It felt like needles were being stabbed into me from all directions, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through it for Fawn's sake. "Muse, it's okay. We're okay."
Her gaze broke contact with the spirit mage and met mine before softening. "Silas..."
When the pain finally started to fade, Zaveous dropped to his knees in exhaustion while Matthieu cursed loudly in frustration.
"It can't be that fucking hard, Zaveous!" Matthieu raked his fingers through his hair as he paced. "Break their bonds already!"
Zaveous shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's not that it's hard. It's impossible. Her bond with them is stronger than anything I've ever seen before. It would only cause more pain for her. You can see she's already in agony. I think it would be best if you left her be and find someone else to take out your vengeance on."
Matthieu's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "There is no one else. It has to be her! You must bond me to her. If you don't, I swear to the spirits, I will have your daughter's bones in my possession by this evening. Fucking try, Zaveous. Now."
The spirit mage nodded slowly and rose unsteadily to his feet before gulping hard. "Very well." He closed his eyes and tried again, this time focusing on Fawn and our souls as one instead of breaking our bonds.
Spirit magic seemed to grow exponentially in the room, threatening to consume us all in its power until Fawn let out an agonizing scream that pierced my soul. "No!"
The energy dissipated immediately, leaving behind only the stench of tar and burning flesh as the spirit mage fell onto the floor unconscious.
Even without access to her own spirit magic, she'd rejected this mage's spirit interference.
She squared her shoulders and cut her gaze into Matthieu. "I willneverallow my spirit to be bonded to yours. Magic or not. Why are you so desperate to be immortal?"
Matthieu's eyes blazed with fury, and he sent a swift kick into the unconscious mage's side. "In a world where time cannot lay its claim, there exists a spirit, his soul aflame. Centuries passed, yet his heart yearns anew, for a love that's eternal and world power is true. Days have no end, nights are long, and only one understands that is actually strong. Death can't partake in this timeless tale, where their spirits are at stake. That is my counterpart."
"Immortality isn't worth it," she spat bitterly.
"Then you do not understand my riddle," he scoffed, shaking his head. "Thinkon it. You're smarter than that."
"I don't care to spend time thinking about any more riddles!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "Why are you targeting me if not for my immortality?"
"Bonded mages share a lifeline and pools of magical powers. I want in on yours."
"I know about bondings." She pulled against her restraints with a low hiss as she reopened the cuts on her wrists.
"Bonded mages can't be away from each other for more than a day without their spirits fading--"
"I know,Matthieu," she bit out. "Get to the point."
"You also know that magical power is muted when bonded mages aren't around each other." He swept his arm toward the guys and me. "I think separating the six of you could actually kill you for good, but it's not a theory I'd like to test out yet."
"I've tried many routes to make death permanent. I don't think even that would keep us dead," she stated emotionally, lifting her chin in defiance.
"I'm not going to chance that just yet, sweet mage." He stalked over and gripped her chin in his hand. "I will find a way to bond you. Just wait, sweet mage."
"I'm going to kill you the first chance I get." She spat on his face.
In a flash, Matthieu's hand transformed into a claw, and he swung it back before striking Fawn over the head with it. The sharp claws split into her head, tearing the flesh open.
Blood gushed from the wound and trickled down her face as she passed out, slumping forward in the chair.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I bellowed, straining hard against the bindings until my wrists gushed blood from the force.
He turned with a menacing glower. "I've always hated you in particular, but the fact that this woman fell for you after not falling in love for four centuries makes me hate you even more."
"Once our magic comes back, you're not making it out of here alive," I growled. "I've always known you were weird, but I put up with it because of how much Emperor Lloyd respected you. I figured you were worth respect, but you're not. You're pure evil--and we will celebrate the day we cleanse you from this world."
He advanced toward me, and dread filled me as his clawed hand hovered just inches away from my face. "Don't think for a second that you can take me down without consequence. Your magic, even combined, will never be stronger than mine. But I look forward to watching you try."
With one swift motion, his claw sliced into my face.
