Eve’s POV:

The muscle groups in my physique harm as I attempted to face up, taking the tree’s assist I bought up as I noticed Olivia order the corpses that have been behind her. On the opposite aspect I noticed the shadowed creatures attempt to tear the barrier as they charged ahead to combat with the corpses once more. Few of the shadowed creatures attacked Olivia however she effortlessly fought them like they have been stuffed toys.

I held my sword tighter in my hand as I pushed myself in opposition to the tree, taking deep breaths as I bought my legs regular. It could be a lie if I mentioned I wasn’t scared proper now. I used to be having a blood rush however I knew higher to be robust than scared. Olivia’s phrases stored ringing in my head. I could not run away and if I might the place would I run to? I had no concept the place the exist to the land of useless was and I could not let Ruka step in as a result of if he did…he would not have the ability to return again.

What ever I used to be alleged to do I needed to do it quickly earlier than Ruka stepped into land of useless. Once I took a step ahead I heard one thing creek subsequent to me making me spin round with the sword in entrance of me.

“Shh,” Evan mentioned in his raspy voice, “We have to get you out of right here. Come,” he took maintain of my hand as he pulled me together with him.

“The place are we going?? They want our assist,” I mentioned in a rush as we went by means of the forest working.

“Your powers are taking time to harness all of the vitality. We have to delay earlier than she involves get you, my companions will distract her till then,” he mentioned as we made our approach by means of the plush inexperienced bushes, “Don’t fret you will combat her however not this minute or the following.”

As we headed to a protected place, silence creeped in aside from our gentle footsteps on the snowy floor. Once I turned again to see if anybody was following us I seen the small path of blood behind was.

“Shit,” I muttered below my breath. I hadn’t realized my leg was bleeding and I could not run anymore after 5 minutes subsequently I ended, huffing for air. Perhaps if I ran like this in sports activities I’d have come first within the monitor crew.

“We have to run, Eve,” Evan mentioned trying behind me whereas I had my arms on my knees, “I do not assume they’ll maintain her again anymore.”

“I-I cann-ot,” I shook my head as my head felt fuzzy resulting from fatigue.

“Alright,” he mentioned trying round, “We’ll keep right here till you’re feeling you may stroll once more,” he advised and I nodded whereas I leaned my again on the tree. The sky was deep blue in coloration as I gazed up. It wasn’t snowing however there was sufficient snow on the bottom.

“Are you able to sense if Ruka and the others have stepped into the land of useless?” I requested after few seconds handed by.

“There is no change within the environment since Olivia entered so I doubt in case your mate has come,” he mentioned trying in direction of me, “Are you ready for him?” he requested me.

“I needed earlier than he did however after what Olivia said-”

“You don’t need him to return,” Evan accomplished making me smile and nod on the similar time.

“Yeah,” I replied and spoke, “If he can enter the land of useless with out the stones there needs to be a technique to get out for him. Proper? Although it is simply an assumption. I do not know what is going on to be the result of this battle however I would like to have the ability to return to Ruka in the long run and naturally have this land handed over to you guys safely.”

“Hmm,” he responded and I heard an owl hoot above us making my coronary heart bounce which made Evan chuckle, “You remind me of somebody I knew lengthy again within the land of dwelling.”

“I do?” I requested tilting my head in query.

“Sure, after I lived within the land of dwelling,” he mentioned stunning me however earlier than I might ask him something he pulled me to his aspect making an arrow practically miss me, “She’s right here,” he alerted me.

I stood straight however I felt one thing sharp pierce my physique making me grit my enamel to stop myself from screaming with ache. We seemed round to see the place Olivia was however there was no signal or hint of her. I might really feel my coronary heart beating like a fish making an attempt to battle exterior water. Calm, I mentioned to myself, taking deep breaths however it turned to quick after I heard Olivia converse behind us. We turned shortly to face her as she took a step gracefully together with her naked toes. Evan got here ahead whereas he pushed me behind him.

“You may should combat me earlier than you even contact her,” he mentioned pulling a sword out of his ragged garments.

