The Darkest Sword by Samantha Kroese (ebook voice reader txt) 📕

“I know. You never want to be alone, Ashiyn. You’re just now realizing that,” Soryn said softly as he pressed closer. “Tell me what you want. I’m here. How can I help you?”

“Make me forget,” Ashiyn whispered.

Soryn tilted his head then took Ashiyn’s hands in his and led Ashiyn back to the bed. “Let me take care of you.”

Ashiyn relented and let Soryn help him forget. Afterward they lay together the rest of the day, Soryn cuddled against Ashiyn’s side. It was different than Annalysa, different than a woman. That comforted him.

As night approached Soryn sighed and pulled away. He got up from the bed. “You need to send me back, Ashiyn. He’ll miss me if I’m not there soon, and I need time to clean up.”

Ashiyn scowled, jealousy racing through him. He didn’t want to share Soryn with that disgusting priest.

“Ashiyn, send me back for now. You can come and see me any time I’m not with him, but for now you need to let me go, or both our masters will find out and it will end badly. You know that. I’m not immortal like you,” Soryn said with a frown.

Ashiyn reluctantly pulled open the shadows with his magic, not even rising from the bed. Listless again. “Stay safe, Soryn.”

“I am more worried about you. I know how to stay safe. Don’t worry,” Soryn smiled at him. “You are the strongest person I have ever known. Remember that.”

Ashiyn closed the shadows again once Soryn had passed safely through them. Then he rose and went to clean up. He still hurt, but he well enough to function. For now. Once clean and dressed, he grabbed the blade from its glass case. It was thirsty for blood, and so was he.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Ashiyn walked through the shadows to Rurik’s tower. He didn’t bother to check and see where Soryn was first. He ended up just barely behind Soryn and Rurik as they walked up a set of stairs toward the top of the tower. Ashiyn cursed mentally and pulled the shadows closer around himself. He should leave before Rurik sensed him, but curiosity overtook him as usual, and he followed instead.

“You know that you are my most favored, Soryn,” Rurik started, a frown on his face as he clacked his long talons together.

“Yes, Master. I am grateful,” Soryn replied, though his tone held confusion, as they entered the top of the tower where a bloodied altar sat in the middle. Soryn balked and that gave Ashiyn time to step through the shadows deeper into the room before Rurik slammed the door shut.

Soryn backed away from Rurik, horror on his face. “Master, surely I’ve done nothing to displease you!”

“It has nothing to do with that, Soryn. Loathe as I am to admit it, the time has come for you to fulfill your duty,” Rurik summoned dark magic, and with a wave of his hand it washed over Soryn.

Soryn’s plain appearance dropped and massive gossamer wings appeared behind him. He seemed to glow with powerful light magic. Tears started to fall down his face. “Master, please. I will do whatever you ask-“

“Yes, you will,” Rurik agreed and pointed to the altar. “You will lie there as a willing sacrifice while your celestial blood stops the apocalypse. Look outside, child. See how the darkness churns the sky? Only your death can stop this.”

Ashiyn walked around the room, still hidden, until he was positioned behind Rurik. He dare not strike yet, though. Perhaps Soryn would talk his way out of this. If Ashiyn killed Rurik, there would be all sorts of consequences. He looked at his friend anew. He’d never seen this form of Soryn. The light magic was almost painful to look at as it shined through his friend’s pale skin and the massive wings were tucked behind him in a terrified position. All that magic! Why didn’t Soryn use it to destroy Rurik? Ashiyn sensed that he could.

But then he realized something about them both. Each had the power to destroy his master, they had simply been tricked into thinking they couldn’t. Ashiyn fought a growl, once again focusing on the scene before him.

“I don’t want to die, Master,” Soryn wept, managing to resist even when Rurik summoned chains of darkness to drag him toward the altar.

“Soryn, do not make me torture you this way. Come here. I will ease your suffering. You will feel nothing, I promise you. And your life will save this world. That is what you want, yes? You have always wanted to save others.” Rurik said, his words laced with magic, his tone hypnotic.

Soryn swayed under the power of the magic and stumbled toward the altar. Rurik managed to push him to lay on the altar, and Soryn fell limply in place, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Soryn was aware, but unable to do anything against the magic binding him now. Ashiyn slowly drew his blade from his back, letting his magic flow through it to awaken the weapon. He couldn’t afford to fail to make a killing strike as the first blow. Rurik was too powerful. Only stealth would give Ashiyn the edge.

Ashiyn stepped closer to Rurik, wincing at the first deep cut across Soryn’s wrist drew crimson blood that splashed down the side of the altar to fill the runes beneath it. Not yet. As much as he wanted to rush to Soryn’s defense, he had to wait until Rurik was lost in his spell.

Dark magic started to fill the room, swirling around it like smoke, as Rurik chanted and flourished the bloodied dagger in the air. Ashiyn stayed still until Rurik closed his eyes, then he stepped out of the shadows and rammed his blade up through Rurik’s exposed back and through his heart.

Rurik lurched then collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth even as he sputtered.