“Your entire Quarter is crumbling around you.” Callum’svoice had a deadly tone as he spoke. “And yet, you think you’re in a position to make demands of me?”
Lucanus shifted, tugging me closer toward him as he spoke. “Just because yourGuildhas brought the walls down means nothing. I hold more power than you could dream of?—”
“Affinities that you’ve stolen from those in your Quarter—those who placed their trust in you,” Callum interrupted, his jaw ticking in annoyance as he watched the male like a predator stalking their prey. “You think I didn’t know you were attempting to steal power. You think I wasn’t aware you were attempting to elevate yourself to a position of power above your citizens. That I didn’t know youthoughtyou could become a god?” He spat the last words.
“Iama god!” Lucanus argued, spit flying from his lips as he spoke. “I fulfilled the prophecy long foretold; I have taken what was always meant to be mine.”
Blackwood scoffed. “You arenothing, least of all a god.”
“I have more power . . . more control than you will ever know.”
“Doyounow?” Callum’s words were a daring threat as he stepped forward menacingly, shifting his body so that the light from the sun glinted off the markings on his forearm.
Off the symbol for avitas, visible in golden ink.
I felt Lucanus shift behind me, the blade cutting into my neck the slightest bit, and an involuntary wince slipped my lips. A wince that had Callum’s eyes fastening on my neck, before murder filled his gaze.
“I’m guessing you didn’t know a vitas existed inside the Guild, did you, Lucanus?” Callum’s voice was a sneer as he inched closer, his hand on his weapon.
“That’s not possible . . .” Lucanus’s voice was hard as he stared at Callum from behind me.
“On that, I think I’d disagree,” Callum stated, raising his hand slightly. I heard Luc gasp from behind me and knew inthat moment that Callum was letting his affinity out. Luc staggered slightly behind me.
“What are you doing?” he bit out through shaky breaths, his hold loosening on my arms.
“What I should have done the moment I infiltrated your court.” Callum’s voice was cold as he took another step forward, his hand closing as he stepped closer.
“You—” Lucanus began. “You can’t k-kill me. I am a—” He didn’t get to finish.
“You arenothing,” Callum spat. “You threatened the lives of hundreds of angels. You corrupted your own citizens—created a false religion with the sole purpose of gaining more power.”
Lucanus staggered back slightly, the blade he’d held by my neck falling slightly. Enough that I could nearly break free. I just needed a little more . . . I just needed?—
I heard Lucanus gasp for breath behind me, his hand moving to clutch his heart.
“Callum, don’t!” I screamed as a realization rushed through me in full force. Amber eyes flicked toward me in confusion. “Don’t use your affinity onhim. His life . . . it isn’t worth sacrificing yours.”
I watched as Callum’s eyes flashed once more, his eyes narrowing on the male before me as Lucanus let out another strangled breath. And then Callum nodded, ever so discernibly, and I prayed to the Eternal that I pulled this off.
I kicked backward, my foot connecting with Luc’s knee. I heard his bellow of pain from behind me as I threw myself to the side of the balcony, ensuring I was out of his immediate reach.
A gunshot sounded as I landed on the other side of the balcony, a roar of pain sounding as I collided with the marbled floor, landing painfully on a broken rock slab that had me letting out a scream of pain. I twisted, rolling to the side to ensure I remained clear of the two males, when Ifound that the links between the cuffs had snapped, freeing my arms.
Another gunshot rang through the air, then another. My eyes darted up as I spotted Lucanus leaning against the far wall of the balcony, gun in hand. I spotted blood dripping in a puddle by Callum’s feet.
“No.” The word was a whisper as Lucanus lifted his hand. I could only watch from the side as he staggered forward, an illustratio shield forming around him as he called on his water affinity, wielding it in Callum’s direction.
Water rushed forward with vengeance, and a scream of fear slipped from my lips. But Callum countered the action, fire bursting forth from him as it danced with the water, the two fighting wickedly against each other. I watched as a knife flew through the air, tip over handle, as it cut toward Lucanus.
The King of Solis didn’t move from its path, the blade directly hitting his illustratio shield. Expect this blade . . . it began to crack the shield. Anger flashed in Lucanus’s eyes as Callum raised his pistol, firing a round of bullets, flying with rapid precision into the same spot on his shield.
Lucanus raised his own hand, and the balcony began to tremble as he moved the earth. I felt the marble stones fracture in multiple places and prayed to Aeternus that the balcony would hold.
“This game has played out for far too long, Lucanus. And now, I think it’s time I finish it.” I caught the subtle movements of Callum’s hand, his eyes hardening as he focused in on the male with deadly intent.
“Did you not hear me?” he bit out cruelly. “You’re no match for me. I am a god?—”
Callum laughed as he threw another round of his fire affinity toward the male. This time, I watched as his affinity circled the shield, using Lucanus’s water affinity against himself as his flames overtook it, swallowing them whole.
