My head spun, and I tripped. Unwelcome emotions pounded in my skull. Overwhelming, all-consuming.
Phaedrus’ voice caressed my aching mind like a pleasant breeze. “She’s hidden too much from you. And now, she sends you to your death. To their deaths.”
I fought against the anger boiling in my gut. Against the sore ache of betrayal. These weren’tmyemotions.
Phaedrus spoke again, his voice irritable. “She knows what Duath Nun does to your kind. They torment you. Torture you. Condemn you to a fate worse than death.”
My arms moved without my consent, fingers seeking the hilt of my blade.
“Kill her for those she’s murdered. For the suffering she would inflict upon you.”
Drawing the blade from its scabbard, I raised it over my head and brought it down on Seraphim. Her back was turned. Hearing the steel ringing through the air, she spun. Too late.
The sword raked through her forearms as she raised them as a shield. Blood rushed from the wound, coating my blade and her sleeves. My heart pulsed with horror.
What was I doing?
Seraphim staggered back. Her scythe reforged from the fresh wound, catching alight with flame. She effortlessly blocked my second strike, though I saw her eyes flare in pain as the weight of my attack bore down on her wounds.
Someone called my name in the distance. I screamed inside my skull, unable to speak, unable to stop myself from pushing against her, trying to break her guard.
Seth yelped in pain. I wanted to search for him, but my head wouldn’t turn. I saw one thing: Seraphim, weakened, a moment from breaking.
Though her arms quaked, Seraphim’s voice was calm. “You’re stronger than he is.” She said. “I know you don’t think so. But we do.”
Biting my lip until blood trickled down my chin, I watched as she lost her grip on the scythe and fell to a knee. My sword swung wildly as I broke her guard, before sweeping back up to bring down on her neck.
Eleos grabbed my arm, drawing my attention away from my prey. “Lady Aethra.” He said calmly. “Stop. Don’t let him in.”
My mouth twisted into a grimace. How dare he? Lies after lies, hiding the truth. He’d taken my heart and torn it to pieces. Twisting my blade, I shifted course to strike him instead. To get him out of my way.
Eleos gazed at me with soft, sage-green eyes. He didn’t move. Didn’t defend himself. Nor did I feel his magic slipping into my mind.
He trusted me.
My sight dulled. The world drained of color. If I killed them, everything would have been for naught. I’d never look back at myself and be glad for the road I tread. We’d never succeed.
Guilt would tear me apart every day until the world ended.
Everything we’d suffered—pointless.
Screaming, I felt the hostile grip on my mind wither. Flinging the sword away, I dropped to my knees as magic surged in my chest. Rushing tempests burst from my breast, enveloping the world in soft blue light.
Flowers sprouted around me, covering the dock in a thick, lush meadow of pale blue petals. The bloody vines were overtaken, their scarlet flowers consumed and replaced. Phaedrus staggered back, staring at his bleeding palm in horror as his spells died beneath the flower’s touch.
Bewildered, Phaedrus dropped his guard, boots sinking into the meadow. Seeing an opening, Seth raised his longsword and threw it toward Phaedrus’ heart.
“No!” Seraphim shouted.
Blood from Phaedrus’ palm gathered into a fiery shield, deflecting Seth’s blade the moment before it struck. It shattered into a rain of scarlet, coating the meadow with blood.
“Onto the ship.” Seraphim barked. “Now!”
Alarm bells rang. Incessant. Growing louder. Thundering steps and galloping hooves approached. We would be boxed in.
Head ringing, I tried to rise to no avail. I saw knights streaming toward us, Phaedrus’ men come to reinforce their lord.
Cursing, Seth rushed to my side and picked me up, carrying me onto the deck. Eleos was a step behind, supporting Seraphim. Herding us aboard, Percy slashed the last thread holding the rope together. Wind caught the sails, and the ship surged away from the dock.
