“Yes.”Itwasn’t a lie.Ilooked at my hand and a red gem the size of a peach pit glimmered in the torchlight.
“Oh, shit.”Torislowly removed the gem and held it up.Thelight caught on the shadows that swirled deep inside.Shelooked over to whereLuxoshad disappeared. “Likecalls to like.”Sheshivered. “Ican feel it muting my magic, but…”Hersmile was all teeth. “Itlooks like the good commander helped us find two things we needed tonight.”
ButthenToriclamped a hand over her heart, and the gem clattered to the floor.Iscrambled to grab it, and whenIlooked back up, she was deadly white as she panted, “Weneed to hurry.”
Chapter 69
Abraxas
Thesky was clear;Imade sure of it.Theclouds had always been my allies, but today, they would only have servedHadeonand his lightning.
Istood before my troops at the entrance to the city.TheGoldenArmystretched back along the streets inside the outer wall.Thefight faltered when we took the gate, and neither side could gain ground.Bodieslittered the ground, both dark and golden alike.Therewould be time later to honor their sacrifice; for now, the crows could have them.Igave one last look at the palace that my companions infiltrated.Ihad a distraction to cause, alone.
Istood before them, a king.Agod.Ageneral stepped forward to meet me.
“WhereisHadeon?Myquarrel is with him, not you.”
Thegeneral laughed. “OurDivineEmperordoes not need to sully himself with the likes of you—”
Theman was cut off when a great clap of thunder rolled through the empty sky.Myhand flew to my sword as the skiesdarkened, clouds rolling in at an unnatural pace.Theyswirled and merged over theGoldenPalace, dark and filled with power.Purplelightning flashed as they crashed into each other; the sound was monstrous.Icalled to the wind, trying to disturb them, but it wouldn’t listen.Ifought, trying to get it under my control, butIwasn’t rewarded.Thesky belonged to him, at least for now.
Agreat bolt of lightning struck the palace and then shot straight to where we stood.Theground erupted with flashes of violet light, and stones flew about faster than if launched by a trebuchet.Ithrew up a wall of flames to block them, but a few of my surrounding soldiers weren’t so lucky; the small stones passed straight through their armor.
Thedust cleared, and there he stood.Hishair floated out as if caught on an invisible wind, and his whole body shimmered with power.Hewalked out of the crater towards me. “Myoldest friend, at last, we face each other as we have always desired.”
AsIfacedHadeon, a storm brewed between us, crackling with energy.Hiseyes, dark pools of malice, met mine.
“Surrender,Hadeon.Yourforces are no match for mine, as you are no match for me.Surrenderand be spared.”Henever would, andIwould never let him, but all of this bought me time.
“Surrender?Toyou?You’reweak,Abraxas; you have always been weak.Howquickly you bent the knee to me and my army outside your own home.Howvery willing you were to please me, to bow to me.Howyou obeyed my every command like the obedient dog you are, and howIenjoyed holding your leash.Come, beg my forgiveness, and maybeIwill let you live.”
Thebeast inside me clawed to come out, to destroy him for that insult.Itook a deep breath and fought the urge to give in more than anything.Time,Ineeded to buyToritime.Itightened my grip on my sword’s hilt, pulling it from its scabbard and holding it aloft between us.
Lightningwreathed his arms as it gathered in his palms, crackling and deadly. "Youdare challenge me,Abraxas?"Hadeon'svoice echoed across the open space. “Youand your pathetic magic are no match for my power.”
Whowould win this, the fae with the heart of a dragon or a dragon with the heart of a fae?
Iran my hand along the blade of my sword, and viridian flames erupted along its surface. “Once, perhaps.Butnow… now you will be annihilated.”Wewere surrounded by soldiers on all sides, but there was no one on this earth but him andI.
“That’sno way to talk to theGreatHero!”Heshaped his power into a blade and launched at me.
Idug my heels into the ground and readied myself.Aslightning crashed towards me,Icalled upon the ancient magic coursing through my veins.
Theemerald flames surged around me, forming a protective barrier against the oncoming storm.Theclash of elements filled the air with a deafening roar, and sparks flew everywhere.
Witha swift movement,Ilunged forward, my sword ablaze.Hadeondodged with a mocking grin; his movements were as swift as the wind.Iwas relentless, pressing the attack.
Ourblades clashed in a symphony of steel; each strike fueled by centuries of animosity.Sparksflew, and the meeting of our power pushed us back repeatedly as it erupted into a miniature supernova.
Hadeon'schilling and manic laughter rang in my ears.Hismad grin spread over his face, indicating his ecstasy.
“Thisworld is mine,Abraxas!Magicbelongs to me and me alone.Iam a god, and no one can stand against me.Noteven you.”
Maybeonce,Ihad believed that.Ihad let myself be subjugated, fearing my own weakness, but no more.Mymate had saved me, andIwas more powerful thanIhad ever been.
“No.”Ispun around him, fueled by centuries of rage. “Youare a false god, a thief.Iam the last dragon, the last veritable god.Youwill kneel before me and beg for your life.”
Hewas skilled, butIhad always been the better swordsman.Mysword cut through the armor at his waist, my strength enhanced by the magic that flowed through me.Hisscreams of agony fueled my magic.Myflames erupted from the sword, engulfingHadeonin a blazing inferno.
