The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,156

and pleasured her. I’d talked and laughed with her. I’d played games with her. I’d trained her, and I’d encouraged her as she’d worked on her weapons. I’d known the sweetest peace.

I’d lived for the first and last time.

My dimming gaze returned to the mirror, to Ashleigh. She would be my last sight—I would not end my journey any other way.

She was on her knees, crying, shaking, because she knew what I knew. I couldn’t be healed from this. The second the blade was removed, I was dead. Magic wouldn’t be able to heal me fast enough. I knew this firsthand.

A moment of communion passed between us, when I projected the things I’d hoped to say to her after she accepted my proposal. I love you. I’m sorry for every mistake I made with you. You made my life worth living.

Goodbye, I mouthed.

Ashleigh shouted, “No.” She lifted a small crossbow and hammered at the trigger. Tempest jerked, a hiltless golden dagger protruding from the tip of her boot.

In a rage, my sister fought to remove the blade. But it stuck, as if welded to a bone.

At the same time, Raven took a golden dagger to the heel. She couldn’t remove it, either, no matter how mightily she tugged.

As they thrashed, Ashleigh threw back her head and screamed to the ceiling. The sound of it... More pain, rage, and sorrow than I’d ever heard. I cringed, warm blood dripping from my ears. From everyone’s ears. People of every color, creed, and species stopped whatever they were doing to cover their ears.

Glass shattered, raining from champagne glasses and high arching windows. All but the mirror above the throne. In a blind panic, people scrambled to get out of the way. Armed guards attempted to corral the crowd without success.

Strength deserted me. My legs gave out, and I hit my knees. The dais shook, rattling my bones. All around, chaos ruled.

Dimming...

Another commotion broke out. Roth swung from a vine—through the mirror. One of Everly’s gateways. His men followed close on his heels.

The second those soldiers were safely ensconced inside the palace, the vines retracted, filling the open spaces to prevent anyone from escaping.

Dimming... I returned my gaze to Asha. She wiped her tears and lumbered to her feet, determination stamped in her expression. Eyes narrowed, she stalked toward me once more, purpose in every step. Almost upon me.

Ashleigh punched my mother in the face with a flaming fist, and a screaming Raven fell. I had no sympathy for her.

Tempest prepared to strike at my princess, but Ashleigh slammed a fist dead center in the girl’s sternum, just as I’d taught her. My sister screamed, too, her shirt smoking, the skin beneath it blistering upon contact.

Ashleigh dropped to my side, her flames vanishing. Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked me over. “Oh, Sax.”

I lost sight of the rest of the world. Ashleigh was my sun, my every thought revolving around her. “I’m so sorry, Asha. Hurt you. Love you.”

“Shh. Shh. Save your strength, my darling.”

Blood gurgled from me. Time running out. I used my strength to caress her cheek, leaving a smear of gold dust behind. No, it wasn’t gold dust. It was amour, so much stronger than ever before. “You were. Worth. Wait.” Worth every trial. Worth...everything. I would have died a thousand more deaths with Leonora, just to have this one life with her.

Her tears came faster. “You’re not going to die, Sax. You’re going to live, and we’re going to kill Leonora together. I’m going to marry you. So fight with everything you’ve got. I’m going to be doing the same.” She reached out with a shaky hand to caress the side of my face, her skin hot but not burning. “This isn’t the end for you. This isn’t the end for us.”

“Die already.” Raven bellowed as blood poured from her wounds. She still hadn’t removed the dagger from her heel, and it had immobilized her.

Ashleigh didn’t look away from me as she raised the crossbow and fired another metal shard into Raven’s abdomen.

Chin trembling, she dropped the weapon and reached toward my face once more, only to switch direction midway, aiming for the dagger still embedded in my chest. Except, she drew back once again. “Be mine. Never be hers. I will give you one last chance—Don’t listen to her, Sax—I will save your life, but first you must pledge—No. Pledge nothing.” She pressed her lips together, going quiet, her eyes flashing between green and blue so quickly