Mom and Dad appear again, weapons raised. But this time I see through the illusion to the magic animating them. Time slows as I drop into a crouch, my daggers finding the weak points in the spell. They shatter like glass.
"He's dying," Skadi taunts. "I can smell his death. Better hurry, Lightborn."
She hurls another ice spear but I'm already moving. The Aquanite's power flows through me as I redirect her weapon, sending it screaming back at her. She dodges, but not fast enough—the ice shard slices through one wing.
"Bitch!" She snarls, all pretense of amusement gone. Her fist connects with my jaw, stars exploding behind my eyes. I taste more blood.
John appears next to her, but I'm done with ghosts. Angel fire erupts from my hands, incinerating the illusion before it fully forms. The flames catch Skadi's remaining wing, earning a shriek of rage.
She retaliates with a brutal combination—knee to ribs, elbow to face. Each blow feels like being hit by a truck. But I let the pain fuel me, catching her arm on the third strike.
Ice crawls up her limb as I unleash everything the Aquanite has taught me. She tries to pull away but I hold on, feeling the frost spread through her corrupted form.
"You think pain makes me weak?" Blood drips from my lips as I speak. "Pain is what made me who I am."
Her other fist cracks against my temple. The world spins but I don't let go. Ice continues to spread.
"Every person I've lost," I drive my knee into her stomach. "Every sacrifice made in my name," My elbow finds her throat. "They're not my weakness."
Through blurring vision, I see Rhyland slump forward.
"They're the reason I'll never stop fighting."
Every heartbeat sends fire through my broken ribs. Blood runs into my eyes from a gash on my forehead, but I can't spare a hand to wipe it away. Through our bond, Rhyland's agony threatens to bring me to my knees.
Skadi breaks free of the ice with a roar, her partially frozen wing shattering. She moves like liquid shadow, her fist connecting with my already cracked ribs. Something gives way inside me. I taste more blood.
"He's fading," she hisses, catching my hair and slamming my head into the wall. "Can you feel it? The way his life drains away?"
I can. God's help me, I can feel every second of his pain, every weakening breath. The wooden stake is killing him slowly, and our bond carries each moment of his suffering straight to my soul.
"DANICA!" Rhyland's roar echoes off the ice, his voice raw with desperation. I feel his rage and helplessness—watching me struggle while he's trapped on the other side of the chamber. His pain bleeds into mine, a feedback loop of shared agony as he's forced to witness my strength failing, unable to reach me.
My legs buckle but I force myself upright. The chamber spins sickeningly—probable concussion. Definitely internal bleeding. But none of that matters.
"Not..." I spit blood. "done yet."
Adrian materializes again,but this time I'm ready. As his fist comes at my face, I drop into a roll. The Aquanite pulses as I pull moisture from the air, forming ice daggers that find his throat. Another illusion shatters.
Skadi's kick catches my knee from behind. Something pops, wrong and loud. I scream as my leg gives out.
"Just give up, already," she laughs, grabbing my throat. "Can't even save herself, much less her mate."
Black spots dance at the edges of my vision. Through them, I see Rhyland struggle to reach the stake again. His movements are weaker now—our bond flutters like a dying heartbeat.
No.
No.
My body screams in protest, every muscle burning, aching. Exhaustion claws at my bones, but fuck that. I didn't come this far to roll over now. Even as darkness creeps at the edges of my vision, I bare my teeth in defiance. No fucking way am I giving up—like hell I'll let this bitch win.
I dive deep inside myself, clawing for that inferno that lives in my gut—that same holy fire that turned those Drauger bastards to ash. Rage and desperation feed the flames until they scream to be let loose. The power erupts from me in a wave of pure light, sending Skadi flying backward like she's been bitch-slapped by an angel. I slam into the ground hard enough to rattle my teeth, but muscle memory and pure stubbornness get me back on my feet, even as my knee threatens to tell me to go fuck myself.
"You want to see what I can do?" Blood drips from my mouth as I smile. "Let me show you what happens when you fuck with my man."
Power surges through me—raw and endless. The entire chamber groans as I reach for every particle of ice, every drop of frozen water. Skadi's eyes widen as the walls begin to crack.
"Impossible," she breathes.
