Emptiness.
Come back to me. Don’t abandon me now.
“Are you saying Matthias has been stealing magic, too?” Jessiah asked. “I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s struck me as a coward since the very first time we met.”
I could barely see Cornelius, but I heard the smile in his voice as he answered. “He doesn’t need to steal. He’s got a gift of his own that has come in handy.”
“Really?” Jessiah asked. “And what’s that?”
“He can control other beings. Animals, particularly.”
I froze.
Jessiah twisted the sword in his palm.
“You made that animal attack me?”Gods, I was a fucking idiot.I knew it was all too strange when it happened. “You tried to kill me back then, didn’t you?”
“Obviously not,” Matthias answered. “I was only trying to gauge your powers. Though it was a bloody waste of my time, and then we had to hunt down that quack of a healer for you. That woman and her damn riddles. But yes, the animal attack was all me.”
“Don’t sound so proud,” I spat. “Jessiah’s right. You’re nothing but a coward. I’m sure you fit right in under Cornelius’s tight fucking grasp.”
Matthias started toward us, but Cornelius stopped him. “That’s enough. Matthias is right. I gave you the chance to fight by my side, Rummy. You could have been a valuable resource here in Pericius. But you’ve chosen your alliance. Now, you’ll both pay the price.”
Cornelius raised his hands.
And a circle of fire engulfed us.
Chapter 40
Jessiah
Heat whirled, singeing the tips of my wings. I pulled them back just enough to avoid the fire, but kept Rummy hidden as much as possible.
“This won’t save you!” I yelled. “You’re still the coward you’ve always been!”
“I’m not the one who needs saving,” he retorted. He raised his hands, and the flames on the ground rose until they created an entire wall around us.
Rummy and I stood back-to-back in the tight circle. “This isn’t good,” she yelled over the roaring elements. “We’re sitting ducks in here without our power!”
“Look at me.” I spun around and put a hand under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “Nobody in this entire kingdom carries more power than you do right now, Rummy of Midgrave. You are unstoppable. We made sure of that. Any magic he’s using to block you right now can be combatted with whatever’s in here.” I poked a finger at her chest. “Don’t be afraid. You have nothing to fear anymore.”
I felt a flutter through our bond—excitement, maybe? Nerves? But it wassomething.That meant the block wasn’tentirelyobstructing our bond.
She felt it, too. Her eyes widened and her attention turned toward the two who now approached us slowly.
As if they already defeated us.
As if we would give up that easily.
Cornelius’s laugh pierced the hot air. “Matthias is not the only one on my side, either.” He turned and looked behind him. From the back of the gardens, two dozen fae emerged. No—they did not simply emerge. They appeared out of thin air like they had been standing right there the entire time.
Veil magic. One of them was a gifted fae who cloaked the entire group.
“You two can try to stop me, but I’m taking Rummy’s power whether or not you try to fight. If I were you, I’d stop resisting. Perhaps I’ll show mercy and spare your lives. Oh, try not to act so surprised,” Cornelius continued. “I told you I am not alone.”
One gifted fae, we could handle. But this? A small army of magic powers? We had no clue what skills they possessed. We couldn’t defend ourselves against them if we didn’t know what we were fighting.
A tiny stream of panic surged through my tether from Rummy. She wasn’t expecting this. We’d prepared to fight Corneliusalone.
