The shadow Ember flew into the Corrupter.
It didn't come out the other side as it did with corrupted humans. It stayed inside the Corrupter, and he started screaming as he fell to his knees. I didn't back away, even as he reached for me. I just stood firm and watched, waiting for my wraith to return. But then I felt it.
Evil.
My screams added to the Corrupter's as the pain of pure evil seeped through my wraith and down the invisible cord that tethered it to me. It was like being drowned in misery. Swallowed by menace. Evil invaded my body and sought to sink further—into my soul.
“No!” I shouted and severed the tie.
My wraith shot out of the Corrupter and hovered above us, dripping in darkness. The Corrupter narrowed his eyes at it, then flung out a hand. More darkness enveloped my shadow self until, with a high-pitched tearing sound, it burst into nothing.
Instantly, pain ripped through me. I may have severed our link, but it was still a part of me, and its death sent me to the ground. While I lay there gasping and clutching at my chest as if I could fill the void beneath my hand with will alone, the Corrupter crawled over to me and leaned into my view.
“We could have ruled the world together, you foolish boy,” he growled. Then he lifted his hand, and I saw the dagger in it. “Now, you will be nothing.”
I didn't have the strength to stop the Corrupter from sinking his dagger into my heart.
Chapter Fifty
“Ember,” a sweet voice called. “Ah, there you are. Hello, little spark.”
I didn't so much open my eyes as come out of the darkness. A soft glow slowly brightened, and I found myself in an overgrown garden, massive blooms hanging heavy on their bent stalks and fruit so ripe that its scent filled the air. A woman sat on the grass beside me, her hair trailing around her and pooling on the ground. It was lavender. No, green. No, brown. The color of her hair kept shifting, as did the color of her eyes. Then she smiled, and my heart filled with joy.
“Goddess?” I sat up.
“Yes. Welcome to my realm, Ember.”
“Oh, wow. Should I bow?”
She giggled and the sound tickled my skin. “No, we don't have much time.” She took my hand and my whole essence surged with power. “This was meant to happen. All Wraith Lords must visit me, after all.” She smiled again, and in that smile, I saw her love. Felt it. “You followed your heart and chose well. Death tried to tempt you, but you resisted, just as I knew you would.”
“Is he a god?”
“No.” The Goddess shook her head. “He is the consciousness of Death, just as you suspected. He may believe he is a god, but he is not. He is just energy. Pure magic. And he would have transformed you into another Corrupter had you fallen for his tricks.”
“What about the Corrupter's stories? Is it true that the immortal races evolved from humans?”
She laughed again. “You are so smart! You want to use this chance to have all your questions answered. All right, Ember. I will tell you as quickly as I can because there is more I need to say in the little time we have. Yes, humans evolved from animals and then immortals evolved from humans.” She leaned in to wink and add, “With a little help.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“Everything else Aranren said is false. Trickery. Immortals never enslaved humans. It was his war that turned them against your people. And yes, he wanted you to fall in love with him and increase his power. He wouldn't have shared a throne with you. You would have been little more than another slave to him.”
“I knew it!”
She grinned. “My bright Ember. I have been waiting a long time for you.” She squeezed my hand. “And yes, those were your parents you saw in Death's domain. The magic drew them forth to seduce you, but it couldn't control what they said. Take comfort from that and treasure their words. Be strong and stay true to your heart. Your heart will never lead you wrong.”
“I will. I swear I will. But can you tell me how to destroy the Corrupter? He said I'd have to behead him.”
“That would work, but that terrible task is not on your shoulders alone, Ember. Ending this war will take more than one man.” She smiled gently and added, “More than three.”
“Ugh! No, please don't say it.”
“I don't have to.” She lifted her hand to tap my chest. “Your heart will lead you to them. All I ask is that you don't close yourself off out of fear. Now, one more thing before you return. Tell your lovers they need not fear either. Not for your love or your life.”
“Do you mean . . . ?” I gaped at her.
“Yes, you are one of them in every way, Ember. After all, I can't have my champion getting too old to fight.” She winked at me. “Goodbye, for now, little spark. Burn bright.”
