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Sink our teeth and claws into…
…our vessel. Teach them to bow, little one.
Tenah spilled her magic into the world until the Corrupt and Svetlana were no more.
Panic gripped her around the throat as lightning branched out in search of more enemies. She had no control over it. No way to stop the flow. Dust from the exploded Corrupt spiraled toward her. A tendril of her own lightning twitched up and nicked her eye, leaving a film she couldn’t blink away.
You did well. I’ve got it now.
Her muscles stiffened at the icy words implanted in her mind. Instantly, the flow of Chaos through her channels shut off like a faucet.
An Ashen stood next to her, tall and willowy. Tenah sucked in a breath as he turned his silver eyes on her. There was no other way to describe him but adorable. Though he shared Renton’s height, Aeyis’s features were boyish enough that she felt the instant need to protect him. He was more spectral than the eldest brother, skin and hair kissed by moonlight, and surrounded by the flecks of the glittering white magic Tenah had become accustomed to from her guardian.
A terrifying thought flashed through her mind. What if Renton had acquired some of that mind magic as well? What if he’d been manipulating her emotions from the start?
Aeyis pushed curls back from his face, and Tenah shivered as a flash of black magic streaked through his temples. Her mouth dried out. Who the hell bred these Murfell boys? Chaos and mind magic wielded in union? Aeyis was an abomination.
No, Aeyis might have answers to harnessing this dark magic.
Please don’t tell my brother, Aeyis said. He doesn’t know.
What?she asked.That you harbor the same disease he hunts down without sympathy?
You don’t know him.
Aeyis turned on the eldest Murfell. A snarl cut through the humid, coppery air.
“You worthless little twats,” Mias bellowed. “I should have drowned both of you in that lake years ago. You disgrace our family. You disgust me!”
Hot magic pricked at Tenah’s knuckles, but Aeyis brushed cool fingers against them.
He’s mine,Aeyis said.
She caught another surge of black veins beneath his moonlit skin as he struck his brother with such a forceful mental blow Mias started shaking and foaming at the mouth.
Tenah grimaced, her eyes drifting to Renton. Breaths labored and hand still clutching his blade, he looked between his brothers.
“Aeyis,” Renton warned, brows kneading.
“One more death on my hands won’t taint me,” Aeyis replied softly. “No one will even miss him.”
Whatever mental words the brothers exchanged finally deflated Aeyis. Freed, the eldest Murfell stumbled off into the trees. Renton started forward as if to pursue, but then the swamps tilted at an angle, and Tenah lurched sideways with it.
Was this another mind game?
Strong, calloused hands steadied her. Over Renton’s shoulder, she saw Aeyis discreetly swipe at the drip of black blood from his nose. Renton should be worried for his brother, but here he was, clutching onto her, turning her chin side-to-side with his fingers.
“That was a very foolish thing you did,” Renton said. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” she muttered. He was so gentle, so twisted up with concern, she didn’t have the heart to swat him away. “Just get us away from this place.”
ACT II
THE GIFT OF DESTRUCTION
Chapter14
Tenah
