Page 17 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

“Not going to come along nice?” The man pulled back the bolt in his crossbow; a wide grin grew on his face. “Good. I like a good hunt. And the queen might actually enjoy getting you roughed up if you choose to fight the inevitable.”

“Suck a rock!” My words slammed into his snarky tone, sending his face spiraling and twisting into a dark expression full of hate. The ogre took a powerful step forward, shaking the ground beneath its crushing weight.

I needed my magic, and I needed it right then! I only had seconds before the crossbow would undoubtedly fire, and the enormous ogre could scoop me up in one hand and crush my bones like grabbing a handful of straw.

I reached down deep, searching for my Rune Spirit, hoping desperately the golden rune would appear on my neck, but even as the lumbering ogre advanced upon me, all I found was an overwhelming sense of dread that I was about to die.

The ogre sped forward with three great strides, completely sucking the wind from my lungs as I dove behind a tree.

I heard the low snap of the bowstring in the man’s hand and felt the air sizzle next to my ear before the bolt plunged into the thick tree.

The ogre’s massive hand swatted over me as I ducked.

It crashed into the trees, knocking into them with such force an explosion of splinters erupted all around.

The trees broke and either toppled or slid down into the ground, teetering on other trees.

I ran behind another group of thick old trees, but the ogre’s dark eyes were mad with rage.

I didn’t know if it was trying to capture me or kill me, but still, there was no magic to be found.

It swatted again, its hand causing a low whooshing sound before it crashed into the trees between us.

It shook the ground so hard it rumbled beneath my feet, knocking me back as the other trees crashed into the forest, revealing the monstrous face of the ogre and the sinister look of the man upon it.

Water enveloped me as my face submerged into the pool behind me.

The ogre and its rider rippled through the water as I gazed up at them; the ogre taking another set of huge steps toward me.

As I emerged from the water, gasping for air, the ogre and the man were directly over me.

The man nocked another bolt in the crossbow and had it aimed right at my head.

My fingers dug into the wet mud in the pool as the water dripped down my face. The man’s mouth curled into a smile as he pointed the weapon at me. The ogre opened its huge hand, ready to scoop me up.

“This is it, girl.” His yellow teeth barely parted as the ogre’s hand crept toward me .

The dread shot down my body and limbs like a lightning strike.

I can’t let him take me. I can’t go to the queen. It's all going to end before my new life even starts.

My fists hit the ogre’s fingers as they dug into the mud under me, lifting me helplessly into the air before the ogre’s awful face and the satisfied grin of the man with the crossbow.

“Time to go.” The man laughed, still aiming the crossbow at me. Beyond my fear, a rage blossomed inside me. If there was one feeling I detested more than any, it was the feeling of being hopeless and completely at the mercy of others.

“You’re not taking me anywhere.” The words seethed between my clenched teeth.

“You act like you have a choice, little girl.”

Little girl… little girl… I hated that term so much.

Those are the two words that are going to drive me into an early grave.

I can’t let him win. I can’t let him win like Garris always won.

Those words sparked something alive in me.

Something terrible and ferocious, something wanting blood.

I was done being a victim, I was done feeling helpless.

I wasn’t the little girl I used to be—chained, beaten, used—I was something more.

The water from my hair dribbled down my neck and arms, and I could feel the wetness slide between my fingers as I balled them into fists.

“Give up. You’ve lost.” The man licked his lips, glaring at me, fully satisfied I was completely powerless at the overwhelming mercy of such a monstrous foe—or at least that’s what he thought.

Something sparked alive in the wetness of my fists. The rage inside me ignited a sizzling feeling like lightning in my veins. The world funneled into a fixed gaze and eagle-like focus upon the rider wearing the colors of Emberveil. The replenishing water made me feel alive.

“I’m done being helpless! I’m done being a victim!” My fists raised to my sides as the ogre lifted me up to its eye level. In both their eyes and upon their faces, a golden light reflected.

