Page 236 of Vameer

I step forward.

His feet dig into the earth. But he still slides back.

He pushes harder. His power pulsing. Vibrating.

He is strong.

But I am stronger.

I take another step.

He slides back another foot. And fear mixes with the fury on his face.

“Nothing to say, King?” I let him hear my derision.

“I’m going to kill you. Once and for all.” Spit, not venom, flies from his mouth as his rage takes over.

“The only thing you’re going to do… is die.” I start to reach forward. Through the wall of warring gravito wanting his dagger. But then I hear Rune’s voice as she calls for Barth.

I feel the energy shift in the clearing.

Too many eyes turning to my mate.

Too many killers looking at My Heart.

Tosa starts to open his mouth.

But before he can order my Rune as a target, I throw my gravito to her.

There’s a flash of gold beside her as Barth appears. Then my gravito snaps into place, creating a dome over her, Nix, my aunt, the pup, and Barth.

Nix pushes Rune into the portal.

And something moves at the edge of my vision.

I lift my left arm.

And Tosa’s dagger slices through my flesh.

The cut is long and deep.

We both look.

Him, at the missed target.

Me, at the thin piece of stretchy string as it contracts, and the nineteen brightly colored heart beads as they fall away from my unprotected wrist.

A flash of gold marks Barth’s exit.

A wolf darts past.

But I watch my tiny plastic hearts fall into the bloody dirt at my feet.

And my gravito, everywhere that it is, turns pitch black.

And heavy.

The ground vibrates as it drags itself across the field to me.