“Micah?” Crimson questions from the sidelines, shifting her position.
As Fenix turns to her, I pull away from Ten, ensuring we have a break while he’s distracted. Fenix glances between us all. “They don’t know? Huh. Do you want to tell them, or shall I?” He levels his stare at me.
“What’s he talking about?” Ten asks, and I can feel him looking at me.
My eyes dip away, over to Crimson, who’s wearing an expression that only makes me want to rush the answer.
“Micah was the one who betrayed me. Betrayedus. He let those men into my cell and was working with Fenix.”
“For, Sister. He was workingforme. And did a good job.”
“Yet you still thought he needed to die?” A wave of adrenaline splashes through my chest, riling the energy I’d calmed into submission. It thrashes against the well that holds it, and surges to the surface. My hands itch with the heat that now runs through them, and all of it is aimed at mybrother.
“I told you. He had a soft spot for you. I couldn’t risk my plans.”
“You killed Micah. But he betrayed Ever.” Ten’s voice is ice. “He allowed those men to try and kill her, to take her.” There’s nothing polite or kind in his voice, only malice. I sense him behind me, his movement stirring my wayward hair, as he backs me up.
“I will kill whoever I see as a threat. Something I suggest you remember, Aten Ciro. It isn’t you I need.”
“You need him, Fenix. I promise you that.” My own defence of Ten rises.
“Or what? You’ll attack me?” He laughs. “Maybe, with time, that might be a credible threat, but don’t think you can hurt me. Your little trick with the dark mist isn’t going to do anyone any harm. It’s just a neat illusion.”
“What trick with dark mist?”Ten asks, but I can’t have that conversation with him while fighting with Fenix.
“Keep Ten and Crimson safe, and we won’t have to find out how dangerous I can be.” It’s an empty threat, although some part of it piques a part of me and the possibility of finally being the one in control hovers.
A smile stretches over his face, twisting his features. “Oh, how I do like it when you get angry, Sister. There’s hope for you yet. Now, get on with it.”
nineteen
. . .
Ever
Ican’t. I can’t willingly hurt Ten.
A standoff.
We already know all I do with Ten is cause him pain, but Fenix isn’t playing.
“Ever, I’m losing patience. Do you need motivation?” Fenix doesn’t wait, but flicks his attention to Crimson, who lunges, but then freezes, just like back in Kirrasia.
“Stop it,” I scream at him.
“Make me. Use your power and stop me from hurting your friends.”
A blast of anger rages through me, and I storm towards him, the power within me now beating a rhythm in time to my steps, as if encouraging me to set it free.
With nothing but instinct, I shove my arms out and, with sheer will, focus on the hold he has of Crimson.
Tiny strands of light, weaving out from Fenix, appear to me, sparkling and wrapping around Crimson, their golden shine mesmerising and enchanting. The stream of water that I see asmy own power washes over them, doing nothing to break them. So, I push harder and dig deeper, urging the strength that has sat within me through the weeks of training to finally awaken and fight.
And it responds.
Instead of a beautiful, rushing wave of energy, it starts to dull and grow heavy. And to my eyes, the power I’m forcing between Fenix and Crimson turns dark. My power is no longer something I alone can see as streams of water turn into ropes of grey fog, wrapping around each of the golden threads of light that Fenix is holding Crimson with. And my darkness breaks them.
One after another, dissolving them into ash, falling to the ground.
