Page 160 of Into the Heartless Wood
Seren’s heart beats quickly. Her body trembles against mine. Something drips into my mouth and I taste salt.
“I know she’s making you do this,” I rasp. “But you’re stronger than her. Seren. You’re stronger.”
Her vines coil tighter, choking the breath out of me. Blood seeps from the wounds in my chest, too much, far too much.
But she doesn’t strike the killing blow. Just holds me there. She fights the pull of her mother’s magic; she trembles with it, as if the fighting is tearing her apart.
Another flash of lightning splits the sky, and a cold wind rips between us.
Seren sucks in a soundless breath, and the vines retract, leaving me to slump to the ground.
I barely have the strength to lift my head.
King Elynion rides through the ranks of his dying army, the rain rattling his gold plate armor. He pulls up short a pace or two from the Gwydden and her nightmare creature and dismounts. In one swift motion, he takes his helmet off. His dark hair whips in the wind and the rain, and he raises his hand to the sky. He snaps his fingers and light sears the ground, so close I feel the crackle, smell the sizzle of heat. He’s calling down pieces of stars.
The Gwydden swings off her own mount, and strides up to meet him.
Chapter Sixty
SEREN
OWEN STARES AT ME.
His jaw moves, yet he does not speak.
His eyes pierce mine.
He implores me.
But he does not understand.
I can do nothing to help him.
He iswrong.
I do not belong to myself.
I only belong toher.
Were it not for the Eater, riding through the rain,
she would have made me kill him,
and he would lie even now
in pieces at my feet.
He might be dying anyway.
There is so much red pouring out of him.
My mother is distracted by the Eater.
I should run
far,
far
