Adara shook away the thoughts, unwilling to walk that dark path again.
Dominic laughed mirthlessly. “You can’t run from me, Rhyes,” he drawled, his voice sounding closer.
Adara glanced over her shoulder to see Dominic with a menacing smirk on his face, hauling her toward him painfully slow. He was going to drag this out like every other death he was responsible for. Rolling over, her back now on the ground, she summoned a flame. Dominic had no choice but to let go as her orb of fire flew straight for his hands grasping the vine. She quickly untangled her legs and scrambled to her feet.
Dominic’s face twisted in anger as Adara drew Infinova from its sheath, muscles straining from her injury. Flames engulfed the metal, sparks crackling in anticipation. But her fire did not scare Dominic. He simply gripped the hilt of his own sword, metal singing as he freed it from its scabbard.
Adara wouldn’t take the first step. She had no intention to fight him. Well, she wanted to strangle him for the way his words pierced her heart, but logic won out. She still needed him for his key and the Realm Fracturer.
Her chest constricted at the pure hatred in his eyes, of the anger and betrayal burning into her. A twinge in her heart had Alecsander’s image flashing in her mind. She had glared at him with the same fury and anguish of betrayal as Dominic was looking at her right now . . . Right before she’d killed him.
Dominic attacked again, sword arcing overhead. Sunlight glinted off the metal. Her blade met his. The sound of metal clashing filled the forest. He withdrew before her flames could reach his hands gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly his knuckles were white. Stepping to his right, he twisted around to the side of her, with his weapon aimed at her exposed back.She dove forward, rolling out of range, then popped back up to her feet. She was quick to attack but Dominic matched her pace. With their swords crossed between them, he pushed against her weapon. Adara’s boots slid through the loose dirt beneath her feet. He was much stronger than her, and she wouldn’t get anywhere trying to shove him back. She ducked under their blades and lunged forward, finding herself behind him. She would have struck him from behind, but he turned in an instant, too quick to strike.
“Stop playing around, Rhyes,” Dominic chided, swinging his sword in a circle at his side then bringing it to rest upon his shoulder. “I know you can do more than that.” He gestured to her weapon in her hand, dangling toward the ground.
She shook her head, using the time to catch her breath. “There’s no need for this, Nite.” The embers surrounding Infinova began to dwindle. “Why try to kill each other before the war is over? Do you not still want power?”
His eyes darkened, brows drawing in as a smirk formed on his lips. He shook his head slowly, tauntingly. “I don’t need you for power. I’ll get it from someone else if I have to.” He took a step forward. The forest floor shuddered beneath her.
“You know mine is more powerful than anyone you’ve ever met.” It was the only card she could play that would possibly save her life again. The more powerful the person, the more powerful the key.
Dominic could control her entirely, take her magic, and kill her when he was done with her. No one else had the kind of magic she had. Not here. Not that Dominic knew of.
He took another step forward, slow and assured. His head tilted to the left, eyes roving over her, assessing. “Here’s a new deal,” he said, his tone sharp, demanding. He sheathed his sword, halting their duel for a moment. “You can give me yourkey right now . . . ” His voice trailed off, pausing for effect as he cautiously circled her.
She turned her head, eyes following his every move.
“And if you don’t, I’ll kill you right here.” He came full circle around her. He stood a few feet in front of her, hand outstretched with his palm facing the sky, waiting for her to accept his offer.
The forest settled into a stillness around them, reflecting Dominic, their magic intertwined. He waited patiently, an eyebrow raised in anticipation as she pretended to contemplate his words, when all she was doing was thinking of a way out.
Adara stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Dominic’s breath brushed her skin. She reached for his hand agonizingly slow. Her hand met his, her grip harsh. She yanked him forward to whisper in his ear. “Go to Helfarrow,” she seethed.
Fire flared, searing into Dominic’s skin. He let out a shout in pain, snatching his hand away from her, retreating a couple steps. She, too, backed away. Assessing the burn on his palm, Dominic groaned in pain, sucking in air between his gritted teeth as he cradled his hand to his chest. “You’re going to regret that,” he snarled, drawing his weapon once again.
Adara lifted her blade in a defensive stance. “I’m not foolish enough to take that deal when I know you’ll just kill me either way.”
Dominic charged at her, blade sweeping low.
Adara jumped over his sword, landing just in time to block his strike to her neck.
“I could simply take your magic and let you live,” he said.
Adara didn’t believe him for a second. “I’d rather die,” she spat and shoved against him, causing him to stagger back for only a second.
He lashed out again, delivering a barrage of strikes to her, each one more difficult for her to deflect. Their swords met in anXbetween them.
Dominic leaned in close to her.
Her heart pounded in her chest as he spoke, his breath warming her cheeks.
“If you’d taken my deal,” he drawled. “We could have ruled the world together.” A smile that made her shiver crept onto his lips. “With both of our powers at my fingertips, we’d be unstoppable,” he suggested, his voice low and menacing.
She couldn’t stop herself from the vision he’d seared into her mind. The two of them, holding all the power in the realms. Dominic was right. They’d practically be immortal. With his help, she could destroy the empire. She could save Blemythia—if it hadn’t already been destroyed.
Adara shook away the thought. As easy as it would be to take down her enemies with Dominic’s help, he was not the way to go. She would not become like him. A fallen victim to the temptation of power. A tyrant feeding on the fear of others. She’d made her promise to eradicate people like him. Adara would not become the very thing she swore to destroy.
Either way, she couldn’t trust his word.
