Page 165
Story: Fate Calls the Elf Queen
Piper, Leif, and Fennan backed up several steps as she trudged by them. Whether they were surprised or afraid, she didn’t care at the moment. War’s feet faltered. His swings and blocks slowed as the poison worked its way through him.
“It’s me you came for, Morv,” Valeen shouted, with shadows rolling off her body. Thrusting out her palm she sent a blast of silver energy, fueled more by the crescent moon shining in the sky now. It slammed into Morv, sending him flying several feet back and crushing him into the base of a tree. The pink blossoms fell like rain from the impact. Half shadow she moved like a phantom in the night and hacked her sword down at him. The blade crashed into his staff and snapped it in two.
He roared, jabbing the broken end of what was left as nothing more than a stick at her belly. She dodged, and he flew back up as if boosted by a gust of powerful wind and leveled the top half of his staff at her. A red sizzling line of destruction careened at her. Her shield came on instinct and the impact of the two magics was like a thunderclap. The crackling energy colliding with her shield did nothing but make noise. She’d withstood much more powerful forces.
With a smirk, she pushed her own shielding power forward, driving Morv’s back until his power collapsed. He dove to the side, avoiding the blowback.
“You’re not so formidable without your ring, Morv.” Valeen strutted toward him, white knuckling Soulender. “I wonder, what happens to a demon when he dies? Does your soul disappear into eternal darkness? Do you become one of those sickly creatures in your underrealm, weak and powerless?”
Hel appeared at her side, brushing his shoulder against hers. “Personally, I hope it’s eternal darkness.”
Half crouched, his upper lip curled back in a snarl. “It doesn’t matter what happens to demons when they die. But we all know what happens to you two. You’ll be cursed to be born again and again and again, always forgetting each other. Now that is eternal punishment. What life is this now? Three, four? Let’s make it five!”
With his head lowered like he meant to hit her like a bull with his horns, he huffed out steam from his wide nostrils and charged. She readied herself to move at the perfect time and bring Soulender down on his backside, but he brought out a sword at the last moment. Their weapons hit with a ringing that sent a shockwave down her arms. His strength overpowered hers and she turned to shadow and whirled away. He fell forward with the sudden loss of force against him.
A bright ball of light lit above Hel’s palm, rivaling the sun. Morv threw up his arms to shield his eyes and hissed. “Ah, what’s the matter? I thought demons loved sunlight. It’s so bright and sunny in the underrealm.”
Morv backpedaled, nearly stumbling to get away from it. “I know what you are,” he said, shielding his eyes. “I know who your father is, Zaurahel. And I know where your mother is too.”
Valeen stilled next to Hel. Her palm went sweaty, and she had to adjust her grip on Soulender. She imagined his mind whirling at the possibilities.He’s lying,she said to his mind.
Hel’s fingers closed around the ball of light and darkness blanketed the landscape once again. “Who? And where?”
“That’s not how this works, god of mischief.” He cackled and tapped his sword against his side. Bright red eyes glowed in the dark and his horns gleamed in the pale light. “I need my ring first.”
“Why would I believe anything you say?”
He’s buying time. Take him down.
“You don’t have to but if you kill me, you’ll never know.” Morv gripped the edge of his cloak. Smoke started around his feet, building up toward his knees, ready to make his escape again. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll take your pretty wife’s head and make it a trophy for my wall. Wouldn’t that be a sight? The goddess of night’s mouth can take my cock even in death.”
In a single heartbeat, Hel appeared behind him, yanked on his horn to drag him down and shoved Darkbringer through the back of his neck.
Kill this bastard for good.
Valeen dashed forward, half shadow, and drove Soulender straight into the demon’s chest until it sunk to the hilt. With wide terror-filled eyes, Morv stared at her, and then his solid body began to crack and splinter, changing into blackened ash and bits of him floated away on the breeze, until he crumbled into a pile of soot.
Now there were only two demon princes of the underrealm, and Valeen just made them her enemies.
Hel’s garnet eyes shined bright against dark lashes and pale skin as he held her gaze. His chest heaved up and down and he was suddenly before her, inspecting her. “Are you hurt? Let me see you.” He tilted her chin, grabbed her shoulders.
“I’m fine.” She gripped his arm with her free hand. “I’m alright.”
“Layala!” Piper shouted. “Thane stopped breathing!”
Blood running cold, she turned and several yards away Fennan, Leif, and Piper were gathered around him as he lay unmoving on his back. Presco paced nearby muttering possible solutions.This can’t be happening.Valeen’s heart skipped a beat.
With torches in hand, guards and Raven soldiers ran toward them. “The High King! The High King is down!”
“No,” she heard herself say and dashed toward him. “Thane!”
Hel was already there, cradling his bitten arm. A warm glow emitted from his palm. “You stay with me. You can’t leave me. We have plans, and I need you here. I lied before; you’re still my brother. Nothing you could ever do will change that.”
Tears blurred her vision as she fell beside him. She gripped his lovely face, lifting his head and leaned down to hear breath. None came. “No, no, no.” Helplessly she lifted her head, the Ravens on the grounds gathered in close. The bright orange torchlight lit up the area to see his skin looked paler than usual. “You can’t die!” She shook him, and slammed her fist hard into his chest, hoping to shock his heart. “Wake up.”
“Layala,” Piper cried, dropping beside her. “Save him.” Her voice came out strangled; pain struck Valeen right through the heart. Gods, she was going to break his heart tonight. She was going to tell him it was over forever, that she didn’t choose him, and now she would give anything to keep him here.
“Thane, you must come back to us. Please. Please.” She shook his shoulders again, his head lolled back and forth.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165 (Reading here)
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170