Page 108 of Awakening

The Guardians had arrived.

The riders carried bows and took aim at the demons and hellhounds. Their arrows were of pure light and infiltrated the cursed souls of the demons, destroying them from within.

The silver dragons they rode clashed with the plague dragons in mid-air struggles of strength. They slashed at each other with razor-sharp claws as the riders continued to attack others while also aiding their own dragon as needed.

A plague dragon clenched its teeth around the neck of a silver dragon. The silver one thrashed wildly in pain as the curse of the plagued one’s bite seethed into its blood. The rider struck the plague dragon in the eye with an arrow and it released.

But it was too late for that silver dragon. Overtaken by the curse, it barreled toward the ground, slamming into it with a massive force. In one fluid movement, its guardian rider leapt elegantly from it just before it hit the earth. Landing gracefully, he turned and launched an arrow into the delicate skin of the dragon’s chest. The pure light of the arrow dissolved into the dragon. Its body dispersed into millions of tiny shimmering particles.

“A new life awaits. Peace be with you, my friend,” the guardian said as the particles disappeared into the wind.

Across the field and all around, chaos surmounted.

Hellhounds brutally tore limbs away.

Men and women, warriors and archers alike, screamed in agony.

Swords and axes clanked violently against one another.

The deafening screeches of the dragons echoed harshly in the sky as they fought one another, igniting fires on the grasses and tents below.

Arrows soared overhead.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

The guardians had helped turn the tide of the battle, but demons continued to pour through the portals.

On the hilltop, Trystan and Marc fought against Thraul. Morgaine laughed at their attempts to attack the demon lord. Around them, the battle closed in. On the edges of the plateau, elves and guardians fought alongside the King’s soldiers against their common enemy.

Nothing they did slowed the demon lord at all. With each arrow released from his bow, the elemental weapon drew on Trystan’s strength. His energy waned, a subtle dizziness hinting at the edges of his mind. Marc still fought, but the power behind his strikes had ebbed, his muscles tiring.

“We need to find a way to close the portals!” Trystan yelled.

“Agreed, but how?” Marc shouted.

Emrys emerged from the shadows atop a wolf. “The only way is to kill Thraul.”

Trystan glanced at Marc. His eyes widened. “Marc, look—”

Too late.

Iôr Thraul sent Marc flying into a stone wall across the plateau with one fell swoop of his backhand. Trystan ran for Marc only to be stopped by Thraul. With his great strength, the monster pushed him backward into the waiting arms of two of his soldiers.

Without mercy, the demons clutched Trystan’s arms and kept him in place. Trystan struggled to free himself from the excruciating pain of their cruel grip as Morgaine approached, a wicked grin sprawled across her pale face. Morgaine took the bow and tossed it aside then grabbed Trystan by the neck. Her nails dug into his flesh. Terror welled up inside Trystan as he looked into the cold, darkened eyes of his enemy.

Emrys raced toward Trystan.

Morgaine extended her hand toward him. A hazy purple aura of dark magic surrounded Emrys, freezing him in place. “You’ve failed as his protector, Myrddin. Can you live with that? Can you live with his death on your conscious?” Morgaine taunted.

Emrys struggled against the spell, but he had nothing to counteract it. Completely immobilized, he looked at Trystan.Be strong, Trystan. Don’t let go.

“Not so powerful now without your bow or your mate, are you?” Morgaine snarled.

“You won’t win this Morgaine,” Trystan growled as he fought against his captors.

“I believe I already have.” Morgaine pulled a long, narrow dagger from her side and plunged it into Trystan’s belly, easily piercing through the armor.

“Pathetic. Just like your father,” Morgaine whispered in his ear. She ripped the dagger out, enjoying the expression of pain and disbelief on Trystan’s face.