Page 34 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

T he Sythers charged, their gaunt forms slicing through the air with a sinister elegance.

The lead Syther, distinguished by its size and brutal snarl, dashed across the stretch between them and lunged at Cade with its jagged spear and unnatural speed.

Cade, unperturbed, planted his feet firmly and raised his sword, deflecting the attack with a clang of steel against iron.

In an instant, Cade’s hand flared with an orange glow, and as he clenched his fist, flames erupted from his hand.

His phoenix head staff materialized, its ruby eyes shimmering as if alive.

With a swift movement, Cade raised the staff, sending a torrent of fire blazing toward the Sythers.

Several of them howled in pain as the flames licked their bodies, but they pressed forward, undeterred.

Hunter, agile and precise, darted between two Sythers, his sword carving in a deadly arc.

One Syther fell with a gurgling cry, clutching its throat as blood spurted from the wound.

Hunter spun, his dagger finding its mark in the chest of the second Syther.

The creature collapsed to the ground, its lifeless eyes staring up at the sky.

I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.

This is it, Ash. You’re fighting beside Cade and Hunter.

This is your chance to prove you’re not just a helpless slave.

Eden pulsed inside me, her golden warmth filling my core.

I focused on the power within, visualizing the golden light expanding, growing larger and brighter.

Don’t overdo it, I reminded myself sternly. Use only as much as you need. Remember Cornelius’s words.

A Syther rushed at me, its curved blade glinting in the sunlight.

I thrust my hands out, and a brilliant pulse of golden light erupted from me, sending the creature stumbling back.

The gold-hued radiance enveloped the Syther, lifting it high into the air before dropping it with a sickening thud onto the ground.

Its bones crunched as its body hit the earth, and the creature lay motionless.

That’s it, Ash. You can do this. You can defend yourself.

"Keep fighting," Cade shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

He was a whirlwind of fire and steel, his sword and staff moving in harmonious tandem.

A Syther lunged at him, but Cade sidestepped, bringing his sword down in a brutal arc that severed the creature's head from its body.

The head rolled spattering blood in circles below it.

The Sythers charged, their gaunt forms slicing through the air with a sinister elegance.

The remaining Sythers hesitated for a moment, their eyes fixed on the lifeless form of their comrade.

But their momentary shock only fueled their rage, and they redoubled their efforts, surging forward with renewed ferocity.

Cade and Hunter fought with relentless skill, their movements fluid and precise.

Cade's staff sent arcs of fire scorching through the air, while his sword deflected and struck with deadly accuracy.

Hunter's dual-wielding of sword and dagger made him a formidable force, darting between the Sythers with lethal grace.

I focused on harnessing Eden's power, channeling it into controlled bursts of golden light. Each blast sent Sythers reeling, their advance temporarily halted. *Stay steady, Ash. Don't let the adrenaline overwhelm you.* I reminded myself, maintaining a steady flow of magic.

We have to keep pushing. I glanced at Cade, seeing the determination in his eyes despite the strain on his face.

This fight was crucial—it was about more than just survival.

It was about proving that we could stand against the queen's forces, about showing that we were capable of resisting her tyranny.

A Syther lunged at me, its spear aimed at my heart.

I sidestepped, feeling a surge of adrenaline as I raised my hands.

A golden orb pulsed from my palms, hurling the Syther back with a force that sent it crashing into a tree.

The tree shivered, and the Syther slumped to the ground, unconscious or dead.

Bella is inside. She's safe. But if we fall, they'll get to her. They'll get to Rosa eventually. I can't let that happen. The thought of Bella and Rosa in danger fueled my resolve. I couldn't let the Sythers win. I couldn't let the queen take me!

Cade let out a grunt of pain as a Syther's blade sliced across his arm. Blood seeped from the wound, but he didn't falter. With a roar of defiance, he held his staff upward, sending a column of fire engulfing the Syther. The creature screamed in agony, its body consumed by the flames.

Hunter stumbled, narrowly avoiding a spear that whizzed past his ear. He gritted his teeth, his grip on his weapons tightening as he launched a renewed assault against the Sythers surrounding him.

I channeled another burst of magic, this time lifting a Syther off the ground and flinging it into a group of its comrades. The impact sent them all tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.

We're making progress. We're holding our own. But as I scanned the battlefield, I saw that the Sythers were relentless. For every one we felled, another took its place, their numbers seeming endless.

