Aradia fell to her knees, her fire trembling, her tears burning. She saw Kael bleeding, staggering, breaking. She heard the Shadow laughing, endless and cruel. She felt the gods watching, waiting to unmake her.
And something inside her broke.
Her fire erupted—not golden, not white. Pure. Blinding. Godfire.
It consumed the battlefield, searing shadow, shaking mountains, burning sky. Wolves shielded their eyes, gods faltered, even Kael staggered in its heat.
"Aradia!" he roared, his body blistering beneath her flames.
She sobbed, her fire uncontrollable. "I can't stop—Kael—I'll burn you—"
His massive hands caught her face, his lips pressing to hers through fire, his green eyes fierce. "Then burn me. Burn me, Aradia. I am yours. In flame. In death. In eternity. Burn me, and I will still love you."
Her fire bent. For him. Only him. Always him.
And Kael burned with her.