyn said. “Here.”
“It’s meant to keep humans out.” Edward looked at him as if he had gone mad.
Fyn stared at the divide. “The healers in Sygil. The—”
“Fyn, that is not what they said.” If we stayed, if we debated it, there would be no time to find out.
“Race forward with your mare,” Fyn said to Edward. “Take Merda with you. Draw them further into the woods.”
“My lord,” Edward protested.
“Just do it,” Fyn said.
The horses sped forth. Until their outlines began to shrink in the distance.
Several knights on horseback wove in between the trees past us—after Edward. They gave little notice to the two of us hiding behind the tree.
“The stars won’t abandon you here.” He tugged me closer to the divide.
“What will happen to me if I can’t?” I asked.
“You’ll probably have a grand story to tell.” He swallowed hard.
That did not sound the least bit convincing. “You don’t know, do you?”
Another branch snapped. Pounding footsteps followed in a forest that gave no visible sign of anything but the tree trunks around us.
“Go to Sygil. Ask someone to find Jayln. He will take you to the lock.” He pressed my chin up, angling my face toward his. “I love you.”
“The lock?” I couldn’t handle him joking at a time like this.
Metal armor glistened in the moonlight as they approached us.
Fyn drew his sword. “Just go. I will hold them back.”
My blade sang as I pulled it free.
“Go! Don’t wait for me. Don’t cross back over.” Fyn shielded me as two knights darted toward us.
Tears stung my cheeks as I heeded his command.
I charged the divide. The golden light became blinding as it reflected off my blade.
I hoped the stars could grant their forgiveness to the one who stole from them—that they’d let me pass and give me a chance to look into his eyes again.
If they were going to take me from this world, they could.
I wouldn’t be Estlen’s prisoner.
The humming grew louder as I reached for it. When my hand skimmed the surface it only grew louder.
The light was blinding as it swallowed me.
I fell into Nythrel.