“Stop,” Kilian commanded, angry thunder rumbling across the cloudless sky. “This is between you and me, Primus. Let the others go.”
“Always the hero. I assume you’ve come to break the curse I placed on you? I gather this one was going to do it for you?” Primus’ head jerked to me, and bile rose to my throat.
I saw him then, hazy and distant, teal eyes locked on mine as his hand slid up my thigh. Inching, inching… scarlet hot pain flashed through me, and I pulled myself away from the memory.
“I must thank you,” Primus continued, his eyes back on Kilian. “For finding my Aerie. I have been searching for her for many years. Now that she’s back, we can resume our courtship.”
“Courtship?” Syrina scoffed. “Do not act for a second like we do not remember the curse you placed on her. When Aerie finally realized that what she felt was of your own doing, that you manipulated her, she chose death! She chose to wander the elven and mortal realm rather than warm your bed.”
It was strange, hearing them talk about a life I could not remember, but I knew Syrina’s words were true. I felt it in my bones and through the brief flashes of memory of that past life. I had left Tuscan for a reason. I had chosen a mortal life to escape Primus. And here I was again, on my knees before him.
“If you so much as look at her,” Kilian spat, “I will peel the flesh off your bones and feed it to you before I grant you the mercy of death.”
Primus gave him a bored look. “Those are pretty words from a bound male. From where I’m standing, there’s not much of anything you can do.”
Golden sparks fell from Septimus and his eyes flashed dangerously, yellow and gleaming. The chains around him were melting. His face was a contortion of pain as the restraints burned through his skin, but still he pushed against them. The metal was red hot when he gave one final shove. The manacles cracked and tumbled to the floor, leaving behind red welts and bleeding indentations in his wrists.
Septimus ignored his wounds as he rose to his feet, menace in his eyes. So swift it was a blur, he shot an arc of dazzling light at Primus, but the other male dodged easily. Drawing his staff outward, Primus hurled gusts of wind toward Septimus. He stumbled backward, hands clutching at his neck as he wheezed for breath. He fell onto one knee, eyes wide as he choked and gasped against the pressure.
Lana cried out, reaching for him. Primus looked from her to Septimus and smiled.
The wind ceased and Septimus gulped, his fingers clenched in the sand beneath him. He stared up at his brother, sparks dancing on the ground, but Primus’ smile did not slip.
He wagged a finger at Septimus before turning it onto Lana. Her chains tightened, reddening with heat, and she screamed. It wrenched through my heart, ripping it to shreds. Septimus crawled to her, pulling at the chains, but they only tightened.
“Stop!” I shouted.
But Primus did not stop. In fact, his grin only widened.
Lana shouted in agony, blood welling from the points where the chains sliced into her. Septimus’ eyes were frantic. He turned to his brother, voice pleading and pained as he said, “Primus, stop! I’ll do what you want!”
The chains halted their progression through Lana’s skin, and she whimpered softly, tears streaking her cheeks.
“Get back,” Primus commanded.
Septimus inched away from Lana, allowing fresh chains to snake across his body.
I looked to Kilian, wild panic slamming in my chest. Lightning pulsed directly above us. It fractured and sizzled along the beach, each strike leaving imprints on the ground.
Primus stared at the purple streaks with mild fascination. “What a lovely lightshow, Azrael. It’s a real pity that’s all you can do.”
“Unbind me and you’ll see exactly what I can do.” Kilian’s deathly calm unnerved me.
“Now, why would I do that?” Primus tutted. “It’s so much more fun seeing you on your knees, weak as ever.” He turned to me then, raising his staff to my chin. He slid the hard wood along my jaw, tipping it up to face him.
Kilian hissed, thunder clapping overhead.
“I much preferred your old body,” Primus said. “But I suppose I can make this one work.”
Oily hatred slithered through me, and I spat at his feet. “I will never be yours.”
He raised his brows, cool amusement quirking his lips. “You’ve still got that fire in you, Aerie. I can’t wait to break you.”
“I am not Aerie. My name is Lirahna. Whatever life I lived here is over. I want nothing to do with you,” I snarled.
“And you think I care what you want?” Primus murmured. “Once this is all done, I’m going to put my curse right back on you. And you will love me, whether you like it or not.”
Icy fear stole my breath. The shadows inside of me growled in response, reaching out to wash over the terror with cold, dark fury. I was not some plaything for Primus to use. And I was no longer a weak mortal. I had the power of a goddess running through my veins. I just needed to reach for it.
