To my amazing readers, I apologize for the sudden change in the story, but it is still a work in progress. So, I will be reposting the chapters that I have. I hope you all will continue to enjoy it. Thanks!
'Go. Go. Keep running! Don't look behind you.'
The frigid mountain air made my muscles stiff as I ran. The snow-covered ground seeped into my bare feet and pants, the hidden thorns underneath tearing at the sensitive skin. I glance behind me and see that I'm leaving a bloody trail in my wake.
"Crap. So much for trying to be stealthy." I mutter.
My lungs burned, and my legs ached. But I needed to keep moving or they would catch me.
'Spring craves the blood of Night.'
The Suriel's words echoed in my head. It confused me at first because it didn't make sense until I ran back to where I left my mother. I watched in pure horror as the High Lord of Spring cut her down with a single thrust of his sword. By his side were his sons including...
'Tamlin? No... It couldn't be.'
A cry of anguish to tears from my lungs.
They all raise their heads, searching for the location of the scream. Tamlin's green eyes land right on me as I hide in the brush across the field. It shouldn't surprise me; his senses were sharper than theirs thanks to his shapeshifting ability.
'Is he going to give me away?' My heart races frantically in my chest as I attempt to quiet my desperation-fueled body.
"Find her! Do not let her escape!" His father ordered the three soldiers with them to split up.
My heart seized in my throat, and I was frozen in place, staring at my mother's body as she lay bleeding out in the snow.
She turned in my direction, and even from here I could see the color fading from her beautiful tan face, "R-run..." she mouthed.
I snapped out of the trance and scrambled to my feet, my boots slipping off in the snow.
Keeping my wings in, I weaved in between the large pine trees. 'Always maintain the upper hand at all costs. There is no such thing as a fair fight, dear sister.'
Rhysand... Where was he? We were halfway between the Windhaven camp and home, and he was supposed to meet us here.
I look up, trying to keep the tears from blurring my vision. I need to get airborne, but these trees are too damn close together. If I attempted to fly now I would risk damaging my wings. Winnowing wasn't an option either, I hadn't figured out the ability yet. I would end up lost in the void.
I sent a silent prayer to the Mother, hoping that she would hear it and send my brother or father to save me.
An arrow embedded into the tree by my head with a dull thunk, causing me to skid and nearly faceplant. My wings flare out, allowing me to keep my balance before changing direction. If they were able to land that kind of shot, they had already gotten too close.
Another arrow flew by, this time grazing my arm. I whimpered at the blossoming fire of pain but kept my pace, leaving more blood in the snow.
Soon the trees started to clear, and a cliff came into view. Pouring every ounce of my remaining strength, I charged desperately for it but before I could reach it, the force of something hitting the back of my calf threw me to the ground.
I glance behind me for the source and my stomach heaves at the sight of the arrowhead sticking out of the front of my leg. The pain in my arm was nothing compared to this. But I couldn't stop. Being careful not to disturb the arrow I crawled on my stomach, aiming for the edge 'If I can get over the edge, I could fly out of their range and back to Windhaven.'
"Found her!" a voice shouted before another arrow loosed, it pierced through my membranous wing and shoulder, pinning me to the ground. I couldn't stop screaming as the pain overwhelmed me, even as the brutal realization of this place being where I was going to die began to sink in.
My vision started to haze as the soldiers from the Spring Court emerged from the tree line.
A dark power thrums in my chest, sending light tremors through me. It pushed violently at my skin, scratching at it to be released but I don't know how.
'Whenever you feel afraid.' my mother's face appeared before my fleeting vision. 'Just sing this song and I will always be there with you.'
In a feeble attempt, I began to sing under my breath, singing a lullaby she used to sing me. The power followed the notes, merging with my vocal cords. The song became otherworldly as it carried to the men.
"The hell?" one of them muttered, swaying drunkenly on his feet.
"She's a witch!" Another hissed before he raised his sword and charged forward. A thunderclap erupted in the air before a large body slammed into the ground, launching snow and debris upward.
I could make out the shape of large Illyrian wings before swords clashed.
The darkness was like a warm embrace as I let it pull me in