She reached for that single strand, her soul filling with hope as she ever so carefully ran one fingertip down the delicate tendril.
The entire room ignited. Those ropes snapped to life, turning golden before reaching for the broken pieces. They molded together seamlessly, becoming one as if they’d never been broken at all. Arianna pulled her hand back, pressing it against her chest. The rope shifted, and those strands melted together, finally,finallybecoming one.
A smile stretched across her face. She reached for that tether, tracing her hand over what now felt like steel. They’d never be parted again. Light blasted through the room once more, this time springing from the top, and a presence she’d come to know as well as her own soul filled her body.
Arianna closed her eyes, a smile making her cheeks ache. She could feel him so clearly. He was alive and fighting and … surprised. No, surprised wasn’t a strong enough word to describe the feelings barreling down their bond.
Their solid bond.
In the real world, Arianna could hear the clashing battle. The screams. The scent of the monsters.
She didn’t know how long she’d been running. She didn’t care, all that mattered was getting to Rion. Even if she died. Even if her efforts were all in vain, she’d hold him one final time. She just wanted to remind her mate how much he was loved and treasured before he left the world. To show him one final time that he wasn’t a monster in her story.
Arianna sent those feelings barreling down the bond, flooding their connection.
I’m here.
I’m coming.
I’m yours.
I’m yours.
I’m yours.
Heartache, agony, and yearning returned tenfold.
Arianna leapt past the rear line, her heart aching at the sight of the piled bodies. There were so many who would never see tomorrow. Her healer heart begged her to help them, but those who’d caught a glimpse of their queen were already rising.
Arianna kept running.
She glimpsed faces turn from despair to hope. She didn’t know how they recognized her. Didn’t care as a roar echoed from deep in her chest.Fight, fight, fight.
She swore she heard that roar echoed back, even if she couldn’t hear it.
Steel clashing against steel rose like a symphony to her left, nearly drowned out by the growls of the Dark Fae that were swarming in mass.
Still, she didn’t falter. Arianna just pushed through the lines of warriors, most covered from head to toe in blood and gore.
Their strategy was working. Push through, let those fight on the front, then pull back and switch. It was the only thing that would give them a reprieve. And judging from the darkness swarming over the hills, she knew they’d made the right call.
The bond tightened.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
I’m coming.
She wished she could scream the words, but her lungs were barely functioning, pleading with her to stop and rest.
She refused.
Just once. She just wanted to hold him once. Feel his heartbeat. His warmth.
The bond tightened even further.
