The mother-giant

Freya startled at the commotion and looked to find Nehemey skewered on a giant’s pike.

Her second hand rose and her shadows wreathed around the last giant, choking on the spot.

“Nehemey stay with me.” She heard Adrian say behind her.

All seven of the giants groaned in pain as her spread through their blood, except the Martoshi. Freya sweated with the effort it took to keep her magic from ripping into the female. It was exponentially more difficult than the effort it would have taken for her to kill them all at once.

“I wanted to love.” She heard Nehemey say from behind her. “I never dared to, not once since the day I was born. You made me want more Adrian. For the first time in my life, I loved and it was not perfect, but it was beautiful.”

“Don’t. Just hang on, we’ll get you treated.” He urged.

“My heart is damaged.” Said Nehemey before she dissolved into terrible coughing. “Whatever you do, you must survive, promise me that.”

“Nehemey.” Adrian called. “Nehemey!!”

She was dead.