Page 116 of Awakening

“You cannot defeat me!”

Trystan and Emrys watched on, wide-eyed. Several guardians had moved in to defend the pair from the onslaught of demons around them.

The light in the demon lord’s chest expanded and spread throughout his body. His skin slowly fractured. From the cracks in his skin, the light shone even more brightly. It was tearing him apart from the inside.

“This is not possible!” Iôr Thraul shouted.

He dropped to both knees as the light burned from within. It grew brighter and brighter until it consumed his entire body and then exploded. Another wave of light radiated outward and destroyed once and for all, the cursed creatures of the demon world and the one remaining portal to the other realm.

Trystan shielded his eyes from the explosion. When the light was gone, he looked around. All of the demons were gone and the portal was closed. The darkened orange sky faded to a heavenly blue.

Excalibur lay on the ground where the demon lord had last been seen. Trystan sank to his knees as Emrys picked up the sword and handed it to him.

“It belongs to Marc,” he said, taking it reluctantly. The intensity of the battle came crashing down as him emotions caught up with him. Tears welled up in his eyes. He wasn’t supposed to lose his cymara so soon.

“Then perchance you should give it back to him,” Emrys said.

Trystan lifted his gaze. A tired smile crossed Emrys’ face. Trystan’s eyes widened.

“That’s if it’s all right with you, my king.”

Trystan turned at the sound of Marc’s voice behind him. Relief flooded him. He was dirty, bloodied, and bruised—they all were—but alive. Very much alive. Trystan dropped the sword and the bow and ran up to him.

Trystan caught Marc in his arms and squeezed hard. Marc hugged him tight for several long seconds. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

Trystan tightened his arms around Marc and kissed him.

For a few moments, everything quieted. Then, cheers of victory and relief erupted, surrounding them in the warm glow of the late afternoon sun.

The battle was over, and the war Morgaine had started over a thousand years ago had finally ended.