Chapter 12 Love Declared Amidst Battle
Tears sting my eyes. I had a way out and I let her take it. What if that was my only chance? What if I’ve doomed myself to die just because I’m too stupid to be selfish?
You will not die, there are two scales left. Red and black. They’re very powerful, and you will be unstoppable with either.
I ignore the flash of joy that the voice is back. That level of insanity is something I’ll have to analyze later. “Who got the silver?” I ask, panting as I run.
I’m quickly tiring now, my muscles burning and my hand stinging so bad I can barely think straight. Poison dragon equals poison scales, which makes sense.
Prince Zaries Carpathian has secured the silver scale.
“Good.” I breathe a sigh of relief. That’s two I don’t have to worry about. “Oberon?” I ask, trying not to think about the fact I’m believing a disembodied voice.
Oberon is close to the black scale, but so is Malachi.
“Wait, you know where the scales are?” I slide to a stop, shocked beyond belief.
Of course I know where they are! I’ve been trying to lead you to them, but you keep trying to die or save someone!
My lips twist wryly. He’s got a point, even if I don’t like it. “Lead me toward the red scale,” I order. If this thing is a product of my own insanity, it will do as it’s told.
The voice laughs, the sound deep and disturbing coming from my own mind.
You do not order me to do anything, fledgling!
“Well then, why are you in my head?”
The laughter continues, but before I can respond, the stinging in my hand flashes. Explodes like a bonfire. I gasp as it brings me to my knees, clutching my arm as I watch the vile green spread under my skin. “Will it matter if I get a scale if I die from this poison before I can escape the maze?” I ask, a dry laugh rasping up my throat. This is not how I’d hoped I’d die.
Lightning is about to strike the puddle in front of you. Put your hand in it.
“What? No! I’ll die!” I protest, crawling away from the puddle nearest me and watching the skies.
Put your hand in the water, Anara! Now!
I move, my body obeying even though my mind protests and fights for its life. The same instant my hand touches the water, the lightning strikes. Electricity crackles over the surface and arcs to my arm, running up and scorching me everywhere the poison has crawled. The light is blinding. The noise an assault on my ears. The immense power is completely overwhelming.
Yet I feel nothing but a slight heat, a singeing of my flesh as if numbed by a protective spell. I watch, wide-eyed, as I'm marked by the lightning but not harmed.
“How…” I whisper, unable to believe my eyes.
My magic protects you.
“What magic can protect me from the wrath of the skies?” I ask, my voice barely audible.
For the first time, I start to consider that maybe someone else is in my mind.
And if so, who?
“Anara! Get up! Run!”
This time, the voice is outside of me. And panicked.
I look over my shoulder, still in shock from surviving electrocution, to see Oberon racing toward me. He has the black scale tucked into his obsidian armor. The thing is so large it pokes toward his neck in a threatening way. If he were to look down sharply, he’d impale himself. My jaw drops open with the realization as he ducks and scoops me off the ground.
Instinctively, I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. I stare at the shard in awe as it emits smoke, clouding the path behind us. It’s not dark enough to hide the glint of a red scale pierced by a sword as it propels itself towards us.
“Malachi!” I scream breathlessly. “He’s got the red scale. Why is he chasing you?”
“He’s not chasing me, he’s chasing you!” Oberon roars, his hands digging into my thighs.
I realize with a shock that he’s saving me, that he came here to help me and now we’re running out of the maze. But the last scales are here, Malachi with the red and Oberon with the black.
Only two of us are getting out.
“How are we going to get that scale away from him?” I ask.
“I need you to know, Anara.” Oberon’s hands slip from my legs to my back. “I’ve been in love with you since we were children. I’m not going to let you die today. I refuse.”
“What?” I let the words sink in. He loves me? How? It’s not possible. “Wait, you’re not going to sacrifice yourself for me, Oberon! We can get that scale from him!”
“I won’t risk it. I won't risk you!”
Before I can answer, we’re out of the maze. The land opens up around us and I watch the stone wall shrink behind us as Malachi runs out, screaming. His arm is bubbled as if burned from the hand up. Looks like he touched his scale barehanded.
“I can get it from him. He can only use one hand!”
“Then I’ll get it from him after I push you through!” Oberon protests.
I can feel the crackle of power as we grow nearer to the portal.
Take the scale and get through! You’re the only one who matters here!
“He matters more than I do!” I cry, hugging Oberon tightly.
“Who? Malachi? Are you crazy?” he asks, confused.
I can only shake my head as Oberon puts me down in front of the portal. His hands are on my shoulders, his eyes red and welling with tears.
“I love you, Anara,” he professes, his face tight with conviction.
I blink in shock, not sure how to respond, when his mouth crashes against mine. I go still, unsure of how to react as my friend's hot lips press to mine. Warmth infiltrates me. Warmth I haven’t felt in a very long time. It curls through my chest, wrapping around my heart. My breath stutters. Tears sting my eyes.
I’m being touched.
Wanted.
Cherished.
And I hadn’t let myself admit how much I needed to feel even a shred of one of those.
Oberon’s tongue probes the seam of my mouth. My lips part a fraction and our tongues touch. My bones melt, and my heart swells. My hands go from shocked stillness to clinging tightly. With a sigh, I surrender myself to feelings and sensations I told myself I’m not worthy of.
Someone is roaring, the sound coming closer. Then a battering ram slams through us and Oberon is ripped away from me. I cry out as the feeling of his lips leaving mine is like my heart being ripped out of my chest. Malachi’s meaty arms hold us in a crushing grip as he leaps through the portal. He passes, taking Oberon with him.
I hit an invisible wall and bounce back, Oberon’s fingers are the last thing I feel before the ground meets me.
“No,” I gasp, trying to get up only to collapse. My vision blurs with pain and tears, but I know what happens next.
Fate has spoken.
The test is over, and I’m still inside.