The war stretched through night into dawn. Wolves collapsed from exhaustion. Rogues surged endlessly. The gods still lingered, silent judges above the ruin.
Aradia's fire trembled, her body weakening, her power burning her from within. Kael stood bloodied but unbroken, his green eyes never leaving her, his wolf anchoring her flame.
But Ronan would not fall. His shadow grew with every strike, his runes burning brighter, his laughter echoing across the battlefield.
"You see?" he roared. "He will fall again! He always falls! And you always fail to save him!"
Kael staggered, blood pouring, his knees buckling.
"No!" Aradia screamed, her fire surging wildly. "Not this time!"
She threw herself between them, her fire exploding white-hot, consuming everything in sight. Wolves staggered, gods shielded their eyes, the battlefield itself cracking beneath her flames.
But when it dimmed, she collapsed, her body trembling, her eyes dimming.
Kael caught her, his arms fierce, his lips against her hair. "Stay with me. Please, Aradia. Stay."
Her voice was weak, trembling. "I can't… not without you."
And the shadow laughed.