I could not speak in this form, but that did not stop me from opening my mouth and letting a piercing scream leave my lips. Lachlan collapsed, his hands coming up to cover his ears as if he could stop the shrill sound from penetrating his mind.
Fire exploded from me, wrapping around Lachlan’s body until I could only hear his cries of pain. I pushed it further and the ward separating us from the battle raging beside us dropped, allowing my flames to consume our enemies until they were burnt husks. It traveled throughout the streets, seeking those who sought us harm. I felt each life it took, each death adding to the surge of searing power coursing through my veins .
I wanted death. I wanted vengeance. And now both would be mine.
Faint chatter filled my ears, but the sounds merged until they became little more than incoherent ramblings. I felt the confusion of those around me, especially those amid the battle, as their opponents drifted away in the wind. Still, I refused to let it deter me. I blocked everything out except for Lachlan’s pain, enjoying the taste of it on my tongue.
I drifted back to the ground, though I willed the flames devouring Lachlan to continue to rage. He had dropped to his knees, clawing at the fire ravaging his body. I reveled in the way his rubbery skin began to melt away from his bones, pooling around his legs.
He had been born again from his hatred, only to be consumed by my own.
Without fear, I stepped toward his crumpled form beneath me. I pulled on my powers, forcing them to recede so I could watch his face as he died. His eyes shot to mine, and his charred flesh revealed every deteriorating muscle and bone beneath. I clutched a small dagger behind my back, allowing myself to bask in this moment.
It was everything we had longed for, the end of a series of horrors that would follow us all until we met our final fate.
His breathing was shallow, his voice hardly above a whisper as he spoke. “This is not over.”
“But it is,” I said, the bravado in my tone surprising me.
Before he could respond, I struck, embedding my dagger in his throat. Black blood, or what was left of it, spilled from his burnt lips. “This is for Kalen,” I said, twisting the dagger before I pulled it free and struck the other side. “This is for my sister.” Another stab. “This is for my mother.” He collapsed, his gaze never leaving mine as he choked on his fluids. “And this,” I said, standing over him, “is for me.” Then, with a final lunge, I plunged the dagger through his heart.
I watched the blade pierce the barely beating organ. It thudded haphazardly before stopping altogether. The fire consumed Lachlan once more, burning away every part of him that remained until there was nothing but ash at my feet.
My eyelids drooped as I lifted my face to the sky and let the high of his death rush through me. A beam of light shone down on me as if to tell me it was okay now, that I could exhale the breath I had been holding for a long time.
My gaze caught on movement before me, realizing the palace gates had swung open and people were spilling out of them. Ciena ran forward, catching me as I collapsed and drifted away into the empty abyss.
Chapter48
Damien
The solemn silence surrounded me, only the flickering of lanterns lighting the way down the corridor. Not that I needed it; I knew this palace better than most, but at least the light made me feel less alone.
I’d talked to myself in the mirror before beginning my trek, telling myself it was the right decision. But with each step that brought me closer, I was unsure if it really was.
When Renai and I had made it into the palace courtyard, we’d been immediately ushered into the healing ward due to our extensive injuries. I hadn’t even remembered being transported until I woke up with the sun streaming through the window and noticed the bandages I’d been wrapped in.
Even though I’d been released fairly quickly, Renai and Luka had not. To my advantage, though, they had been placed in the same room, which allowed me to drop in and check on Luka while simultaneously ensuring Renai was okay.
There’d been nothing but constant agony aching in my chest, and I knew it hadn’t been from any injuries of mine. It came from Renai, down our bond, and I couldn’t bear it any longer.
The ward had been transformed, and cots with injured soldiers filled the room. There was hardly room to walk down the aisles, but they needed a place to house those with more critical wounds. Meanwhile, the banquet hall had been set up in a similar fashion to ensure anyone who was in the tents during the battle was housed inside and away from the elements.
There were three healers on duty this evening, each of them quietly checking each patient as they slept. When they saw me, they only waved and pointed me toward a door at the end of the room.
I paused, my hand hovering over the handle. I’d hoped they were both asleep because I didn’t want anyone to hear what I needed to say. This trip was solely for me and my peace of mind.
Without thinking more about the subject, I stepped into their room. They were both asleep, but thankfully Luka’s cot was placed on the other side of Renai’s. Curtains hung from the ceiling, giving the illusion of privacy when in reality it gave none.
Slowly, I crept to the end of Renai’s bed and sat down. I couldn’t help but stare at her under the muted moonlight. Bruises peppered her skin, and her body had been bandaged extensively. Her hair looked as though someone had attempted to wash it, but couldn’t successfully remove the blood and dirt staining her soft brown locks. I would have thought her to be dead if I hadn’t known differently.
I reached out for her hand, wrapping my own around her chilled fingers. There were so many things I wanted to say, but nothing felt sufficient given everything she’d lost. “I’m so sorry, Renai,” I whispered, speaking the only words that came to mind. “I wish I’d made it to you sooner, I wish I could’ve saved you from the pain Lachlan inflicted, and more than anything…” I paused, closing my eyes against the onslaught of emotions attempting to rear their ugly head. “I wish I could’ve saved Kalen for you.”
Words had no meaning without actions, and I knew she would’ve called me a liar if she’d been awake, but I truly only wanted what was best for her. If she didn’t believe that was me, I would’ve at least been secure in the knowledge that Kalen would have taken care of her. He’d been a good man, better than most, and even I felt the weight of his loss.
“I want so badly to hold you and tell you everything is going to be okay, but I can’t. This is going to hurt like fucking hell for you, and I’ll have to watch from the shadows while you become lost in your despair. And I will feel every moment, every ache. Even though it’s going to kill me, I will always respect your wishes. I can’t force you to accept our bond, just as you can’t force me to stop loving you.”
Looking back on my and Eva’s relationship, it was now painfully obvious that we’d been wrong for each other from the start. It was nothing compared to the soul-crushing, world-ending love I felt for the woman in front of me. I stared at the rise and fall of her chest, noting that it aligned with mine. I reached toward her face, itching to brush my fingers across her pale cheek, but I stopped myself and let my hand drop to my lap.
