AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Spells reverberated off the walls as Avyanna held her own against the goddess. But we knew she wouldn’t last long.
Olivia grabbed my shoulders, then wrapped her arms around my neck as my wings exploded from my back. “We can’t leave Azia,” she said.
I glanced down at the drawbridge, large chunks of wood and metal scattered over the road, winding down toward the mountains.
Explosions from the castle boomed in my ears, Avyanna biding us a little time to get away. Even it was so Olivia could sacrifice herself to kill Salenia. Why else would she have bound Salenia’s life to hers?
I held her tighter against me, adrenaline coursing through my veins as we took flight, soaring over the forest. “Zach,” I yelled through the sky. “Can you see Azia?”
He was likely dead, but if Zach could get low enough to see him, then we’d know for sure. If he was alive, he was the best ally we had.
He and Adrian dipped lower, their wings hovering over the trees while Niall carried Elizabeth. Salenia would be on our trail as soon as Avyanna was dead, and I was certain she’d have an army of aniccipere with her.
We flew toward the city, and as I peered back, I spotted Azia, limp in Zach’s arms.
THIRTY-FIVE
Olivia
Thecitybustledwithnoise as we headed towards Malum Dominor’s headquarters. “Are you sure she’ll be there?”
“No, but we have to try.” Sebastian stared ahead as I walked without a disguise, my red hair flowing around my shoulders as the whispers of my supposed return from the dead swept the city. Many bowed, as they recognized their king and queen, and a few shot me disdainful glares—Salenia’s supporters, undoubtedly.
Catching snippets of conversation as we passed, I listened to the murmured talks about Asland’s shipping surrounding our shores, the pending attack on our kingdom instilling fear. Most wanted the aniccipere gone, with them listed as responsible for my father’s death, plus their drain on mortals which limited the vampire's food supply. A couple of people tried to push their way through a gathering crowd, to speak with us, but Zach kept them back, his sword drawn.
We sped ahead, and away from the eyes of the people. “I hope Azia will recover,” I whispered as the three of us pushed through a group of Blood Knights, who nodded in our direction. They didn’t know yet, but if we defeated Salenia, they would be out of their jobs. I wouldn’t stand for any more trafficking.
“He’s with that bookshop owner. He’ll be fine,” Sebastian said as we reached the alleyway, the stench of garbage wafting up my nose. Zach and Sebastian thrusted ahead of me, both kicking at the door. Dents appeared, but no matter how hard they hit, it didn’t budge an inch.
“Let me,” I said, then walked to the entrance, sending a pulse of magic around the edges. “He must have had a sorcerer spell it shut.”
Zach growled. “Then he definitely has Erianna in there.” He went to kick it again, and I put my hand out to stop him.
“Brute force won’t work.” I blew out a long, shaky exhale, and closed my eyes. I focused all my attention inwards as the flickers of my magic came to the surface, the poison leaving my system.
The surrounding air thickened as my magic built to a point, and I released it all in a single, powerful blast. The door shook, then fell backward, slamming against the ground. Sebastian stepped forward, and we both glanced inside. The hallways were illuminated by a ghostly green light that wavered off the walls, a whimpering sound up ahead.
We reached a large ornate door at the end of the corridor. I hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath, then pushed it open. Salvor held Erianna in front of her, his hand wrapped around her throat. “Come closer and I'll kill her.”
Sebastian growled as two suited men ran at us. Zach sliced his sword through the air, cleanly cutting off his head. The second’s fist connected with Sebastian, and I shot a blast of electric at him, rooting him to the spot while Sebastian pulled him into a headlock, then lowered him to the ground. “Where are the rest of your men?” he asked.
Salvor's rage emanated from him as he tightened his grip around Erianna's neck.
“They fled,” I realized.
“They’ve gone to Salenia on my orders,” Salvor snapped. “If you didn’t notice, a war with Asland is coming.”
I stepped forward and Salvor snarled, “I said don't come any closer or she dies.”
“Your men won’t be fighting her in that war,” I explained, taking another cautious step forward. “She doesn’t care about Sanmorte. Only me. If you just let Erianna go, we won’t hurt you.”
His grip on her tightened, and my chest heaved. Erianna looked at me, then at Sebastian and, with one quick nod, Sebastian lunged forward, as Erianna turned in his arms, her lips brushing against his. Surprise widened his eyes. Then she lifted her knee, hitting him in the groin.
“What the fuck!” He stumbled back, and Erianna’s fist slammed into his cheek. I recited a spell under my breath, praying I'd got the incantation right from the spell book I'd studied, then looked at Salvor.
A line of fire ran from me to him, Erianna dodging its path narrowly. Flames licked his legs, rising until he was engulfed. His howls pierced into my eardrums, as he stumbled, desperately trying to put out the flames on his body.
Erianna moved to my side, her hands trembling. “This could have been different, Salvor,” she shouted over his shrieks, the stench of burning flesh thick in the air. She watched in a trance-like state as he burned to death, then Sebastian reached through the flames, and tore out his heart.
