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Back The Ever After Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. TheEVERAFTER
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. 79
  82. 80
  83. 81
  84. 82
  85. 83
  86. 84
  87. 85
  88. 86
  89. Epilogue
  90. GLOSSARY
  91. TheEVERAFTER
  92. By Amanda Hocking

“The stables,” he answered. “You go through the stables at the center of the city, and it’ll take you underground.” Then he pointed toward the screaming going on near Bryn, by the entrance. “Sumi knows where to go.”

“Finn, go with Sumi,” I commanded. “Take the children and anyone you can with you.”

“What’ll you do?” Finn asked.

“I’m going to get everyone else going,” I said. “And you’re going to make a path for us.”

The wyrm roared again. Within minutes, the entire roof of the tent was on fire, but by then Finn was already gone, taking everyone he could with him. As ash rained down from above and the air clouded with smoke, I struggled to help Rikky, Patrik, and Pan get a large unconscious ogre onto a makeshift stretcher.

Pan and I got in front, carrying the cot backward, with Rikky and Patrik bringing up the rear. It was slow going with all the weight and stepping over the carnage. The heat from the flames was overwhelming and sweat dripped into my eyes.

Then, with a loud whoosh, the half-burnt tarp above us collapsed down on us. It was heavy and hot, like a smoldering weighted blanket. I tried to tear through the tarp, but it wouldn’t give and the fire burned my fingers.

I coughed as smoke filled my lungs, and a blade tore through the leather and a hand reached in. It took mine, strong and rough, and Loki pulled me free. He scooped me up in his arms, and I wrapped mine around his neck, and he ran through the burning remnants of the tent.

“You saved my life,” I said hoarsely.

“I figured it was time I returned the favor.” He set me down once we were far enough away, and brushed the silver lock of hair from my eyes. “Are you all right?”

I nodded. “I’ll live.”

A grunting sound from the tent caused us both to look over to see Pan dragging Rikky out of the fire. Loki rushed away to help them, and I collapsed to the ground on my knees, coughing and trying to breathe.

Loki carried Rikky over—her left leg was bloody and burnt, and she seemed dazed. Pan staggered over and collapsed beside me, coughing hard.

“What about Patrik?” I asked. “And the ogre.”

Pan shook his head. “They didn’t make it.”

Tears stung my burning eyes when I asked him, “Can you show us the way down?”

78

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Ouroboros

Ulla

Dagny finally lowered her bow, but she didn’t put it back in her quiver. We were about to leave the armory when I heard yelling and running on the stairs.

“Go as far down as you can!” a familiar voice commanded, and I ran out in the hall to see injured survivors coming down the steps.

“Where should they go?” I asked, looking to Noomi. “Where can they be safe from the wyrm?”