Eclipse: Time Thief (Romantasy)

67. The Temple

I knelt on the hill where I'd gathered with Nash, Piercey, and Val the first time we battled the Prophet when we were freeing my people. It felt like such a long time ago now.

Even though I'd agreed to this plan, worry sat like lead in my gut. Wren and Leif had returned to our village to gather our warriors to march to the Prophet's village, because when this was over, there would be chaos to continue. Piercey had sent word to his graduates, but I knew they wouldn't make it in time.

It should have only been me here, risking a life I'd already lost once. Instead, Nash and Piercey both knelt beside me as we eyed the Prophet's village.

I glanced over to the man who I had never expected myself to fall for and wondered how we'd ended up here. Only hours ago he'd been silenced by the shock of my return. It didn't take long after I announced my plans that he quickly found his voice.

"We already lost you once," Nash had said. "You've just returned. Let us handle Flare and the Prophet. Piercey will call on his graduates and this time they will act because you carry the gods' favor. Rest and recover from what you've been through."

"We can't wait for them. Flare may already know I'm here. I've waited too long as it is by talking to all of you. Now's the time. Piercey can gather everyone, but I'm going ahead."

Nash had clutched my wrist and drawn my close. "Not without me."

"You don't have power. What can you do?"

I hadn't meant any cruelty by the words, but it had been clear from the pain in his eye that the words had cut him deeply. How must he have felt finding my body and grieving my death? The powerlessness surely haunted him now.

"I can fight." His voice had rumbled deeply. "Piercey and I will partner together again like we did before. Take us with you."

"I've never traveled like that before."

"Excuses. You can do this, Max. You will not fight this battle alone." Nash had clutched the back of my head and bent to press his forehead against mine. "Do not deny me this battle."

How could I when I would never forgive him for doing the same to me? "I'm scared of what could happen to you."

"Then you know how I feel about you."

The conversation kept playing through my mind without end. I hadn't thought I would be successful in bringing the three of us to this place, but Piercey had focused on me, trying to lend me his own power. I'd managed to teleport all three of to the village.

The Prophet had been training and preparing and I knew Flare was with him, so it wasn't ideal for only the three of us to fight. We really needed more allies, but I couldn't afford to wait another moment. What if Flare knew that I'd returned? What if she knew the Collective wanted her out of this world?

There had been a time for waiting and that had passed.

"I'm ready," I said, rising. "It's time to end this."

"The Prophet and Flare won't be alone," Piercey said. "The disciples will be ready for us this time."

I nodded. "We'll have to kill them all. Together."

Nash held my stare, eyes determined. "Together."

"I'm not wasting time being evasive when I believe Flare will already know we're coming," I said. "We move fast for Flare and the Prophet."

"I'll focus on clearing a path and covering the two of you." Piercey nodded at me. "Max, give them all you have."

"Thank you," I said, eyes on his. We had always made a good team. When this was over, I'd have to tell him about how we were identified by the gods as potential candidates. "You've always been there for me."