Page 48

I soak a scrap of cloth in the pool, the water cool against my fingers. Then, with infinite care, I dab at the dried blood and grime around his stumps. He bites his lip, a tear squeezing from one eye, but he doesn’t cry out. My chest constricts. He’s endured so much.

When most of the residue is gone, I gently apply the leftover antiseptic herbs, chanting a hushed prayer.

The silver flicker in my veins responds, a mild glow suffusing my fingertips.

This synergy might keep infection at bay.

Korrin shudders, tears streaming silently, though relief softens his expression.

Finally, I rinse my own arms and face, scrubbing away layers of dust and dried blood. The half-burned collar remains draped around my neck, but the ring is broken, runes inert. One day I’ll remove it entirely. For now, it’s just a piece of twisted metal.

We rest there, letting the waterfall’s music calm our shattered spirits.

I hold Korrin’s head in my lap, stroking his hair as the sun dips lower.

A sense of final closure hums in the air.

The alpha is dead, gargoyles scattered, the dark elves retreated.

We have no more battles to fight, at least not tonight.

Night falls gently, the stars emerging over a sky that once boomed with storms. Korrin dozes, safe in the hush of the waterfall. I keep vigil, listening for any threat. None appears. Perhaps we truly ended it.

When he finally stirs, blinking up at me with weary eyes, I smile through tears. “We should find shelter,” I suggest. “Somewhere near here, out of the wind.”

He nods, pushing himself to a seated position. A fresh wave of pain crosses his face, but he takes a shuddering breath, letting it pass. Then he meets my gaze, a wry, tearful smile forming. “You’re right. We keep going, together.”

I help him stand, supporting his weight.

The hush of the night embraces us as we skirt the waterfall’s edge.

Fireflies dance among the shrubs, a tiny wonder after so many horrors.

My heart lifts, tethered to hope. No matter how battered we are, we survived.

We stand here, leaning on each other, free from the fortress’s tyranny.

We discover a shallow cave on higher ground near the waterfall—less precarious than our battered ridge.

A smooth patch of stone forms a natural floor.

We gather loose branches, kindling a small fire with some coaxing of my leftover magic.

The glow illuminates Korrin’s face, etched in lines of pain, but also a quiet contentment.

We sit close, arms entwined, the gentle crackle of flames offsetting the starry silence outside.

His voice breaks the hush: “They’re truly gone. The clan… the dark elves. We ended that war.”

I nod, a tear slipping free. “We did,” I whisper.

“The alpha’s cruelty no longer binds them.

They might scatter or find new ways to live.

We can do the same.” My heart almost stops beating at the memory of winged silhouettes overhead, the savage shrieks that once haunted me.

But now, there’s only the murmur of falling water and the flicker of flames.

He leans against me, tears of sorrow and relief glistening. “I never thought I could break free of him,” he admits, voice trembling. “But you… gave me the courage. And I gave up… everything to stand at your side.” His voice trails off, pained at the mention of his wings. I cradle him closer.

“You gave up your old life,” I say gently, kissing his face. “But you gained a new one. With me, if you’ll have it.”

He exhales, tears sliding down his cheeks. “I want nothing else.”

The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows across the cave walls. In the flickering light, we share another quiet embrace, lips meeting in a gentle, weary kiss. Our hearts beat together, pulses settling into a slower, calmer rhythm than we’ve known in so long. No hunts tonight.

Eventually, we settle side by side, letting the night’s hush cradle us.

My collar jingles faintly, a final echo of the chains that once bound me.

Soon, I’ll tear it off entirely. But for now, it’s a reminder that even if I carry scars, I’m free.

We both are. We forged our path with blood and flame, but we did it.

I glance at Korrin, who dozes with his head on my shoulder, breath warm against my neck.

My chest fills with a fierce wave of love.

He can’t fly anymore, but I’ll walk every step with him.

The memory of him severing his wings still sends tears brimming, but I let them fall. We’re alive to grieve, to love.

When the morning dawns again, we’ll face the question of where to go, how to survive in a land that might remain hostile.

Perhaps we’ll travel beyond these mountains, searching for a land unknown to gargoyle or dark elf.

Maybe we’ll carve out a refuge right here, hidden in the wilderness, letting my purna power defend us if needed.

The details remain uncertain, but the foundation is clear: We stand by each other.

I wrap the cloak around us both, letting the weariness of battle slip away. The night air is cool, the waterfall’s gentle roar a lullaby. Korrin’s heartbeat slows, matching mine. I kiss the top of his head, inhaling his scent—smoke, sweat, and something purely him. He’s my anchor, I’m his shield.

Outside, the stars wheel overhead, silent witnesses to our final stand.

The Alpha is slain, the gargoyles scatter, the dark elves retreat.

Korrin’s wings lie severed, but his spirit—our spirit—remains unbroken.

My tears glisten in the firelight as I let the calm of well-earned victory wash over me.

We overcame everything they threw at us.

A quiet vow takes shape in my mind: We’ll build a life from these ashes, wingless or not, free from collars and commands.

The synergy of our love and my magic forms a new path forward.

With that promise echoing in my thoughts, I rest my cheek against his, drifting into a sleep that, for once, holds no nightmares—only the tender warmth of him pressed to my side.