The man’s trigger finger squeezed, and the bolt raced directly at me, flying at frightening speed directly between my eyes.

“Kill her!” The man’s eyes were impossibly wide.

The golden light pierced through my fingertips, spinning into a golden orb like an egg around me.

The bolt blasted into the golden egg, incinerating into wisps of golden light like smoke trickling up from a cigar.

The ogre’s fingers snapped shut, squeezing with all their strength.

But instead of breaking every bone in my body, the golden orb around me stopped the thick muscles in its huge fingers.

The huge mouth of the ogre clenched its rotten teeth, and its beady eyes narrowed.

It groaned, squeezing with all its might.

But instead of crushing me, it watched helplessly as I stood fully, my body enveloped in a golden light that glowed like embers smeared all over my skin.

“You’re not taking me anywhere.” My words were deep with spite and ill intention. The man had no qualms about stealing me away or killing me for the queen. How many other young girls had this man taken from their homes or killed because he enjoyed it? “You’re not going to hurt anyone, ever again…”

My Gilded Radiance shot from my hands in two spinning pillars blasting into the ogre’s shoulders and chest. It roared in pain, echoing throughout the forest as it recoiled.

I fell from its hand, landing back in the water on my feet, with the cool water rising above my knees.

My spell never stopped, and the two magical pillars continued spraying from my hands.

The magic burned into the ogre, and I could smell its searing flesh. But the water on my legs sent a rush of fresh energy into my magic, pulsing even more power into them.

“That’s it, Ash! Keep going!” Cornelius shouted beside me.

Both pillars gushed with such raw power that they both blasted through the ogre, emerging from its back in a brilliant golden light that illuminated the forest behind.

The ogre roared as my magic tore through its thick body.

It fell onto its back, and I heard the man scream in pain.

I left the pool, striding toward the monster, pulling the magic back into my hands.

Out of the corner of my vision, I saw my reflection in the pool; a bright golden light poured out of my neck.

The corner of my mouth smirked up. I had it. The Gilded Radiance was alive inside of me, and I gushed with excitement and power.

The ogre lay motionless on the ground, all life gone from the monster. As I approached the man, he lay with his brow full of sweat and his nostrils flaring. Both his legs were crushed under the fallen beast, and his crossbow was feet from his grasp.

“You little cunt! I’ll squeeze your life away with my bare hands!”

I raised my hand, brimming with golden flames. “You’re not going to hurt anyone ever again.”

Golden flames unleashed from my fist, engulfing the man in a blinding fire that killed not only him, but also his screams, which lasted only seconds in the blazing inferno.

Once he stopped writhing and his life left his body as well, the Gilded Radiance disappeared.

All light faded from my body, and I felt my magic completely gone.

Exhaustion washed over me like a tidal wave, and I crashed to my knees.

My hands shook, and an aching feeling grasped my bones. My vision blurred, and my head fogged.

But there were figures coming through the forest beyond the ogre and the man of Emberveil.

I squinted hard, trying to clear my blurred vision.

There were over a dozen of them, taller than men, with long, pale arms; bony arms that nearly reached their ankles.

They held curved swords and spears as they stalked through the Faewood.

I got upright on my knees, but that was all I could muster. All energy had left my body, and there was no magic left in me .

“Run, Ash, you’ve got to run!” Cornelius was fully visible next to me. His words were harsh and forceful. “Get up! You’ve got to run to the house!”

“I—I can’t move my legs…”

“Oh no…” Cornelius gasped. “They’re coming, Ash. You’ve got to get out of here!”

I tried to get up but collapsed to my side, barely getting a hand under me to lessen the fall.

Deep exhaustion overtook me, and just before the darkness took me, I saw two men rush past me, both with swords in their hands, both shouting loud battle cries as they rushed at the encroaching monsters.

One of the men had a dark mask and a staff with the head of a Phoenix at its tip.

“Cade…” I moaned. “Help me…”