Until I’d been commanded to unleash that power.
A scream sounded from beside me, then a rapid-fire round of bullets rang out, and the scream was silenced.
I reined in my affinity, knowing I should only be wielding my elemental affinities. Knowing I needed to save it for the end—once this war was won and the Quarter claimed.
Elion’s voice still rang in my head from when he pulled me aside after plans had been finalized.
“You know what to do.” His voice was firm as he stared me down. “I’ve shown you what the Eternal has shown me—of what must occuronce the Quarter falls. What must be done for the City of Gold to rise once more, for light to be restored.”
I nodded, the vision he’d told me of playing over in my mind.
“Cast out your affinity once and for all, ensuring not a single soul remains in Solis Quarter. And once you’re sure, burn it. Burn it all so that the darkness and corruption can spread no further. Leave nothing and no one behind.”
“I understand what must be done.” I nodded as I held Elion’s gaze. “It will be done as Aeternus commands.”
Elion nodded before turning and walking away, leaving me standing where I’d been. The words played through my head over and over again.
You know what must be done.
Burn it. Burn it all.
I swallowed thickly, my jaw ticking as I rubbed at the back of my neck. It was times like this when I despised the weight that fell on my shoulders—the burden that came from being the Shade of the Aurelian Guild.
“Blackwood,” a voice shouted from down the block, and my head turned up at my name. A younger spy came running toward me, his eyes wild with fear as he approached.
“Sir—I-I—Well, sir—” He stumbled over the words as he bent forward on his knees, catching his breath.
“What?” The word was a snarl as I whirled, ducking a punch from a guard, before I drew my pistol, sliding the switch on the handle before aiming my shot. The bullet cut through the air, fire dancing around the ammo as it spun through the air, my affinity circling it until it hit the mark, and the male shrieked before collapsing to the ground.
“The apartment—the one marked off.”
“What about it?” The question fell from my lips as I stared at the smaller male, who couldn’t have been more than four decades old.
“We retrieved everyone inside—they’re being brought backto the camp now. Including the ummm, fox? You said to make sure—” He struggled to catch his breath. “Even the fox made it out.”
Thank the stars.
The worry lifted knowing that Raelyna was safe—out of harm’s way as we took control over the remainder of the city.
“Good,” I replied tightly as I cast my affinity, flames shooting over the spy’s head as the cords of fire wrapped around two approaching guards. I frowned as their water affinities surged, the flames sizzling as they continued their approach.
“But sir—” The spy’s voice quivered as he looked at me, and my eyes narrowed on him briefly. “One of the females . . . she stated that someone was missing.”
My heart stopped.
“Who?” The word was a growl of fury as I stared at the spy.
“R-Raelyna. They s-said that she never returned last night.”
My vision turned red, fire erupting around me, my vitas affinity threatening to cast out without control as pure, unadulterated panic flooded through me.
“Where?” I questioned. “Do they know where?”
I heard screams sounding around me, could feel the beat of pulses drawing closer as I was on the verge of losing control of my affinity.
But it didn’t matter.
None of it did.
