His response was a guttural growl, his desperation etching deeper into his features as his plans unraveled thread by thread. It was almost pitiable. Almost.
"Collie!" Legacy's shout pierced the cacophony, pulling my attention to a soldier who had slipped past my guard.
The world slowed, adrenaline sharpening every detail—the glint of his blade, the sweat on his brow, the inevitability of pain.
I’d been here before. Too often.
But the pain never came. Legacy was there in half a heartbeat, her body a shield, her magic a barrier that deflectedthe strike. Our eyes locked, and something passed between us—a silent vow that this wouldn't be our end.
"Let's try to keep you whole, okay?" she asked.
"Good plan," I breathed out.
Tannin's soldiers fell away like autumn leaves, their numbers dwindling. But we’d been too slow. Tannin or one of the advisors must’ve blocked Varna’s shimmering wall, and they had already scuttled out.
I wasn’t too worried about them, though. Ehuna had ensured there was only one entrance and exit from this fortress.
Finally, the last of the soldiers lay defeated, the echo of battle still ringing within the stone walls. The metallic taste of magic coated my tongue as I surveyed the aftermath of our battle.
"Collie!" Legacy gasped, her breath coming in ragged pants as she collapsed against the wall, her fiery hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. “You all right?”
“I’m fine.” I rushed toward her and dropped beside her, relief flooding through me as I took in the sight of her—alive and victorious.
Our grins mirrored each other's, a moment of shared triumph.
"Don’t be so worried about me," I said, my voice hoarse with exhaustion and exhilaration, though my heart warmed that she cared so deeply about what might happen to me. “If a whole crumbling fortress can’t kill me, nothing can.”
"Better not tempt fate," she replied, a chuckle escaping her lips as she leaned her head against the stone wall. “I can’t lose you again.”
I wanted to reply with something witty, something that would show how nonchalant I was about the whole nearly-getting-killed thing, but instead, I found myself reaching out, brushing a stray lock of red from her eyes, a simple touch that held all the confessions of my heart.
“I want a kiss,” I said.
Legacy grinned, a rare sight that I could wish upon if I weren't so damn captivated by its fleeting beauty. “That can be arranged.”
I leaned in and touched my lips to hers hesitantly, once, then twice. Her warm, supple lips molded to mine, as real as the electric air sparking with so many promises between us. I pulled back, my chest heaving, my mind spiraling around this single moment forever. Legacy searched my eyes, her enchanting grin locked in place.
"Hey, look at this!" Varna shouted. “Oh no, I didn’t mean to interrupt you two. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, Varna.” I pulled away and stood, offering my hand to help Legacy stand.
She took it, and both our fingers sought out the other’s pulse, as though both of us still needed reassurance that this was real. When we realized what we were doing, we both laughed.
“Well, I found something on the table.” Varna’s dark eyes widened with urgency as she waved a bundle of parchments. "Evidence of dirty deeds these traitors have committedwithsignatures."
"Good. Let's get out of here before more trouble finds us," I said.
Other than my magic still rattling and banging around the rest of the fortress, the journey back to the front gates went by pretty quietly. We were battered, bruised, and barely standing, but there was no room for weakness—not when the end of the war seemed within reach.
"Almost there," Legacy murmured.
"Can't wait to see the look on Ehuna's face when she sees we survived our little reckless adventure," I said with a wry grin. “And brought Legacy back to life.”
We finally burst through the gates, and there, surrounded by a contingent of loyal Caputo soldiers, stood General Ehuna, the white sigils on her skin glowing in the moonlight. Her dark eyes found mine, and when she saw Legacy, she smiled—a rare sight that made the corners of my mouth twitch in response.
Come to think of it, had she ever smiled before?
"Looks like you've had quite the evening," Ehuna said.
