Page 97 of Awakening

“Heir of Camelot. Keeper of Excalibur. Arrows of light.”

Trystan gave him a wry smile. “How is it that I am so fortunate to have you?”

“Fortunate, you say? Well, if I recall, since we’ve met, you’ve had strange visions, been poisoned and abducted, nearly drowned, and continue to be the target of an evil sorceress who wants you dead,” Marc said, his sarcasm obvious. “I don’t know that I would call that fortunate.”

Trystan smiled at him and even laughed a little. Seeing that light in his eyes again, Marc smiled back.

***

With a sword in each hand, Morgaine stood behind Emrys and Marc as they knelt on the rocky ground, their bodies bruised and bloodied. A creature that wreaked of death restrained Trystan with a powerful arm around his chest and a barbed tail wrapped tightly around his throat.

“One must die,” Morgaine growled. “Choose.”

Struggling to breath, Trystan shifted his gaze between them. He loved them both. He couldn’t bear to lose either.

“Choose!”

“I can’t!”

“Very well.” Morgaine stepped forward.

“No! I’ll choose!”

“Too late, I’m afraid.” She thrust the pointed blades into their backs. Sharp, steel tips sliced through their bodies, puncturing each man’s chest all the way through before being removed.

Blood spilled from their chests and lips. Marc collapsed, falling sideways to the ground. Trystan fought against his captor, begging to let him free, but the demon refused. Emrys held his gaze. Trystan heard his voice in his mind.

Don’t give up, Trystan. I will find you again.

Emrys vanished.

Everything in Trystan shattered.

He was alone.

Marc awoke to a suffocating grip around his neck. He pulled at Trystan’s arm, loosening his hold enough to breathe. Marc glanced at Trystan, and his chest tightened. Tears on Trystan’s cheeks reflected the light of the moon.

“Trystan, wake up,” Marc whispered, shaking his arm increasingly harder. “Trystan!”

Trystan’s eyes flew open. He sat straight up, startled and breathing hard. Even in the darkness, Marc could see the pain in his eyes.

“Marc?” Trystan croaked.

Marc hugged him tight. “It’s all right. I’m here.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” His words mumbled, Trystan shook his head.

“Don’t be. It was a dream. Nothing more.”

“You died. Because of me. She killed you, and tried to… Emrys, but he… it was so real…”

“Except it wasn’t.”

Trystan breathed in deep. His body trembled, unable to shake the torments of his dream. “Morgaine. She’s toying with my mind again somehow.”

“She won’t win. You’re stronger than she is.” With his arms around Trystan, Marc tugged him to lie back down with him, but Trystan didn’t budge. “It will be dawn soon. We should try to get a little more sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.” Trystan pushed to his feet and paced away.