Page 97 of Night Meets the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen #4)

VALEEN

W ith her goddess blade in hand and her magic flowing out in the form of shadows and vines all around her, she marched for Synick. Soldiers ran past her to chase down the enemy, weapons clashed further down the battlefield, and the elven archers on the wall cheered at the retreat of the invaders.

Synick didn’t turn to run. He waited. They both knew this moment was coming and neither of them would back down.

He didn’t have his skeleton creatures, and she didn’t wait for anyone to help her either. This was one on one.

“It would be a shame for you to finally have everything you want, your immortality, your people, your mate, just for me to end you with this sword,” Synick said as she approached.

“It would be, but that’s not going to happen.” She swung and their blades hit with a spark. With a hard shove, she knocked him backward into the body of a dead dragon.

Now that she was immortal, she was physically stronger than him. With a downward hack, she went for his head. He dove to the side and her blade cut a streak in the dragon’s flesh.

This was retribution. This was his judgment day, and he’d been found guilty.

She swung with the might of all the burning stars.

An ice storm began to swirl around them, tearing at her hair. Shards hit her skin but bounced off. Frost covered her armor but the drop in temperature didn’t affect her. She fought back with her vines; they ripped out of the ground thick and strong, breaking up his winter fury.

She swung and he parried, knocking her blade aside, the Sword of Truth sliced through her armor like butter and cut into her lower right rib cage. The pain shocked her for a moment, and she whirled.

Her vine punched out of the ground, aiming straight for his chest. An ice shield formed to block it.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Hel moving in and shook her head. I’ve got this.

With a hard swing, she shattered his ice shield and cut off his decayed arm. He stammered backward, and held up the stump, then he gave a deranged smiled. “Doesn’t hurt.” He charged again.

She ducked under another slash and sidestepped a kick to her bleeding side. They went back and forth striking, magic whirling all around. His black mask fell revealing the decay, showing what he truly was inside.

They hit swords and pushed against each other.

Then he made the mistake of puckering his lips, of losing focus to taunt her.

She slammed her forehead into his mouth.

With a hiss, he stumbled, and she kicked the Sword of Truth from his hand.

It flipped end over end until it landed somewhere in the charred grass and amongst the dead.

Zythara hummed, warming her hand. Let us end him , it whispered to her.

Another kick to his gut and he backpedaled. She quickly followed with a stab straight to his heart and slowly shoved Zythara through his armor and bones. The crunch was as satisfying as his gasping. He clutched at her blade squirming as it sunk deeper. His mouth opened but nothing came out.

“I will never think of you again,” she said. “I will even forget your name, but I’m certain you will never forget me. Say hello to the demon princes for me.”

She jerked her sword free and watched him crumble to the ground. It was only moments later that his body decayed, and he was nothing but crusty old skin and bones wrapped in armor.

Over her shoulder she watched the flags of Villhara move toward the woods, chasing the last of the council’s forces. The sounds of battle began to fade as the enemy soldiers died or surrendered.

With the Sword of Truth in hand, Hel walked toward her full of pride. “He will not haunt you or your sister anymore.”

No, he wouldn’t. A sob shook her body, and she slowly sank to her knees. It was done.

Hel dropped before her and wrapped her in his arms. “It’s over, love. It’s over.”

Finally. After two thousand years and dying and being reborn too many times, it had come to an end.

She cried harder.

We are free, Hel said . And vengeance is ours.

I wish vengeance didn’t have to cost so much. She peered over his shoulder at the death and destruction. The acrid smell of burning bodies and dead made her nauseous. The moaning sounds those in pain and close to death was all around them.

With a sniffle, she wiped her cheeks with her palms then took his hand. “Let’s find Katana, Thane, and the others.” She hadn’t seen Leif or Piper since Ronan took them during the commotion.

They didn’t have to walk far to come upon Thane shuffling through the rubble of the dead. Katana stood next to him with a hand over her mouth, looking across the landscape with moisture lining her eyes.

It was always strange after something like this.

There was the thrill of victory. Some of the archers on the wall cheered and celebrated, soldiers on the ground boasted about saving the city while others wondered who the army was that came to save them.

Few had started looking amongst the dead or helped the injured.

