The Rise of Fortune and Fury (Chronicles of the Stone Veil #5) - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,122

back but a few feet, but his head shifts to look our way and his eyes connect with Zora, who stands behind me.

She’s the one who threw it, and Amell is astonished.

At the same time, I see pride on his face.

Zora’s voice rings inside my head, but she’s not talking to me. She’s talking to Amell while choosing to let me hear it.

If you ever cared for me at all, she says, let him live.

Amell stares at her for a long moment before giving a slight nod. He lowers his sword to the ground, but rather than turn to battle someone else, he casts a forlorn look at Zora.

Then he blinks away, disappearing.

I catch a glimpse of Zaid on the ground, cradling Boral, whose body starts to turn black and break apart into ash. He bows his head and cries freely over his father. I make a move to start his way, comfort the only thing I have to offer.

Zora grabs my hand and jerks me back to reality, then things speed up once again.

No more slow-mo.

Just Zora standing before me with determination.

She takes my other hand in hers. “Nothing we are doing is working. We cannot defeat her and the Blood Stone.”

I don’t need to look around at the carnage again or see the demons pouring forth from the Underworld to know she speaks true.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I’m so sorry.”

Zora’s expression hardens as she shakes her head. “Don’t be sorry. Do something about it.”

“I can’t,” I moan, and I hate how whiny I sound.

“You can,” she replies softly, then steps in closer to me. She squeezes both my hands, pinning me with her eyes. “I wasn’t truthful with you about why Amell came to the condo to see me.”

I frown, slightly disoriented by this radical change of subject. “What do you mean?”

She answers me, her words coming out with urgency. “Amell came to tell me that when the magic was held back and retained inside of me, it actually kept part of Kymaris’ life force within me as well. And part of my life force went into her.”

I feel dense. This doesn’t make sense to me. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Our lives are tied to each other,” Zora explains quickly, because she knows we don’t have much time to sit here and chitchat. “The reason he tried to talk you into containing Kymaris rather than killing her is because—”

“It would kill you, too,” I exclaim in horror as it becomes clear to me. “Oh, God.”

It’s in this moment that I know I’m going to let Earth go to its doom and give up on my mission to stop this prophecy.

“You have a sacrifice to bear,” Zora reminds me harshly, and I try to jerk away from her.

“No,” I protest, trying desperately to free my hands from hers.

She’s stronger, though, and pulls me back in. “You have a sacrifice to bear,” she repeats, this time softly annunciating the words for effect.

So that I cannot ignore them.

But I do. I look away from her to take in the battle again. Kymaris cuts people down, demons rip and shred their warriors, and Carrick and Maddox’s efforts are futile.

I see Zaid still sitting on the ground, looking lost and full of regret.

My eyes snag on Deandra, battling her heart out, but she’s covered in blood.

Tears well up in my eyes again, and a choking sob tears free as I see Titus huddled over Priya’s lifeless body.

Oh, God. Priya.

All these people fighting for me.

With me.

Against evil.

Slowly, I turn my head to bring my eyes back to my sister.

My twin.

My heart.

“You can’t abandon humanity,” Zora says softly. And with her magic, she conjures a long dagger, holding it out to me. “I haven’t known humanity long, but it deserves the chance to survive.”

“I can’t,” I croak, shaking my head and refusing the dagger.

Zora flashes in toward me, then presses the weapon into my hand. She forces my fingers to close around the hilt.

Her other hand comes around my neck, and she pulls me in closer so she can whisper in my ear. “I would do it myself, Finley, but I’m not brave enough. It’s why you’re the one who has to bear the sacrifice.”

Another choking sob escapes and then I’m in free-fall, burying my face into my sister’s shoulder as I cry. “I love you so much.”

“And I love you,” she murmurs, squeezing her arm around my neck. “Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for showing me real happiness. I want you to