A loud barrage of explosions blasted across the city walls in quick succession.
The dome had fallen, but so had many portions of the border wall, no longer blocking people’s escape from the city. The magicaldome may no longer be protecting Joro, but the citizens could now find freedom if they made it out in time.
The sound of screams echoed through the trees.
Please save us all, he prayed.
They concealed themselves behind the enchanted stone facade that marked the entrance toHerrealm, taking cover under the thick vines.
Chapter 47
Seda
The blackened tornado of darkness gradually dissipated around them, revealing the sounds of chaos and destruction beyond. They landed in the woods past the Gardvord, next to the once mysterious wall she discovered with Roya. Seda resisted the impulse to open it, longing to reconnect with her roots.
She didn’t have all the stones yet, but she would soon.
Instead, her gaze shifted farther and saw that the border wall had collapsed, creating a wide opening into the Heath Forest beyond.
Her vision trailed up to the sky above Joro. The magical dome she had created upon her death was now gone. The last dying breath of her previous life, her desires, and the gift of her protection no longer existed.
Her one gift was gone.
She looked to Kalon, suppressing her fury that the dome had fallen without her here. “Thank you for transporting us here,” shesaid, still unable to meet his eyes, and instead focused on the group that had gathered. She wasn’t yet ready to face him; she wasn’t ready to confront the thing she did that probably tore him apart.
It felt strange to be in Joro once again and to see the trees she used to stare out at on her way to work. This life she had spent living in fear and conformity. It now felt strange and foreign to her. That wasn’t the real Seda. That version of herself died the moment she left Alexi a charred mass on the dungeon floor.
Chief Vidar, Lucja, a few other Vatte, and her friends stood alongside her. They looked around them with wide eyes as screams echoed in the distance.
Cahir reached his hand out and brushed it against hers.
An offer of support—of love and devotion, through thick and thin, through life and death.
His touch felt different to her, knowing more now than before, and the thought made her heart wrench in confusion. She held his hand in hers and gently squeezed it in return.
Kalon’s eyes shifted toward Seda and Cahir’s intertwined hands before glancing up at her.
“We got it from the ground,” he said to her, his voice tight and controlled. He nodded at Cahir with pursed lips.
“She’s here!” Seda heard a voice call from behind them and turned around.
Her mother, Sara, rushed out from between the trees, quickly followed by her father, Jason, and…Mordred.
“You’re back!” Sara hugged her tightly, her body shaking as she cried. “Your brother?—”
Seda interrupted, “I know.” She couldn’t hear the words again. The pain was too much, like a knife to her heart. She felt her anger simmer with fury, but kissed her mom on the cheek. She planned to seek revenge on the Lycanthropes, but for now, she had to finish Tievel’s rule.
She pulled away from her and dipped her head at her divinefather. Modred once told her he needed her for ‘retribution’. She understood why now. But she still didn’t understand his role in all of this, and why he felt like he needed excess at all. He was Solios, the first god to be created inHerdivine being, the first magical creature to walk through and experience the grasses and forests of Xyberus—the first to experience the beauty of this world. He was granted eternal life, and yet he longed for something else.
Jason hugged her tightly next, saying, “I’m so glad you’re safe. We did what we could to get people out of here by taking down sections of the wall, but many are still out there. They need you, Seda.”
She pulled away from him, trying not to allow her rolling options get the best of her, and spread her wings wide, lifting herself into the air and feeling the ache of sore muscles strain her back. She immediately felt the familiar freedom of flight blowing around her, and she pushed the muscles that had been untrained harder, not allowing weakness to hold her back any longer.
She looked down once more at both Cahir and Kalon, saying a silent prayer for them. Her eyes snagged on Cahir’s, and he smiled at her in response, revealing his dimples, but his smile felt forced. She offered one in return, before looking away and flying higher into the sky.
Roya and Elco followed her lead, trailing behind. She flew above the tree line and looked into the distance.
Jotnar were tearing through the city as people screamed and ran in fear. The evil creatures smashed into buildings and snagged at innocent people, unable to flee from their insatiable hunger. Their eyes swarmed in crimson clouds as the Dark Stone’s power radiated through their being. The scene before her was so similar to that day, when she gave all of herself in exchange for protection.
