She’s breathing! Thank the tides! Relief surges through me. The wound is superficial, and she’s going to be ok.
But Sarena – I need to find her.
“I’ll be back!” I whisper to the two women, as I turn, breaking into a run as I follow the tracks left by what looks like a solo horse. How many bandits are there?
The first drops of rain begin to fall, and I pray I find herbefore the rain washes away the hoofprints.
“Sarena!” My voice cracks as I follow the path. The air tastes of smoke, and I frown.
What is this?
I stumble to a halt when I see the orange glow ahead. Fire…
The village!
“Sarena!” I scream again, pushing forward through the growing chaos. The shouts, the heat, the roaring flames, all of it blurs as I search desperately through the smoke and cinders.
Is it the bandits or are the fire fae here? Kai, where are you?!
I rush through the chaos; no one spares me a glance, and everyone is fending for themselves.
I can’t find her. Did I misinterpret the tracks?
The rain begins to fall harder, turning ash into mud, and my feet in my flimsy sandals slip as I hurry along.
“Sarena!”
But there’s no answer.
“Sarena!” I scream again, plunging toward the fire. Smoke stings my eyes, but I don’t stop. People are shouting, running, trying to douse the flames. A roof collapses nearby, embers scattering across the ground. The heat bites my skin, but I keep going.
“Fae! It’s the fae!”
My heart hammers in fear. Are they here?
But I have to find her! I search everywhere I can, my throat raw from shouting her name. “Sarena!”
Where are you?!
I can’t let anything happen to her. They welcomed me into their home, I owe them this much.
A flash of blue catches my eye by a pile of fallen barrels, and my heart stops as I rush over, dropping to my knees. I push aside the barrels and debris until I see the little girl. Unconscious but alive beneath the wreckage. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted as if she’d been calling for help, and she’s got several bruises over her.
“Sarena,” I whisper, gathering her into my arms. “I’ve got you,” I whisper into her hair, though I don’t know if she can hear me. “You’re safe now. I won’t let them hurt you again.” Her skin is cool, but her pulse is there. She’s going to make it.
Relief floods me, and I look around. These people need protection. I can’t leave them to die. Hoisting Sarena into my arms, I turn, spotting the balls of fire raining down on the village.
I open my mouth, ready to sing them to their doom, but then a shadow blocks out the bleak sunlight, and I look up as huge wings unfurl and a sword glints in his hand.
Kai!
For the first time in my life, I feel as if someone is there to protect me. That I can rely on him, that I can sit back and know he’ll take care of it. Rain falls harder, but I don’t move, my eyes fixed on the masked sky siren who is about to unleash vengeance on our enemy.
Past Horrors
Siralaine
Iwatch as the fire fae finally make themselves known. Kai cuts them down, not holding back. I feel the violent winds as the trees bend and see the fae blasted back, countless cuts appearing on their bodies. Thunder cracks in the sky, and in the midst of it all is Kai. In this moment, he doesn’t look like a man, but a god of war. The power he’s emitting is immense as he destroys the enemy with no mercy.
