Fuck—I’m hit from behind and stumble forward, barely catching myself. A demon barrels into me from the front, knocking me flat on my back. Raging, I prepare to summon my magic and incinerate the bastard. Before I can act, Chepi leaps onto the creature’s back, sinking his teeth into its neck. I seize the moment, waving my hand to turn the demon into ash.
Chepi looks up at me, panting, and I give him a quick pat on the head. “Good boy,” I mutter, getting back on my feet.
He quickly spins back around, sprinting to Lyra’s side. She has moved from the stage to the center of the terrace. I scan the area and see that all the innocent bystanders are gone. Everyone has been herded to safety inside. Besides Lyra and Colton, only Chepi and I remain among the demons and shadow creatures.
My heart pounds in my throat as I look back at Lyra. Colton reaches her side as she lets out a scream that echoes louder than the thunder above. The sheer force of her voice sends a shockwave through the air. It doesn’t kill the monstrous things but stops them in their tracks, sending them fleeing back into the open crevices around us.
The shadow creatures morph back into clouds of smoke, and the darkness starts to seep back into the ground like slow-moving lava. Inky ribbons absorb back into Lyra’s hands and chest. The tips of her hair are still dark, and her eyes are swirling black pools that vein out onto her face.
I step toward her, refusing to heed her shaking head. I won’t back down, vowing to see this through. Colton wraps an arm around her lower back as Chepi nuzzles between them.The cracks beneath their feet widen, the darkness trickling down until the earth rumbles violently.
The ground beneath my feet trembles, the vibrations escalating into a full-blown quake. The surface under our feet finally gives way, opening into a massive, gaping hole. They hover momentarily on a cloud of darkness, suspended above the abyss. I stop breathing as I watch the last of the shadows melt into the earth. In that instant, they fall, swallowed by the darkness.
“No!” I roar, sprinting to the edge of the chasm.
The terror and adrenaline surge through me, my mind racing with the fear of losing them. I peer into the black void, my heart hammering in my chest. The sound of the ground cracking and the echoes of the monstrous creatures fading into the distance fill my ears.
I’m on the edge of a precipice, not only physically but emotionally. This is not just the end but the beginning as well. Either way, I’m not going to let this be the last time I see her. I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.
I dive into the chasm.
I tumble through the chasm,hot air whooshing past me, and then suddenly it’s cold—freezing. My fall steadies, and I throw my arms out in front of me, bracing myself as I slow. It’s pitch black, and I’m carried on an invisible wind until finally my feet hit the ground.
I blink into the darkness, taking a few steps as my eyes slowly adjust to the forest around me. I recognize it instantly. I’ve been here before. I know this place.
I start to run down the winding path aheaduntil I see it in the distance—the towering gates. I slow my steps as I approach, looking up at the massive structure.
The giant trunks and branches seem to move with life, tangling around the iron bars. The otherworldly moonlight of Zomea shines overhead, illuminating the faces of souls entangled around the gates as if they are part of the very structure.
Between me and the gates are Lyra, Colton, and Chepi, their backs to me.
I watch, unable to think or speak, as a crown of obsidian branches forms atop Colton’s head, followed by one of shadow and gemstones on Lyra’s. Colton looks back at me, giving me a single nod, his eyes content, then he turns back to the gates. Lyra’s hand falls to her side, and he takes it in his. Chepi’s wings materialize, and he hovers beside her shoulder.
Without anyone moving, without Lyra even touching them, the gates slowly creak open. My heart races inside my chest. I take a couple of steps forward, looking through the gates to what’s beyond.
The scene before me is almost indescribable, a complete paradox. Giant mountains covered in snow and ice loom in the distance, their peaks piercing the sky. Blackened, twisted trees with leaves that appear to be on fire dot the landscape, the flames dancing without consuming the wood. The ice remains unmelted by the fiery vegetation, an impossible coexistence of fire and frost.
Finally, Lyra turns her head and looks back at me, a hint of blue and green peeking through the swirling shadows that have become her eyes. She broaches a beautiful, wide smile that sends warmth through my heart even down here. Then she turns back, and the three of them walk through the gates.
Once inside, Colton picks her up, and she wraps her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. They kiss deeply, one that speaks of love and eternity. He pulls back andkisses her cheek and forehead, and she laughs—a natural, beautiful laugh that echoes past the gates and through the forest.
They’re happy.
They’re happy, and I think I can be okay with that.
I take a few steps closer to the gate, watching as he puts her down, and they walk hand in hand into the perpetual night. The dark landscape seems less foreboding with their presence, their love illuminating the path ahead.
I want to say something, but it’s all already been said. Instead, I watch as my brother and dear friend embark on their happily ever after, imperfectly perfect in its own way.
As the gates slowly close, a bittersweet sense of peace washes over me.
Chapter 33
One Hour Earlier Lyra
“Sorry,you know you can’t marry Colton and complete the ceremony? Then what the fuck is going on here?” Nyx’s voice is sharp and incredulous. I take a step back, wanting to deescalate the situation.
“What’s with the stack of journals?” I ask instead of answering. Moving over to the table and picking one up, I recognize Callum’s sloppy handwriting right away.
