Page 188 of City of Snakes
A bright white crescent-shaped light collected in Ryn’s palms. All light pulled to him, eclipsing us in complete darkness.
My mouth hung open.
He looked beautiful—illuminated.
“Hurry!” I yelled.
Isleen’s wings beat faster as we approached the podium, but even she seemed to be struggling to see through the glare emitted by my Moon-wielding friend.
Ryn aimed and released his power—the crescent moon left his palm in a spinning white beam toward the Death Origin.
But amber smoke formed a helix around Caym; he strained with a scowl. The light refracted off the shield. Elsedora ducked, and the beam slammed into the amphitheater’s walls, missing her by a hair. Marble crumbled, cascading down into the pit.
“Stand down, Ryn!” Tears streaked my cheeks. Isleen lowered, opening her mouth as though she would spit fire. “No!” I commanded her. Not with my friends in the way.
“At all costs,” Isleen hummed the horrid reminder.
My Moon-wielding friend readied another orb of light. El stood on the marble slab of the podium with a throwing dagger aimed and ready to leave her fingertips.
Ryn glanced over Caym’s shoulder at Elsedora.
In the moment of distraction, Caym raised his arms again.
Ryn needed to move, to run.
Amber smoke snaked rapidly from Caym’s fingertips.
“Ryn! No!” I screamed, clinging to Isleen’s scales, the sword hanging in my tired hand as I watched in horror.
The tendrils grasped Ryn’s arms first, his flesh rotting as the smoke snaked up his torso.
I choked on a sob. In a single breath, Ryn was dust. His ashes were blown away and carried over the amphitheater walls into the streets of Sahlmsara.
Elsedora’s scream erupted in an unnatural gust of wind.
She did hold Source power…
Isleen’s wings were caught in the gale, blowing her backward. I sobbed and held on tightly to her scales.
The wind had knocked Caym forward. His eyes widened as he tumbled down into the pit with a sharp bellow.
Elsedora’s outcry had blown away all the smoke from the arena below. My heart seized when I saw Krait’s arms were still outstretched—his Shadows wrapped around the others.
Everything had gone to shit so quickly.
My friends were dying. One was dead.
Caym was one step closer to overtaking the realms.
He would not stop until he saw both realms fall. He would not stop until he saw all of my friends turn to dust before me.
Then he’d take me anyway.
Caym had hit the sand below, and now lay there, splayed on his back.
“Stop!” I yelled to Isleen. She flapped hard once, halting us in midair. I wished for my bow and arrow—there was a clean shot to the bastard’s heart from this angle. Drawing near would give him time to rebuff any attack or compel me.
Holding Isolde’s sword tight, I chose the next best option to an arrow.
