Page 12 of She Who Holds My Wrath

She stares into my eyes, her beautiful silver ones shining bright with fear. “Waking the dormant. And…” Her breath hitches, her ivory skin turning deathly pale. “…Godbinding.”

The dungeon feels suddenly smaller. Colder. And for the first time in thousands of years, I’m afraid we’re already too late.

Chapter 6

DAISY

Figure it out, queenie.

He’ll be figuring out how to get my foot out of his ass if he keeps taunting me like that. I glare at Maelkar’s smug face as he lounges at the edge of the ring with one hand in his pocket, the other resting lazily on his sword like I’m no threat at all. How the hell am I supposed to fight someone who can vanish into shadows, hurl snarky comments like throwing knives, and still look like sin itself while I’m sweating my ass off?

Frustration builds under my skin. The strange power stirs within me, restless and wild. I force a slow inhale through my nose, trying not to let it burst free. I need to control myself, otherwise I could accidentally incinerate Maelkar. And whilst he is fully pissing me off, I don’t want to turn him into a pile of dust. Not yet, anyway. I raise my chin and my sword, planting my feet the way he taught me as I huff, blowing a strand of hair that’s fallen loose from my plait.

“Ready to try again, little flower?”

I freeze. Little flower. Not hellflower. Not rage muffin. That was Korithax’s name for me, and by the smug twitch of Maelkar’s lips, he knows exactly what he’s doing by calling me that nickname. I can’t hold back my scream as I charge at him, swinging the sword with everything I’ve got. The sudden ferocity actually surprises him, spurring him into action. He has just enough time to raise his sword before I’m bringing my blade down. Metal clashes against metal with a ringing clang that shudders through my arms.

“Fast,” he laughs. “But not fast enough, little rage muffin.”

He shoves against my blade, forcing me back a step. My chest burns with effort and fury. I lunge again, stabbing towards his chest. He knocks it aside effortlessly, chuckling like he’s having the time of his life.

“Gods, Zeriavoss is fucked with you as its leader. Can’t even land a single blow,” he tuts, smirking at me.

I know he’s just trying to taunt me, but unfortunately, it’s working. I see red. Anger I’ve never felt before takes over my entire being. Another rage filled scream tears out of me as I swing again. But this time, my fire surges. It barrels into the blade instead of exploding outward, coating the steel in pure white flame.

Maelkar’s smirk falters. I lunge again, shocked when my next swing hits, landing directly in the middle of his chest. He stumbles back with an oomph, dropping his sword.

“Shit! Maelkar, are you⁠—”

He stares at me wide-eyed for a heartbeat, then bursts out laughing. “There she is! My feisty little queen. Well done, hellflower. You just landed a killing blow.”

I blink at the now disintegrating blade, then at him, horrified. My own sword clatters to the ground as the fire fizzles out, turning into a pile of dust and warped metal. “I—I didn’t mean to⁠—”

“Don’t you dare apologise,” he interrupts, still grinning. “Be proud. That was progress.”

“But my fire⁠—”

“Wasn’t out of control,” he says simply. “You directed it. It went where you wanted it to go. That’s the first step.”

I didn’t direct it anywhere, if I’m being totally honest. It just… happened. Regardless, a fragile flicker of pride warms my chest, but it barely has time to settle before Maelkar’s gaze shifts past me.

“What?” I frown.

He quirks a brow. “Looks like we have company.”

I turn to see Sariya and Elyistria approaching, both radiant and yet somehow grave.

“Is everything alright?” I ask, breathless from exertion.

“It’s…” Elyistria glances at Maelkar.

He gets the message immediately, bowing mockingly. “Try not to miss me too much, Queen D.” In a blink, he vanishes into shadows.

I wipe the sweat from my brow, nerves suddenly coiling tight. “What is it?”

“It’s Aran,” Elyistria says softly.

Fear slams into me. “He’s alright, isn’t he?”