I focused on the golden light within me, drawing on its power to fuel my attacks. I focused on my power, but tried to keep it controlled. It would only take one wrong burst to send me to the ground, depleted and helpless.

Each burst of my magic sent Sythers reeling, their advance momentarily halted. But the Sythers were learning. They attacked in coordinated waves, their movements more strategic. They seemed to anticipate our attacks, their defenses tightening.

Cade let out a cry of pain as a Syther's blade found its mark, slicing deep into his thigh. He stumbled, and for a moment, I thought he might fall. But with a surge of sheer willpower, he steadied himself, his eyes blazing with renewed determination.

He's hurt. He can't keep going like this. Concern for Cade surged through me, but I couldn't let it distract me. I had to keep fighting, had to keep pushing.

Hunter, seeing Cade's injury, redoubled his efforts, his attacks growing more desperate. He fought with a ferocity that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, his strikes finding their marks with brutal efficiency.

I channeled another burst of magic, this time lifting a Syther off the ground and flinging it into a group of its comrades. The impact sent them all tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.

Keep going, Ash. You can't falter now. I focused on the golden light within me, drawing on its power to fuel my attacks. Each burst sent Sythers reeling, their advance momentarily halted.

The battle raged on, the air thick with the scent of blood and the terrible smell of burnt flesh.

The Sythers seemed to multiply, their numbers barely dwindling despite our relentless assault.

Cade’s injury was taking a toll on him; his movements were slower, his breaths more labored.

Hunter fought valiantly, but fatigue was setting in, his strikes becoming less precise.

I channeled more of Eden's power, careful not to overextend myself.

Just enough, Ash. Control it. I focused on the golden light within, shaping it into controlled bursts that sent Sythers tumbling back.

The glow from my hands illuminated the battlefield, casting eerie shadows on the twisted faces of our enemies.

Cade, grimacing in pain, managed to send another torrent of fire from his staff, incinerating a group of Sythers that had been advancing on him. Hunter, breathing heavily, dispatched another Syther with a swift strike to the heart.

But the numbers were against us. For every Syther we felled, more seemed to replace them from the trees. Their attacks grew more coordinated, their tactics more cunning. They anticipated our moves, adapting and countering with chilling precision.

A Syther with a fearsome snarl lunged at me, its spear aimed at my chest. I stumbled back, channeling a burst of golden light that sent the creature crashing into a boulder.

As I turned back to the battle, I saw Cade, his face pale and drawn.

He was injured, and even with his ferocious will, his strength was waning.

His thrusts were labored and his fire magic more erratic, more desperate.

We have to get him out of here. I looked around frantically, assessing our options. But where can we go? The dragons are pinned, and we’re surrounded.

As if sensing my thoughts, a group of Sythers encircled me, their eyes glinting with malice. Cade was struggling to keep his footing, Hunter was fighting valiantly but was overwhelmed also. The lead Syther stepped forward, its eyes narrowed as it raised its spear.

“There's nowhere to run Gold-Marked. We are here for you. The others may die, but the queen wants you. She wants you so badly."

"The queen can go to the Infernal Depths and rot there for all I care!" My fists were balled up, radiating with golden magic. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Who said anything about you going anywhere?" the lead Sythers snarled with an awful smirk.

My stomach fell to the ground and terror rushed through my limbs like red rivers. "What do you mean? Speak or I'll incinerate you from the inside!"

The queen is coming for you,” it growled, its voice a chilling echo. "She's done waiting on Prince Cade to do his duty. She's coming... for you..."

My heart sank as the reality set in. My limbs went numb and my heart pounded like a hammer striking hot iron on an anvil.

We were in trouble, deep trouble. The house was no longer a safe hiding place.

We were outnumbered, and Cade was injured.

The fight was far from over, but the odds were stacked heavily against us.

My mind raced, desperate for a solution, a way out. But as I looked around, all I saw were Sythers, their eyes glinting with a dark promise of death.

And as the lead Syther advanced, its spear poised to strike, I knew that this battle was far from over. But the outcome, at least for now, was grim.

I had got to get out of this mess and help Cade.

But there are so many of them... I can't let these monsters kill them.

I can't let them win. But there are so many of them.

.. and they're so relentless. I can't lose now.

Not after all I've been through. I've got to find a way. .. There's got to be a way...