The man grasped his bleeding hand, panting as he spoke. “You’re gonna pay for that, girl.”
Astraia stood, and in one swift motion, grabbed his long blond hair and yanked his head back, the cold black metal of her dagger pressed to his throat. A single drop of blood dripped from the blade as it sliced through his neck, barely breaking his skin.
“If you ever force yourself on another woman without her permission again, I will personally seek you out and cut every finger from your hands, then your manhood, before I erase your name from memory.”
She removed the dagger, allowing it to cut deeper, before shoving his head down and walking away from the table.
Just as she made for the door, a pair of amber eyes caught her gaze, a smile lurking on his face as he leaned against the door frame.
***
“Where do you think you’re going?” a low voice called from behind her as Astraia stomped to the grassy field behind the inn.
White light glinted beneath her fingernails as blue hues lit up the creases of her palms. Raindrops pelted her face, steam rising where the water met her skin. She was mere seconds from flaring. She had felt a disconnect with her bonds since the manacles had been removed, as if they were more on edge than before. The scene in the inn proved control was slipping further from her grasp.
Astraia had never been trained to channel Power. She had attempted to discover the way it flowed through her and the ability it gave her to cause massive destruction and also hone her senses, but she had never been able to master it without proper instruction. Her inadequacy made her a walking bearer of destruction—it seemed a fitting penance for her failings.
“With any luck, to Volpes, and far away from you!” Astraia shouted over the rain, not turning to face Draven.
He had stood by and watched the man accost her. Of this she was certain. Why, she could not fathom. This only incited her further.
She stopped mid-stride through the field, lightning striking in the distance and a clap of thunder rolling down the valley in answer. Her wet hair stuck to her neck as rain streamed down her face.
Astraia turned slowly, her damp cloak and tunic clinging to her skin and her boots sloshing in the muddy field.
Heat rushed to her spine, flowing from her center to her hands and feet. The rain no longer met her skin, but simply disappeared into mist from the scorching heat pouring from her. The glow of her fingers was barely contained, bright light ebbing into her vision. Any second, her eyes would start glowing white. If any passerby or inn patron noticed her, her demise would be certain.
Dark thoughts slithered into her mind, pushing her to the precipice. She was trapped. Trapped and incompetent and dangerous. Perhaps she deserved to die at the hands of the false king, to protect the people of Astradeon. Perhaps, she should burn out right here, in this field—Stars and their blessings be damned.
A hushed whisper in the tumultuous sea of her thoughts hissed in the darkness, “You could burn them. Be free forever. All you have to do is release.”
Astraia opened her eyes, not even realizing they had shut. Her eyes fixed on Draven, now only a few steps from her.
“Why did you let him assault me?” she demanded, eyes still glowing.
“I believe you told me that I do not control who speaks to you,” he replied, crossing his arms across his broad chest. “Besides, you appeared to have the situation under control.”
“Since when do you listen to me?” Astraia shouted, stepping closer to the bounty hunter with every syllable. “You, who would claim to be a noble member of the king’s illustrious pack of dogs, let some drunkard lay hands on your asset? You are a coward and a hypocrite.”
Heat enveloped them. Either from her own bonds or from him, she could not discern.
His smirk vanished, replaced with a hard line. She had struck a nerve.
“Not so noble now that your true form is brought to light?” A smile of satisfaction curved her lips.
“You know nothing of my true form, Starborne. As I am sure I am not fully aware of your own.” His voice was low, harsh as he spoke, looking down into her blazing eyes, a challenge.
The rain pummeled the bounty hunter and Starborne as they stood in the tall grass. Lightning flashed around them as thunder boomed across the darkening skies, a dance between two threatening forces.
“My true form would give even you nightmares, bounty hunter,” she whispered, feeling her bonds flutter at the impact of her words. True fear coated her voice.
The Stars had cursed her to fear herself more than any other in the realm.
All her fight left her in the span of a breath. Her bonds crept back, allowing her to firmly grasp her tether and pull them into submission. The light from her hands snuffed out, and the heat from her bonds waned.
Suddenly, she was freezing as her soaked tunic clung to her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Rain-soaked strands of hair fell across her eyes as she continued to gaze up at the bounty hunter, all light vanishing from her eyes. He did not break her stare, an inkling of concern on his face.
“I came in as you stabbed the drunk,” he said. His eyes flashed with something akin to fury. “If I had been there, I would have cut off his hand and shoved it down his throat and watched him gag on it. Then I would have slaughtered his friends for simply standing and letting it happen.”
