“Lyra!” Riven ducked to my side, covered in blood. Hetook the dagger from my hands and pressed my axe into my palms. I wasn’t sure how he had gotten it for me, but Gods, I was grateful to see it.
My eyes flashed to his, a storm raging in their depths. He winked, curling my fingers around its hilt before turning to stab a Fae in the ribs with my dagger.
I looked down at the axe buzzing against my skin. The silver etchings in the onyx handle began to illuminate with a dull, shimmering light. It was strange, but I felt connected to it.
I levelled my eyes on a Fae that had his back to me, locked in combat with Bohdi. He raised his large sword, swinging it down with force. Bohdi’s sword was quick to meet it, and he moved with a lethal strength that I envied. My vision darkened around the edges, making everything seem a little bit clearer. I drew the axe behind me, its silver edge humming with heat. My stitches pulled uncomfortably, but I was going to do this even if they tore open. I sent a silent prayer to Gods I knew wouldn’t listen.
Every ounce of fear and anger I had propelled the axe through the air. It was going to miss. But the axe veered, like it had a will of its own. It slammed into the Fae’s back with a wet, meaty thud, blood spraying in an arc like gory rain. Perhaps the Gods weren’t so estranged after all. A satisfied smirk slid across my face. The Fae warrior fell in a heap at Bohdi’s feet who looked up at me with raised eyebrows.
“Bohdi, behind you!” I yelled, and he spun just in time, sword raised to block an attacking hit. The axe pulsed, darker lines appearing like veins on its hilt. It looked like it was feeding from the dead. I tugged the axe, struggling to pull it free. I put my foot on his back and pulled until it gave way with a wet squelch.
Wasn’t I supposed to be running?I was never good at doing what I was told.
There were bodies everywhere. The remaining Iron Guards locked in combat with the Fae. I found Riven amongst the chaos, a sword held to his neck. The metal blade pressed in, drawing blood. The fool was still grinning as if he were in no danger at all.
Drown them.The voice echoed through my head. It was getting harder to resist the pull.
My vision darkened as the voices surged, and I let it pull me under. The metallic scent of blood suddenly felt electrifying, every detail at my discretion.
The song curled through my throat before I could stop it, like it had been waiting. I could feel the power swimming in my veins. I walked slowly through the chaos, hips swaying with every purposeful step. Weapons paused. Those who could hear my song watched with unwavering attention.
But I was singing to the Fae drawing Riven’s blood. His head whipped in my direction, and he instantly dropped to his knees. His eyes were wide as he stared at me with parted lips, his breathing uneven. Riven had already moved on, locked in a brutal clash with another Fae as I stepped in front of my kill. I leant down, cradling his rugged face between my hands. He swallowed hard, eyes dilated unnaturally.That same iridescent sheen reflected at me that shone in Orin’s eyes.
My movements were slow. Deliberate. Testing a theory, I leant into his face. Our breaths mingled and our lips almost touched.He dropped back onto his heels, and I followed, straddling his hips. He hardened beneath me and the tingling intensified over my skin. As though I was taking his power.His desire, I realised. It made me feel stronger. Ileant in further, brushing my lips against his in a soft kiss. A kiss of death.
“Drown,”I whispered against him. I pulled back, just enough to watch. He gasped soundlessly, convulsing beneath me and still I held him there. My fingers dug into his cheeks, forcing his panic-filled gaze to mine. I wanted to watch his life slowly fade away.
My own breath came fast, almost matching his struggle, until it stopped altogether. Water trickled from his lips, shimmering as it caught the light, and then—nothing.
His body stilled, his mouth frozen open in a soundless plea. I stood, watching with predatory fascination as his body slumped to the ground, heavy and still, like a marionette with its strings cut?—
Pain burst through my thigh. The black tip of a spear jutting from my flesh, slick with my own blood. The scream clawing up my throat died before it could escape, breaking into a strangled whimper. The world tilted. Heat seared through my leg, every heartbeat a pulse of fire. I stumbled, breath catching on the agony. Then I saw my attacker and froze, heart aching.
Dreya stood several paces away, arm still outstretched from the throw, her expression frozen between horror and disgust. My stomach dropped. She had seen me yield water and didn’t hesitate to sacrifice me for her Gods.
“Monster,” she yelled, the word hurtling across the distance between us. Somehow, I heard it over the chaos. And just like that, my heart cracked.
I spun, barely taking a step before pain detonated in my leg and sent me crashing to my knees.
But it was the darkness pulsing at the edge of the room, as if it were alive that made me falter. It was hauntingly familiar.Just like my dream.
A monstrous Fae tore free from the shadows, darkness crawling over his muscular form as though it wanted to claim him again.
His onyx eyes met mine through the chaos, gleaming with the promise of death as he brought his sword over his head. His muscles strained as he launched it through the air. Towardsme.
Something hard slammed into my side, pushing me forward. My hands slapped against the blood-splattered ground with a force that stole my breath. The spear jarring against the ground with sickening force, and I screamed through gritted teeth.
The world blurred.
This was it.
Death.
There was a wet thud. A grunt of pain.
Orin’s body was suddenly in front of me. He dropped to his knees, looking at the Fae sword protruding through his chest with disbelief.
“No!” I screamed.