A hundred yards or so away she spotted Piper, Leif, and Ronan marching toward them and relaxed a little. They were covered in soot and Leif’s shoulder still bled but he was up and that meant he would be alright.

Valeen stopped beside her sister and tapped her arm.

She whipped toward her and the frown at the corner of Katana’s mouth threatened to turn upward.

She threw her arms around her and quietly sobbed in Valeen’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re alright,” Katana said softly.

“I saw you fighting Synick and wished I could help but I can barely stand right now.”

“You did enough. What you did saved us, and you saved Thane.” Valeen pulled back and gently patted Katana’s cheek. “You are remarkable, Katana. And Synick will no longer be a problem.”

“What we did, Val.” With a smile, Katana wiped the moisture from her cheeks. “Synick was there at the castle, and he persuaded Talon to pull the sword. I tried to stop her, but Thane needed me and I… I left. I left. I let the wall fall. I’m so sorry.”

“You did the right thing. Is Tif alright?”

“She hid and Synick couldn’t get into the room. I’m sure once Talon pulled Lightbringer free, he left. They must both be safe.” With eyes wide with wonder, Katana peeked over her shoulder. “I saw your House of Night flag. How?”

She scanned the horizon for the gods and goddesses that came to their rescue.

“I don’t really know. I thought they were gone…

but I saw Hel’s mother and Thane’s—well, War’s father.

” She found them in the distance rounding up those who surrendered.

Hel started helping Thane lift and push bodies, weapons, and armor. “What are they doing?”

Katana frowned. “He’s trying to find… Fennan.”

“Oh.” The pit in her stomach sank. Just as she said that, Piper and Leif came up beside them.

Panting and swiping her brow, Piper asked, “Where’s Fennan? He was with Thane.”

She doesn’t know… Valeen’s heart was crushed a little more.

“They’re looking for him,” Katana said quickly and gave Valeen a sorrowful glance.

“Did he get knocked down by the blast?” Leif asked and immediately ran toward Thane to help. They must have had their back to him when he was stabbed through the chest. Piper stared at Valeen, searching her face.

Sorrow welled up in Valeen, gripping her throat. She pursed her lips and couldn’t find her voice.

“Valeen, is he alright?” She took a step forward and grabbed hold of the collar of Valeen’s armor. Her arm was trembling and her chin quivered. “Tell me he’s alright.” She glanced at Katana. “You didn’t hurt him in the blast, did you?”

Katana quickly shook her head. “No.”

Letting out a slow breath, Valeen said, “He didn’t survive the battle, Piper.”

Piper jerked her hand back as if Valeen had hit her. “No.” She shoved her fingers into her hair and gripped it. “No. He’s alive. I know he is.”

Ronan put a hand on her shoulder, and she slapped it away.

Her armor clanked with each step as she ran toward where Thane, Hel, and Leif were now gathered.

Valeen caught up just as Piper pushed Leif and Thane aside and dropped to her knees.

The horrified scream that rent the air sliced right into Valeen’s heart.

“Wake up! Please, wake up!” She started shaking Fennan’s lifeless body, and it took both Leif and Thane to pull her away. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t mean what I said. I want you in my life.”

Thane held her from behind while Leif took her flailing arms. “He’s gone, Piper,” Thane said, softly. “He’s gone. You have to let him go.”

“No, he has to come back. Come back to us, please ! We need you— I need you.”

“Piper, he knows you loved him.” Leif’s face twisted in sorrow.

She sagged in Thane’s hold and gasped for air through her sobs. Valeen had to look away and found Hel. Even he was somber. There was a glimmer in his eye as he watched Piper.

Fennan’s face merely looked like he was asleep. He must have been underneath others during the blast and been spared the burn. But the sword he’d been stabbed with still protruded from his chest.

The captain of the Ravens would long be remembered for his bravery, not only today but in many battles. Already others in Raven black were gathering, whispering Fennan’s name. He died protecting his High King.

Ronan took Piper from Thane. She curled her arms around his neck, and he lifted her into his arms. “Come on, let’s get you back to the castle.

” His dragon wings materialized. “Will you find Dax’s body and make sure my father takes him?

Dragons do not burn so his body will need to be taken north to be buried along with everyone else. ”

“I’ll take care of it,” Thane said.

With a frown, he nodded his thanks and carried Piper away.