“Zakkai!” Zephyrus shouted as more WarFire poured out of Aflora, heading straight for my shield. I yanked it back with my mind, squandering it and shoving her to the ground.
“Stop!” I commanded, my hands on her shoulders, my legs straddling hers. “It’s what he wants!”
“We need to bite her,” Zephyrus said. “It’s helped before.”
“Her other implosions were unintentional,” I gritted out through my teeth as she started creating a wall of her own in her mind to block us all out. If she succeeded, my barrier would dissolve beneath her power, and she’d destroy the fucking room.
I leaned down to kiss her, putting the full force of my power on display while I took control of her as the Source Architect. I weaved my energy through hers, dismantling her wall block by block. She growled, creating more, faster and faster, but I countered each one and kissed her harder.
Come on, Aflora. Hear me.
No!she shouted, her agony a blade against my soul.They killed him! They killed Kolstov!
I know,I whispered.
You wanted him dead,she accused.You. This is all because of you!
I sighed, hearing the pain in those words and realizing how much she would have hated me had I fulfilled my plan to end the entire Nacht line. It was too late now, the deed already done, and no apology would right this wrong for her.
So I tried another avenue.There’s too much innocent life in this room, Aflora. The ones who deserve retribution aren’t here. Look at their souls, sweet star. See who they are.
He’s here,she growled.He’s right there!
And he’s surrounded himself by innocents,I tried again.This isn’t the way.
It’s what you wanted.
I know,I agreed.But not like this.
Another scream split her lips, more power rushing out of her in tormented fury, her emotions piercing my heart and temporarily muting my senses.
“Aflora,” Zephyrus breathed as he collapsed beside us, clutching his chest, his eyes wide as fiery energy swathed him like a lethal blanket. His defenses came alive as he tried to fight it, but her power destroyed it in a flash, touching his skin and eliciting a tortured bellow from his mouth.
“You’re going to kill him!” I shouted, my hands moving to her throat and giving her a squeeze. “Focus, Aflora. See what you’re doing!”
She snarled at me, so I cupped her cheek and tilted her head toward Zephyrus. The flames had engulfed him completely, and I didn’t have the energy to dismantle that spell and keep up our barrier—which Constantine had almost gotten through with his growing magic.
A gasp caught in Aflora’s throat, the energy dying in an instant as she tried to squirm toward him. I moved, allowing her to reach his now still form.
Constantine threw another deadly spell our way, one I caught this time and volleyed back at him while Aflora’s dangerous energy morphed into one of life and vitality.
She pressed her palms to Zephyrus’s chest, her new spell warm and comforting as she pulled her negative enchantment from his spirit.
He inhaled sharply in response, then muttered a curse and clutched his chest. Tears poured down Aflora’s cheeks, apologies flying from her lips. But we didn’t have time for that. We had an irate Elite Blood hammering on my shell with far too much power.
Ascensions took time for a reason. They were about balance and control, neither of which he seemed to possess at the moment.
And he was surrounded by Warrior Bloods and Malefic Bloods, their combined energies forming a lethal weapon that would destroy us all if we didn’t find a way out.
“Aflora,” I whispered. “I need you to shadow us.”
We weren’t ready for this battle.
And there were still too many innocents, Aflora’s flames having blocked their exits.
“Aflora, I need you to shadow us,” I repeated, grimacing as the final layer of my shield began to crumble. “Right fucking now!”
She grabbed my wrist, her other palm still touching Zephyrus, and engaged her connection to Shade. It was visceral and real, my mind so connected to hers that Ifelther growing energy.
