Mated To An Enemy

“Ashleigh!�

His voice sent a jolt of energy and warmth to her heart.

She wanted to call back to him, but she could only muffle a scream.

He rushed to her side, sliding into the dirt and leaves to reach her.

“Ashleigh!� Caleb cried out as he saw the state that she was in.

His eyes were filled with concern and fear. He tore at the roots with his hands, but they would not budge.

“I’ll get you out,� he whispered, leaning close and looking into her eyes. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you!�

He kissed the top of her head and then leaned back. He fumbled to pull up his sword.

“Don’t move,� he whispered as he lined it up to cut the root wrapped at her mouth.

Ashleigh closed her eyes as Caleb took a measured swing. Luckily, the root fell away immediately.

Ashleigh took in a deep gasping breath. Her lungs burned with need.

Caleb put his hands on her face with a joyful laugh.

“Thank the Goddess,� he whispered, leaning down and kissing her.

Ashleigh was glad to breathe again and so happy to see Caleb. But the happiness was short-lived. She knew what they needed to do.

“Go,� she said tearfully.

Caleb pulled back and furrowed his brow.

“Get to the gate,� she said quickly. Her voice strained with the emotion she was trying to hold back. “The Dark Queen is already there... she will kill Lily and then follow the civilians to Winter.�

Caleb’s eyes widened; he looked up toward the direction of the gate.

“Go,� Ashleigh insisted, silent tears moving down her face.

Caleb licked his lips and looked back down at his wife, still trapped in a mess of roots.

“I’ll set you free. Then, we’ll go together,� he said.

“There isn’t time!� she shouted.

As though queued by her words, the roots tightened, and two more sprang up from the dirt. Caleb gasped and reached out toward her. Again, the roots squeezed her until she let out a soft cry.

“Caleb....� She gasped. “Please.... Go!�

“How could I?� he asked in a pained whisper.

Ashleigh clenched her jaw.

“I love you, Caleb...â€� she whispered. “But we both knowâ€"AHH!!â€�

Ashleigh let out a scream as another root punctured her skin. This time, it was her back. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.

“Ashleigh?� Caleb called with concern, edging closer to her.

“No!� she shouted, opening her eyes when she felt him move in her direction. “Don’t get close. They might grab you.�

“Ashleigh, I will get you out of here, I promise,� Caleb said, grabbing his sword.

Ashleigh gasped as she felt the moment The Dark Queen crossed into the portal.

“Caleb!� she cried out, tears streaking down her cheeks. “You must go! She’s already there!�

He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, lowering his head. Angry tears rolled down his face, and he let out a violent roar.

Caleb quickly got to his feet and ran toward the gate before he could change his mind. His heart was in agony, and he would make the Dark Queen suffer for it.

Ashleigh felt relieved when he turned and ran away. She took in a gasping breath as it was getting harder to breathe, but she smiled. He would save them. She knew he would.

***

Lily strained to hold the bridge. The ley line’s power rushed against her like a sneaker wave threatening to pull her under and drown her.

She was so focused on maintaining the bridge that she missed it when something crossed the portal.

The Dark Queen stepped onto the golden path. She looked around with a grin.

“What a beautiful road you have built, Lost Princess!� she called out.

Lily heard the voice and felt a chill.

‘Ashleigh?’ Lily called out but found no reply.

“The Winter Princess is a bit tied up right now,� The Dark Queen smiled.

‘How could you....’ Lily began.

“Hear your words?� The Queen asked. She clicked her tongue. “Did you forget that you were dead, Lily? I can do more than hear you....�

The Dark Queen’s mask grinned maniacally as several of her roots spread across the golden road. Each reaching their destination, they stabbed into the road.

Lily screamed as she felt her energy being pulled away from her immediately.

The Dark Queen lay her head back and moaned aloud.

“Oh yes....� She whispered. “That is delicious....�

As Lily cried out, the road shook, and the golden walls faded in and out.

“What’s the matter, Lily?â€� the Dark Queen smiled. “Feeling a bit weakened? Strange, I’m feeling quite energiâ€"AHH!â€�

The Queen screamed as one of her roots shriveled toward her, the burn aching back into the rest of her body. She turned to see Caleb holding his obsidian blade, the other half of her root withered and black at his feet.

***

Ashleigh took a deep breath as she felt Lily’s strength return. She guessed that Caleb must have arrived. She smiled to herself.

Another root slid over her throat. Her heart beat heavily as it began to tighten, and her air supply was cut short once again.

She choked and wheezed, trying her best not to panic as the world grew dark around her.

Suddenly the pressure on her throat was relieved, the air returned to her lungs, and soon after, the tightness all over her body was released.

Ashleigh sat up and rolled away from the roots. She coughed and gasped as she tried to remember how to breathe.

“Easy...� a familiar voice whispered. She felt the warmth of his hand on her back.

Ashleigh opened her eyes and turned to look up at her savior.

“Galen?� she whispered with surprise.

“Hey,� he smiled, the same dopey grin he always wore.

Ashleigh could not contain the joy she felt. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.

“I’m so happy you’re all right!� she cried.

Galen laughed and then carefully pushed her back.

“I’m not sure how long I will stay that way if Caleb sees you hug me like that,� he laughed. He looked around and then back at her. “Where is he? I saw him come up this way and followed, but I lost him in the trees.�

Ashleigh swallowed and looked back in the direction of the portal. She quickly told Galen everything that had happened in the past few hours. When she was done, Galen had a grave look on his face.

He stood and helped her to her feet.

“It’s time for you to go,� he said.

Ashleigh looked at him with confusion.

“To the portal, to help Caleb.�

Ashleigh’s eyes widened.

“Galen... if I enter the portal, it will close behind me,� she said softly. “You and the other soldiers... you’ll be trapped here.�

“And if you wait for the soldiers, Lily might die before she could even help us,� he replied. “There is no point in waiting.�

“You could come with me now. Call the soldiers. I know Lily is still holding the bridge. If we hurry, we can still make it!� Ashleigh insisted.

Galen swallowed and shook his head.

“The people of Summer took that gate to Winter, and now the devil has followed after them,� he said. “If me and the others cross into that portal, the strain on Lily would be too much. There is only one choice right now. You and Caleb can cross without the bridge. You need to make sure that the enemy has been defeated.�

“What about you?� Ashleigh asked sadly.

Galen smiled sadly.

“I’ll set off the charges after the gate has closed, and then I will continue to defend Summer as I always have.�

A few minutes later, Ashleigh and Galen gave each other a final nod as she entered the portal.

Galen stepped back, watching as the golden light faded and gave way to the mountainside.

He looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Then, swallowing and taking a shaky breath, Galen whispered to the wind.

“I love you, Bell, Ren... I’m sorry....�

Galen took another deep breath before he set the timer and hurried back down into the valley to rejoin the fight for Summer.