“Shhh, be calm now. You have not failed.” Rhayne clasped Auraelia’s hands in her own, pulling her up as she pushed to her feet. “It is not yet your time. You still have much left to accomplish in your life cycle. So much love left to give and receive.”
“But Davina.”
“Is but an obstacle you must overcome and one you cannot do on your own. You are a powerful soul, Auraelia. But even those with power need help.”
“I—I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?”
“Even with an army behind me, I couldn’t defeat her. How—”
“It’s not an army you need, Auraelia. What you need is the other half of your soul. You need to trust in the bond you have with Daemon. After all, light cannot exist without the dark.”
“But he’s in Opal helping his father.”
Rhayne slowly shook her head, a small smile lifting the corner of her lips. “What was once true no longer remains so. Close your eyes andfeelfor him, Auraelia. You felt him as soon as he stepped foot back in Lyndaria. Though you believed you imagined it, you knew he was there even through your pain.”
Auraelia’s brows furrowed, but she did as she was asked. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. The thread between them was there, but just barely. And as she followed the path that pulled her toward him, excruciating pain crippled her, sending her to her knees as she cried out.
“He’s…he’s–” She couldn’t even form the words, her heart shattering in her chest as she felt the pain he was enduring.
Warmth washed over her once more as Rhayne helped her back to her feet. “Go back to him, Auraelia. Reach deep within yourself. Demolish the lock you’ve kept on the well of power within you, and let it fill every fiber of your being.Leanon Daemon. Let him fill the spaces where your power cannot reach. Only together can you accomplish what needs to be done.”
Auraelia held the goddess’ gaze, and when she nodded encouragingly, closed her eyes once more, took a steadying breath, and let the darkness envelop her senses. She could feel the tether to Daemon strengthening. Could feel his warmth even in the between.
“Trust in yourself and in your bond, Auraelia.”
Rhayne pressed a kiss to her brow, and it felt as if she was falling, her soul cascading through time itself until it landed back into her pain-riddled body. She had no idea how long she’d been unconscious, but as her soul settled, the effect of Davina’s magic began to melt away. She could feel her power growing, the once dimming embers fanning to life as she took her first full breath.
“Have you had enough, little king?” Davina’s snide tone pierced through the remaining fog clouding her mind, filling her with white-hot rage.
Curling her hands into fists, Auraelia opened her eyes. Everything around her was blanketed in white light as her power surged within her. Her lightning wrapped around her limbs as a storm formed overhead, and the wind whipped around them.
“Auraelia?” Daemon choked out as she tightened her hand around his, pulling him to his feet as she stood.
“What? This isn’t—it isn’t possible.”
Auraelia’s magic glowed around her like the light of Arcelia, twisting together in intricate ribbons to form a shield around herself and Daemon. She dove further into her power, smashing through the bottom and into a seemingly endless pit of energy. Gradually, she could feel Daemon’s shadows sinking into her skin. Could feel his strength returning as Davina’s magic faded from his system, his power growing alongside her own.
“You wanted me at my best, cousin, did you not? Be careful what you wish for.”
With one final plunge into her power, Auraelia erupted.
Her magic streamed from her in a controlled burst while Daemon slammed a wall of shadows into Davina, knocking her off her feet and wrapping her in a cocoon of endless night. Inch by inch, Auraelia’s magic wrapped around Davina’s limbs, branding her skin as it burned through her garments.
Auraelia pulled on her earthbound thread of magic with a strained groan, causing the ground to rumble beneath their feet. When roots shot from the earth, she twisted them until they were wrapped around her cousin, holding her in place.
Davina’s screams pierced the air as she flailed against the onslaught, the sound of her bones cracking beneath the tightening binds echoing in Auraelia’s ears.
But she didn’t care.
She’d lost too much at Davina’s hand. She’d warned her not to step foot in her court. Had warned her to leave her people be and had hoped that Kyra would have been enough of a message.
But she’d been wrong.
Auraelia could feel the magnitude of Daemon’s power as her magic glided along his own, delving into her cousin’s mouth and nose to cut her screams into silent gasps for air.
But as time raged on, and the more magic Auraelia threw at her cousin, the closer her burnout became. She could feel it looming just below the surface. Her threads were burning too brightly, and she knew she was diving too fast. Her limbs shook from the quantity of power she was expelling, her vision growing hazy as she continued to spiral toward the bottom of her well. But she couldn’t stop. She knew that it had to end.
