Page 84 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

T he cave Penina had found was large and accommodated the blazing fire Bane provided with ease.

But despite the added heat, the ice lining the walls barely melted, a shimmering glaze against the flames.

The others gathered, stripping off their outer layers and reaching for the warmth of the fire, no one speaking, everyone waiting for my next words with baited breath, quietly digesting what had transpired the past two days.

"Where is he?" Asher asked softly, breaking the silence.

My lips thinned and stiffly I nodded to the shadows. Everyone watched with avid interest as they swirled upon the ground growing larger and then lifting away completely revealing Emon in all his sleeping glory.

Tyr crossed his arms with mock hurt, purple eyes studying his best friend, "Of course the asshole got his first tattoo brands without me."

My eyes trailed along Emon’s markings as I traced the edges of my own just inside the fur cuff of my coat. "Do not worry my friend, he got them without me too."

Xi placed her arm around me and hugged me tightly.

"Rem?" Penina said softly. Tearing my eyes away from my shifter mate, I looked into her questioning eyes. "Where is Emon's bag? That he traveled with in Sheol? It might help him once he wakes to have something familiar."

My eyes narrowed on the innocent look in her warm brown eyes. Her piercings shimmering in the firelight.

Riella clapped her hands and more than one of us jumped. On edge in these new lands and after the story just told. "Oh, I'll get it! Zaki!" she cried.

When a long eared, red eyed bunny appeared hissing at everyone except for Riella and I, they reared back.

"Zaki," Riella sighed, "Be nice."

Tyr arched his pierced brow, the tattoos over his shaved head wrinkling, "Anyone want to explain why we are sharing a cave with a demon rabbit?"

Asher leaned in with a fascinated expression. "It's not a demon, it's a pookah."

"He is my spirit guide," Riella smiled at him and stroked his fur. "Zaki, we need faedere's bag."

The pookah nuzzled her hands before flashing away to return seconds later, dropping our bag in front of us with a loud thud that echoed off the walls of the cave. "Thank you Zaki," I said, shifting the bag over to Penina. "I am hoping having you all here once he wakes will also help."

"So how do we wake sleeping beauty?" Bane growled out from the entrance of the cave, his eyes never leaving the Sanguine night. It was only slightly dimmer than when we first came, the eclipse full and permanent in the sky.

I sighed rubbing at my temples. "His soul is inside of me, I must breathe it back into him with a kiss. "

Tyr's laughter roared, before twitches of smiles broke across all our faces. "Like a goddess damn princess?" he guffawed.

Penina smacked him. "Can't you tell this is hard enough on her?" But she could not stop the grin on her face from spreading. "I cannot wait to tease him for the rest of his life for this."

Asher winked back at her. "Aye, me too lass."

I sighed and rubbed my hands on my thighs before rising.

"I cannot delay this any longer." Walking towards my soulmate, I waved my hand, the shadows making the glass disappear instantly.

Staring down at Emon's strong jaw line, I trailed the scruff of his beard, before reaching up and brushing his hair off his brow.

I was more than eager to see his golden eyes open, but also I was fearful to face what I might see in them when they did.

The others gave me my space, waiting patiently and supportively at my back.

Breathing deeply and closing my eyes to concentrate, I reached for Emon and Ethereal's souls.

They flickered inside my chest just like the lights in Sheol.

I felt for the shadow around their outlines, grasping onto them and pulling it upwards at the same time as my lips leaned over and touched Emon's.

They were soft and I savored the touch, feeling the loss of his soul acutely, leaving behind just the frozen chill of my heart that I prayed he could warm again.

Please, please, let this be enough , I pleaded, losing myself in the feel of his lips, breathing his soul back into his half dead body.

My weariness and grief was overwhelming, my mind foggy and slow with so much fatigue that I missed the warning growl rumbling from my soulmate's chest.

Rough hands gripped my upper arms and I practically sagged against the radiating warmth blasting from him, imagining that bronze glow of his sculpted frame coming back to life again, his power pulsing with it.

"Emon," I whispered against his mouth. My eyes fluttered open only to be ensnared by the blazing white gold of his—full of rage and hatred .

The vision of him blurred and I gasped when the snap of my spine echoed off the walls, my back hitting the floor in one violent assault. My skull quickly followed, cracking against the unforgiving stone. Sparkling spots danced in my vision as a new kind of beast leered above me.

Dazed, I felt my arms being pinned above my head and I gasped when claws pierced through their exposed flesh, anchoring me to the stone floor like a sacrifice. Another set of claws nicked at my exposed throat, where my pulse was beating wildly.

Blinking through the stars in my vision, I could see Emon rise above me, his fangs descending from his snarling mouth. His golden glare glittered with disgust and loathing.

"At last, Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark, the queen's dirty little whore, is all mine to play with. I told you I would find you again,” he chuckled with satisfaction twisting his claws into my arms and relishing the tears springing from my eyes.

I knew he saw my tears as ones of pain, but they were far from it.

They were tears of loss. I swore I would hold on, that I would not break—but I never promised I would not shatter—and I did, into thousands of pieces where there was no more light in the darkness.

I had lost everything once but this was much much worse.

Leaning in he purred, licking at the tears falling from my eyes. "Such pretty tears. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just fucking kill you for all that you have stolen from me, shadow bitch."

I tilted my head back, exposing my throat further to him, the words he once wielded against me when he first revealed who he was, whispered brokenly from my lips, "If you truly believe this, then fucking end me. I do not want to ever live in a world where you look at me the way you are now.”