Page 135 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

I allow myself a half second to inspect the gem, webs of pulsating, venomous green veins snaking away from it with each steady beat.

The moment costs me; the lonyx jumps out of the water behind me and digs its long talons into my right pectoral. It swipes all the way to my back, ripping my flesh open with jagged, fiery pain, stiffening my spine.

I let out a bellowing scream as I raise the stake and rear back with all my strength— crunching through bone as I strike the lonyx right between the eyes.

Putrid viscera sprays the back of my head, the side of my face, with an acidic burn as its talons slide out of me just below my shoulder blade.

The dead creature splashes into the water behind me.

Breathing heavily and bleeding profusely, I hold the stake tighter in my hand.

I close the final distance between myself and the emerald, digging the tool into a small crack between the gem and the wall. It gives easily, far easier than I expected, and falls with a soft thump into my openhand.

The glow instantly fades; the only light left comes from the still pulsing veins that were surrounding the gem. With each beat, the light dims more and more in the absence of its lifeforce. I collect my sword, sheathing it before turning back to the shore.

My heavy feet trudge out of the pool, and I lay on my back to catch my breath.

From the insufficient light of my torch, I can just make out the large emerald cradled in the palm of my hand and laugh.

Only resting for a moment longer, I collect myself and start heading back towards the mouth of the cave, staunching the flow of blood from my shoulder with my ruined shirt.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

ELLYA

My sobs are hysterical as I hold my mate’s body, clawing at his chest to pull his dead weight closer, willing my actions to be undone.

But it is done.

Alec’s blood runs and pools around my knees. The stickiness leaching into my clothes fuels my panicked grief—seemingly seeping into my skin and causing all the blank and gray spots of my memory to fill back in. The dark ink spreads rapidly to fill the hungry holes where Alec lived, squeezing the ragged air out of my lungs while my salty tears run into my mouth.

All the years of friendship and companionship. Visits and lessons and beautiful letters. Laughs and smiles. Comfort through struggles. Sharing of stories and memories. Time spent with each other and our families. Celebrating holidays and birthdays and exchanging gifts. We shared every part of our lives with each other, eager to experience what made the other happy as we worked towards our goal of what we were always meant to be.

So much happiness; so much love.

Eighteen years of building a beautiful, solid foundation of pouring into each other and learning about each other. All the loveand excitement over a lifetime Fated to be spent with a person that meant more than what a bond claimed we were.

I know him to the very marrow of my bones.

Those memories that made my life so vibrant and happy have finally returned.

Only now, it’s too late.

Holding Alec tightly, I cry for several long minutes, unable to let go, unable to move. Unable to accept the reality of what was right in front of me and how I willingly pushed him away because I couldn’t come to terms with what had happened to me.

While wallowing in my hurt, I denied myself comfort and love.

I let Locane win. He tried to use his dark magic to sever my mating bond with Alec, and though Locane didn’t succeed the way he intended, he still won in the end.

Screaming, I let the weight of all that Locane did and the repercussions crash down on me, caving in my chest. I’ve tried to bury and stifle that pain for too long and it’s coming to wreak havoc on me all at once.

My anguish for all that Locane put me through rips through me, jagged splinters embedding in my very existence. The lies and manipulation. The cruelty of his words for the sole purpose of making me doubt myself; to make me believe that I needed him far after the hold of his magic wore off. The small affectionate touches and breadcrumbs of compliments to solidify that dependence. The way that he touched my body so selflessly, making it appear that it was only for me, not demanding his own pleasure.

The way he used my bond with his brother to make me trust him. He made me believe that deep down there may have been something there with us.

Andit worked so well.

Every time my doubt and mistrust in Locane began to creep up again, he would feed me those small instances of home and familiarity that was all Alec. I fed off the way my heart—my soul—longed for my mate, starved and demanding sustenance.