Iskra roared in pain. He hoped there was no permanent damage.
“I don’t want this,” Bron said, more to himself than Jasyn, but it was still loud enough for him to hear.
Jasyn slowly approached both Bron and the Heart, nervous if he moved too quickly, Bron would reconsider.
“You don’t have to take it,” Jasyn said. “We can find a way together to take down Kryth and get you out of debt.”
Bron snapped his head up to Jasyn, and Jasyn feared he said the wrong thing until Bron’s face crumpled.
“That won’t bring her back.”
“I know,” Jasyn said, his voice soft. He sympathized with Bron. They both understood grief. “We will never be able to get the people we lost back. It’s one of the hardest truths to ever accept—I’m not sure I ever will—but we persist for them, for a future they are not able to have.”
Jasyn saw Bron wipe his nose, and Jasyn’s own eyes burned. Yet, he couldn’t have the comforting moment with the guard now. He had to act.
Jasyn bent down to grab the Heart, but before he could, he was being lifted off the ground, the blast of air from Iskra’s wings causing Bron to stumble over.
She had him in her front talons.
“Don’t touch the Heart!” Jasyn yelled as he was being carried away from the object that would finally end this.
He squirmed, but that only made Iskra tighten her hold.
“Iskra,” he gritted through his teeth as he tried getting in a deep breath, but it was fruitless. Her hold squeezed tightly at his chest.
She was taking him higher and higher toward the skylight, as if she was planning to escape through the hole much too small for her large form. The height gave Jasyn a view of the whole cavern, Bron still on that ledge, now on his knees. He hadn’t touched the Heart yet. Down below, he saw a moving form. Kryth was watching them, and even from this height, there was a satisfied glow radiating from the man.
There were a few other competitors scaling the walls. They would soon reach that ledge, and they would not hesitate to take the Heart. He had to get out of Iskra’s hold and take it first.
His one arm, free from Iskra’s grasp, banged against her talon in the hopes it would loosen her hold. It did for a short second, and he let out a deep breath, his chest filling with air.
He wished he was facing her. Maybe then, she would recognize who he was. But that was his hope persevering. Iskra did not remember him. If she did, she wouldn’t be suffocating him.
With only one option he could think of, Jasyn lifted his hand and blasted light upward, praying it landed in her eyes again.
The groan that escaped her mouth told him he’d hit his mark. Perhaps too well, because he was slipping from her talons while they were still very high up.
Jasyn gripped her tightly so he wouldn’t fall. Finally, he was at an angle where he could see Iskra. Her wings flapped, but they were still sinking downward. She just needed to bring them down a bit more, and Jasyn could attempt to leap onto the ledge with the Heart.
“Iskra,” he whispered, not sure she could even hear his voice, unsure if he even wanted her to. Still, he had to get the words out. “I forgive you and Esi for tricking me. I understand now. You wanted freedom before doom, and you deserved that. I hope the time we had together brought you happiness. I hope I showed you how wonderful life was. Most importantly,” he cleared his throat, “I hope you know I love you.”
It was stupid to say these words when she didn’t understand them, when his fate had been decided. He would marry Esi, like he promised his parents.
Yet, as Iskra struggled with his light, he dreamed of a life with her instead.
“I love you, Sundrop.”
Those words must have woken something in her, because she stopped squirming. Her large eyes were directly on him, and he didn’t shrink away from the scrutiny.
“I love you,” he repeated.
Iskra groaned in pain, but the sound was less scary. There was regret in her eyes, but he shook his head, refusing to let that feeling overtake her.
He could feel they were flying downward.
Before he could question himself, he jumped from Iskra’s arms and landed roughly on the ledge, where Bron knelt by the Heart, protecting it.
Jasyn ran and took it, ending the Undertaking while Iskra still lived. Yet, he didn’t rejoice, because Iskra stopped flapping her wings, her body falling. Jasyn yelled out for her, knowing it was in vain. He crawled towards the ledge as she tumbled to the ground.