“For those who insist,” she mentioned clicking her enamel whereas she raised her sword, “Eve, do you know your getting folks harm due to you stupidity. I requested just for you however you could have right here creatures placing their life forward of you unnecessarily,” she mentioned and earlier than she got here to strike me, Evan pushed me out of the best way making me fall on the bottom.

“I’ve waited so lengthy for this,” I heard Evan say as he took away his ragged like cloak away from his physique and presenting a skeleton like construction beneath it. There was one thing odd the best way his again and face was structured. One thing clicked in my head as I noticed what was occurring in entrance of me.

Evan and Olivia fought for the others throat whereas I stood there stupefied however just for a short time till I fell on the bottom with ache. Their swords clashed in opposition to one another, making the sound resonate all through the forest. One of many tree with a smaller trunk fell down as Evan making an attempt to assault Olivia. I might see the sparks flying round as their swords met one another in a livid battle. The bushes round was a bonus to Evan as he might glide over simply however on the finish Olivia was way more highly effective than Evan was. In any case she was a witch of darkish sorcery whereas he was only a shadowed creature. One thing sparked making Evan deliver each his arms round his throat and fall backwards.

“EVAN!” I went to his aspect and noticed him heave for air like he was struggling to breath, “What did you do?” I requested Olivia who simply smiled her sword.

“Placing his distress to dying. There’s solely darkness past this place, now then,” she replied nonchalantly, “Let’s get your fairly coronary heart sacrificed and all of this may come to an finish,” she mentioned me.

“Save your self,” I heard Evan say along with his raspy voice although his jaw did not transfer. He was telepathically speaking to me. I stood up holding the sword in grip and noticed her smile flatter just a little earlier than she got here at me, her sword slicing the closest tree as I dodged. I put my all as I pushed her sword and striked it.

“You combat effectively,” she complimented me as I defended myself in opposition to her, “However a lightweight will be diminished by darkness.” First she lower the chain that was round my neck after which because of her my sword went flying to my proper aspect. We had come to a naked land with out bushes now.

“We might do that in a extra nicer approach however you did not pay attention,” she mentioned elevating her hand in direction of me.

“Do not you’re feeling any regret?” I requested her.

“Regret for what? For liking the person of my sister’s mate? Or killing my mate?” she requested me with a sick smirk, “Or killing my household?”

I seemed her in her eye and noticed the hollowness in it. She was an empty shell, void of feelings. I want somebody had saved her earlier than she gave in to the darkness.

“Inform goodbye, sweetheart,” she mentioned chuckling as a purple gentle emitted from her palm that was raised at me.

“You realize one thing, Olivia,” I mentioned with a smile now which solely confused her. I might really feel myself rejuvenate as seconds handed like one thing cool circulated me, “You have been so clouded by the darkness that you just failed to note sure issues. Issues like how your mate cherished you and the way a lot you would love him. Issues like how a lot your sisters trusted you however you solely betrayed them. Everyone seems to be obsessive about one thing however your obsession has handed its restrict. Lastly you failed to note that if gentle will be hovered and diminished by darkness then so can gentle brighten up a darkened place.”

When the purple gentle like substance got here in direction of me I raised my hand and noticed a blue gentle pushing it again. My wings hadn’t returned however my powers did. I knew at this example it was kill or be killed and I could not have second ideas about it. The purple and blue gentle tried overcoming one another as they moved backwards and forwards. The wind round us had elevated its velocity because the leaves moved fervently.

As I used to be each injured and drained, the energy I had was leaving me and slowing the purple gentle started overpowering my vitality.

“My obsession goes to win, pricey Eve,” she mentioned because the purple gentle closed in in direction of me however somebody appeared to have interrupted it as Olivia stood nonetheless in her place together with her arms on her both aspect, “My obsession…” she mentioned softly as she fell on her knees.

Ruka was standing proper behind her along with his black wings unfold large. His hand lined in blood and I noticed Olivia fall ahead, noticing the deep hole fashioned at her again.