“Are you being honest with me, Kull?”
“I swear it on my life.”
His voice was deep, yet soft, and I knew he spoke the truth. He cupped my chin and pressed his mouth to mine. His lips felt warm and soft, and I melted in his embrace.
He’d only kissed me a few times before, but each time had taken my breath away. This time was no different. My stomach fluttered with heightened emotion, and tingles ignited throughout my body, driving away my nagging worries.
The men grew quiet around us. They backed off as Kull held me close, kissing me softly but with an intensity that whispered to my innermost thoughts.
Did he have any idea how much I wanted him? I almost hoped he didn’t. To get so close to someone frightened me. What would I do if we ever connected more intimately? What would I do if I lost him? The thought frightened me, and I pulled away, my heart pounding loud in my ears.
He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I bit my lip, then nodded. “I’m fine. Just scared for you, that’s all.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s all?”
He’d always seen through my lies. He had a knack for seeing people’s true selves despite what they pretended to be.
“Yes,” I answered, turning away from him. “That’s all.” I stood and backed away. “We should go.”
A low, rumbling tremor shook the ground as Mochazon landed next to us. Uli stirred in his arms, then cracked her eyes open. Magic pulsed through her body, causing her eyes to glow brighter.
“Something is happening,” Mochazon said.
“Yes,” Kull answered. “I do not like this. I fear Geth may be closer to the tree than we realize.”
“If so,” I said, “then we need to hurry.”
Mochazon nodded before taking flight. He flew ahead, through a tunnel that curved downward.
We followed, darkness engulfing us as we entered the cave. My pebble lanterns still gave light, though their glow had dimmed from my decreased magical powers. Their weak light gave off a faded bluish glow that seemed to make the shadows deepen. Tremors shook the ground and grew in intensity the deeper we went.
I focused on Mochazon flying ahead of us. What was causing the tremors? The last time I’d felt tremors like this, I’d been in the cavern with the Everblossom Tree, and the goblins had been enacting a spell to call Theht back to our world. Theht, who I’d only recently learned was a powerful goddess, would have destroyed our world had she returned.
A knot formed in my stomach. Something bad was happening to cause both the tremors and Uli’s sickness. I quickened my pace, feeling as if I couldn’t go fast enough.
A bright light shone up ahead as the tunnel widened, and the scent of smoke pervaded the air. When we entered the enormous cavern, I took in my new surroundings.
As I’d suspected, we’d entered the Everblossom’s chamber. Moss-like grass grew in patches on the ground, scenting the air with a smell that reminded me of spruce. As I stepped onto the spongy ground, my focus snagged on the cavern’s centermost point. Geth and his men surrounded a bonfire that blazed where the tree had stood. The fire roared with a white-hot heat so intense it warmed my face even from this distance. I couldn’t take my eyes off the burning tree.
The tree had been the most beautiful sight I’d ever beheld. But now, flames licked over the pile of brittle wood, and the bonfire sent sparks of orange and gold dancing through the air as a huge crack sounded through the chamber. My throat constricted. I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sadness. Something sacred was being desecrated.
This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. That tree was the only source of pure magic in Faythander. If it were destroyed, I couldn’t begin to wrap my mind around the consequences.
The rest of the group gathered around me, staring with shocked faces at the scene we beheld. No one spoke. I wasn’t sure if they were able to comprehend how bad this was—it could very well mean the end of magic as we knew it.
Regaining my composure took a moment. What should I do? We were already too late to stop Geth. Was there any way to save the tree now?
Mochazon stood beside me, still carrying Uli. She jerked awake and screamed. As she limped free of Mochazon’s arms, she rose into the air, though her wings remained still. Wind circulated around her, whipping the bonfire and making the inferno crackle and intensify.
The group of Caxon warriors looked up. I found Geth standing near the tree. The sight of him made my skin crawl. At a casual glance, he didn’t look any different from the rest of his group with his tanned, careworn skin, leather tunic and breeches, but when our gazes met, I drew back—it was his eyes that frightened me. They held a calculated intelligence as if he knew exactly what he was doing and didn’t fear the consequences.
Geth stepped away from the bonfire to face us. As he flexed his fists, I felt a phantom pain in my side where he’d injured me. The last time I’d seen him had been in his camp in the goblin lands when he’d fractured my rib and had almost executed Kull and me. I swallowed my fear as best as I could.
“You’ve finally found me!” he said, smiling as he walked toward us. “I was beginning to believe you would never catch up.”
“Geth,” I said, “what have you done?”
His smile didn’t touch his eyes. “I have done what should have happened a millennia ago. I am creating equality.”
“But you’ve destroyed pure magic. Faythander will die!”
“It will not die—it will be reborn. Someday, you will thank me for what I have done.”
Uli’s bare feet didn’t touch the ground
