The climb out of the tunnels felt endless. My body ached from the fight, my chest still humming with the power of the heart. Elias’s hand never left mine, steady and warm, guiding me even when my legs wanted to give out. The Ash Queen moved ahead, her firelight leading us through the dark.
When we finally reached the surface, the air shifted.
I blinked against the sudden brightness, raising a hand to shield my eyes. For a moment I thought the world was on fire—but then I realized it wasn’t fire at all. It was sunlight.
Real sunlight.
The sky stretched wide and clear, painted in gold and blue. The heavy clouds of ash that had always hung over the realm were gone. The air was fresh, sweet, filled with the smell of grass and flowers instead of smoke and rot.
Elias froze beside me, his ch
