“Let. Her. Go.” he bit out through gritted teeth, his hold tightening around the slender column of her neck. Davina’s smile was malicious as she met his gaze, but her assault on Auraelia never ceased; her power was a palpable force surrounding the woman he loved.
“Hello, Prince Daemon. Or is itKingnow? I’m so glad you could join us.” He didn’t even have time to blink before ice crystalized in his veins. “I must admit, I was a little disappointed to learn that you left your preciousstar.Goddess knows it’s going to besomuchmore satisfying to let you watch her wither away in front of your eyes.”
Davina pried his hand from her throat and shoved her own into his chest, sending him staggering back to where Auraelia had fallen. Daemon groaned as a burning cold surrounded his heart, causing him to double over just to stay on his feet.
Only together can you do what needs to be done.Narissa’s words filtered through his mind as he glanced down at his fallen star. There was blood caked on her armor, and her hair was matted to her face, but she was still so beautiful. It looked like she was just sleeping, but the dimming glow of the bond that connected them told another story. With every slow beat of her heart, each ragged breath she drew into her lungs had her fading further and further away from him.
Open your eyes, Auraelia. Fight this.He mentally pleaded as he took in the soft lines of her face.
“Kneel.”
Davina’s command had him dragging his gaze from the woman he loved to the one he despised.
With gritted teeth, Daemon forced his body to straighten. “There is only one woman I will ever get on my knees for, and it will never be you.”
“I saidkneel!” Davina shouted, her power wrapping around him in a way he hadn’t experienced.
Instead of ice, it felt like his blood was boiling. His heart thundered in his chest. Every breath was suffocating as blood filled his mouth and spilled from his nose. Daemon crumpled, his knees sinking into the mud next to Auraelia as he continued to choke on the very thing meant to keep him alive.
Davina stalked toward him, bending until her face was mere inches from his own. “Last chance, little King. Bow to me, and you can rule by my side. Refuse, and you will die. Either way, you will be on your knees before me.”
“Go to hell.” Daemon spat, spraying blood over Davina’s face.
She sucked on a canine as she straightened, her head tilting to the side before a feline smile stretched across her face. “Have it your way, then.”
Being drowned by one of Narissa’s creatures would have been preferable to the agony that was being inflicted on every inch ofhis body. Davina’s magic ravaged his system, snuffing out any glimmer of shadows in his veins.
It was like she was playing with him, prolonging his torment as she alternated between the two extremes of her power. One moment, it felt like icicles stabbing his brain while frost bloomed around his heart. In the next, blood would be pouring from his mouth and nose.
Daemon bent over, his fingers digging into the mud as he gritted his teeth through the onslaught. Fighting through the pain, he slid his hand over to Auraelia and curled his fingers around hers.
Auraelia, please, my star. Your people need you.Ineed you.
He wasn’t sure if he imagined it, but as stars danced around his vision, he could have sworn he felt the tether tighten.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Auraelia
Auraelia.
A voice as calm as a summer breeze cut through the darkness surrounding her, replacing it with the warmth of light.
Auraelia, my sweet child, open your eyes.
Hesitantly, she let her eyes flutter open. All the pain she’d felt moments ago was gone, and a soft, buttery glow illuminated the world around her. Gone were the screams of the wounded and the smell of wet earth. In their place were the sound of crashing waterfalls in the distance and the sweet scent of honey. And in front of her was a woman bathed in an ethereal glow, her features masked in the shadows the light cast. She was dressed in simple armor with overflowing silver robes and a sword strapped to her hip, her chestnut brown ringlets falling over hershoulder as she softly tilted her head to the side, a gentle smile painted across her lips.
“Where am I?” Auraelia asked as she met the woman's soft brown eyes.
“You’re in the world between worlds, my child.”
“The world between—what does that mean? Who are you?”
The woman chuckled and knelt in front of her. Auraelia couldn’t help the gasp that escaped as her features became clearer and recognition dawned. The depictions of her goddess were nothing compared to being in her presence. She radiated love and light, but a sharpness to her eyes spoke to why she was also the goddess of war.
“Ah,” Rhayne smiled, her head bobbing slightly, “I see you know me now. Hello, Auraelia. And in answer to your other question, your soul is attempting to enter Arcelia.”
Panic flooded her veins as she scurried to her feet, her words coming out around a choked sob. “I—I failed. My p—people.”
