The magic hit Briar like a physical blow.
She gasped as invisible forces seized the warmth in her chest, trying to pull it in two directions at once—toward Eliam, toward Arion, tearing at her from within. But instead of flowing outward, the magic reversed. She could feel it—Arion's light and Eliam's shadows being drawnintoher, not from her.
"No," she gasped, dropping to her knees.
Power flooded through her, too much, too fast. Arion's light burned through her veins while Eliam's shadows froze them. The two magics met in her chest where the warmth resided, crashing together in violent opposition. She screamed, her back arching as golden and silver light erupted from her skin.
"What—" Malus's chant faltered. "This isn't—the flow is wrong. It should be coming through you to me, not—"
He strode toward her, his hand reaching for her chest where the magic concentrated. The moment his fingers made contact, he jerked back with a snarl. His palm was blistered, burned by the conflicting energies.
"Something's blocking it," he said, eyes narrowing. Then he saw it—the star metal pendant at her throat, glowing white-hot in response to the magical assault. "Of course. Arion's little gift."
He reached for it, but the moment his fingers touched the chain, the metal flared. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as he wrenched his hand back, his palm now a ruin of blackened skin.
"Star metal," he hissed. "Clever. But not clever enough."
He raised the ritual blade, intending to cut the chain, but that moment of distraction was all Arion needed.
Light erupted across the seal. Not the sickly glow of corruption, but pure, brilliant white light. Arion had broken from his position, crossing the distance in a burst ofdesperate speed. He slammed into Malus, sending them both sprawling across the carved stones.
"You won't touch her!" Arion snarled, light gathering in his palms.
They grappled on the seal's surface, Arion's light colliding with Malus's decay in bursts that left scorched patterns on the ancient stone. Malus caught Arion's wrist, twisting it backward until tendons strained. Arion drove his knee up, connecting with Malus's ribs, forcing him back a step. The chanting guards maintained their rhythm, voices rising and falling without pause.
Briar watched through vision that kept doubling and blurring. The magic continued to flow into her chest, hot and relentless. Her ribs felt too tight, as if her bones might crack from the pressure building inside them. Her heartbeat stuttered, racing too fast and then skipping beats entirely. Something vital was tearing, coming apart at the seams.
Arion landed a strike that sent Malus stumbling backward. Light gathered in his palms, building to devastating levels. He advanced, pressing his advantage.
Malus feinted left. Arion followed the movement, his guard shifting to block.
The ritual blade appeared in Malus's other hand. He'd been holding it low, hidden against his leg, waiting for the opening.
He drove it upward with brutal force.
The blade pierced through Arion's ribs, sinking deep into his chest.
Chapter thirty-six
Time seemed to stop.
Arion's eyes went wide, looking down at the blade protruding from his ribs. Light began to leak from the wound. No blood, only pure radiance, his very essence escaping.
"No!" Briar's voice cracked across the clearing.
Another cry had echoed alongside hers and she looked to see Eliam on his hands and knees, clutching his chest as though he himself had been stabbed.
Arion stumbled back from Malus, his hand going to the blade. When he pulled it free, more light poured out, and Briar could feel it, his essence, flowing toward her with nowhere else to go.
He dropped to his knees beside her, one hand pressed to his chest, the other reaching for her face. She caught him when he tumbled forward, his body limp in her arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, light already fading from his eyes.
“No, no, not like this, it’s not supposed to be like this,” she gasped, gripping him tightly even as she felt his body beginning to fade in her arms.
“I’m not really…” he coughed. “I’m not leaving. Just… going home.”
“Please,” Briar begged, tears streaming from her eyes.
