Shadows Between Hearts

Wings of Silver Fire

Chapter 21: Wings of Silver Fire

Lena struck the Gate Warden like a falling star.

Silver wings crashed into molten stone. The impact blasted fire across the cathedral and hurled the creature backward into the edge of the pit.

Cassian staggered, shielding his face.

“No!”

The Warden roared and swung a claw large enough to tear through walls.

Lena twisted in the air.

The claw missed by inches and ripped through a pillar instead. Ancient stone collapsed in thunder behind her.

Elias dragged Selene clear of the falling debris.

“I saved you,” he panted.

“You tripped into usefulness,” she replied.

Adrian pushed himself upright using the broken pillar.

Every breath looked painful.

“Lena…” he whispered.

She hovered above the gate, silver fire pouring from her body into the widening chasm. Symbols around the pit began to glow brighter, then reverse—red turning white.

The Warden lunged again.

This time it caught one wing.

Lena cried out as the creature slammed her into the floor.

Cassian rushed forward.

“Hold her!”

Iron Circle fighters swarmed with hooked chains.

Selene sliced two down before they reached Lena.

Elias grabbed another chain and yanked with all his weight.

The masked fighter flew backward into the fire.

“I’m adapting!”

The Warden pinned Lena beneath one burning claw.

Cracks spread in the stone under her.

Her wings flickered.

Cassian stood over her, rain and fire steaming from his coat.

“You could rule both worlds,” he said. “You still can.”

Lena gritted her teeth.

“I don’t want worlds.”

“What do you want?”

She looked past him.

At Adrian struggling toward her.

At Elias bleeding but still fighting.

At the city beyond the broken doors.

“A life,” she said.

Then she released all the power she had been holding back.

Silver fire erupted point-blank.

The Warden’s claw shattered into molten fragments.

Cassian was thrown across the hall.

The Iron Circle scattered.

Lena rose again, wings blazing brighter than ever.

Adrian reached the edge of the pit and dropped to one knee, unable to go farther.

“You’ll die if you keep this up,” he called.

She smiled sadly.

“You always did notice too late.”

The gate below was widening faster now, no longer shrinking.

From its depths came more roars.

More Wardens.

Selene saw it and went pale.

“There are others.”

Elias turned toward the pit.

“No. Absolutely not. One was enough.”

Cassian climbed from rubble, face bloodied, eyes burning with fanatic joy.

“Yes,” he said. “Let them come.”

He raised both arms.

The Iron Circle resumed chanting.

The gate tore wider.

Lava surged upward.

Lena’s wings dimmed for one heartbeat.

Too many enemies. Too much force.

Adrian made a decision.

He stood, swaying, and walked toward Cassian.

Selene caught his arm.

“You can barely breathe.”

“I only need one breath.”

He took her dagger.

Then looked once at Lena.

No words.

Just apology.

Then Adrian charged Cassian alone.

Elias shouted, “That never means anything good!”

Cassian turned too late.

Adrian drove the dagger straight into Cassian’s chest.

Both men crashed into the gate.

The chanting stopped.

Cassian laughed even while falling.

“Still my king.”

Then they vanished into the fire below.

Lena screamed.

The cathedral shook violently.

And the gate began to collapse.

End of Chapter 21

�⁠Say Chapter 22 when you're ready.