Linc was standing over Fenric’s crumpled form like some avenging angel carved from desperation and rage. Blood streamed from his nose, from the corners of his mouth—Xyliria’s magic had torn him apart from the inside, left him shaking and barely upright. By all rights, he should have been the one on the ground, gasping for breath.
But he wasn’t.
Every time a guard got within reach of Fenric, Linc became something utterly wild. He moved like death itself. With violence that came from watching the person you loved more than breath itself nearly die. A throat opened here. A heart pierced there.
My focus snapped back toXyliria.
I leaned in, dagger poised above her heart.
Her breath came faster, harder. I could smell her fear now. I could taste it in the air.
“Beg.”
Shesnarled, lips curling over bared teeth. “I will tear you apart?—”
I tightened my grip on the shadows.
Shechoked, her wordscut off, the coils around herthroat squeezing, her body archingas she fought for breath.
“Try again.”
Her nailsduginto the stone, her body writhing, her legs kicking uselessly against the bindings.
I waited.
Her power wasdwindling, being swallowed whole by the abyssI had become.
But she was proud.
Arrogant.
Her throatbobbedas she fought against it, as the truthchokedher more than the shadows did.
“Please,” she finally gasped, a broken plea. “Please, I?—”
My power roared in my blood, in my bones.
I didn’t let her finish.
Didn’t let her utter another fucking sound.
Idrove the blade into her chest.
The steelsank deep, cutting through flesh, throughbone, piercing herheartwith a sickening, wet sound.
Her bodyarched, astrangled gasp escaping her lips. The blood camefast, hot andthick, spilling over my hands, onto my clothes,poolingbeneath her.
I twisted the dagger.
Her breathhitched, her fingerstwitching, clawing weakly at the shadows holding herpinnedto the ground.
The shadows surged at my call.
They wrapped around the blade, thick and alive, as if they’d been waiting for this moment—thirstingfor it. They didn’t just seep into the wound.
They devoured it.
I felt them pour into her chest, a tide of cold fury laced with my own rage. They moved like blades themselves, sliding through flesh and bone. I felt the moment they reached her heart.
