The emperor’s face paled as he continued to shake his head, beads of sweat forming at his temples. “This isunbelievable. I had no idea he was capable of such atrocities. I mean, I know what he did with you and turning you immortal, Fawn…Master Fawn…but while I didn’t agree with his methods, I agreed with the outcome for the greater good. I never thought he’d…”
The emperor knew what we said was true, no matter how much he wanted to deny it. The truth serum coursing through Silas’s veins forced him to accept the reality of Matthieu’s monstrous form.
Even if he didn’twantto believe it.
He sighed deeply before looking up again, determination clear in his gaze as he met my eyes. “Very well then. We must protect our empire from any threat—at all costs, especially since he’s taken down the Revivium Empire. I will gather the imperial guard to create a powerful barrier around the castle and capital. I will also begin research for any possible way to fight against such an abomination. Until then, prepare yourselves and be vigilant against any further attacks from Matthieu or whatever else lurks beyond these walls.”
“His spirit is tied so tightly to his vessel,” I told him. “Wehaveto reverse his immortality.”
“Iwillfind a way,” the emperor vowed before turning and leaving the room.
My stomach dropped as I thought about how many times over the years I had been around Matthieu without knowing it. He was a boneanda metamorphose mage, meaning he could turn intoanyonehe wanted to whenever he wanted to. He’d single-handedly stolen me from my home, prevented me from gaining closure with my family, isolated me, turned me into a weapon, and then let me go for centuries before revealing himself again…
Was it because I hadn’t fully given in to the madness? Was he trying to drive me mad so he could bond two insane souls together to end Hexarium completely? Why would anyonewantthat?
Whatever his master plan was, we had to face him again.
Fear sank into my bones as magic rippled beneath my skin, prickling through my vessel like a thousand needles. My thoughts swam with the endless possibilities of what Matthieu could do with his new form.
His Hexarium-blessed mage type was dual—bone and metamorphose. I didn’t understand what kind of potion would be able to turn a mage into a monster, but I knew he held a vast amount of ancient knowledge. I wasn’t even surewhenhe was made immortal since he hadn’t told me. All I knew was that he was much older than I was.
Elemental magic sparked from my fingertips, and I shut my eyes tightly and tried to focus on something else, but I couldn’t.
The fear and panic that dwelled within me from all the centuries I’d endured triggered a frenzied panic. I couldn’t stop from trembling.
“Focus.” Jasper shook my shoulders gently. At least, I think it was Jasper. His voice sounded warped like it was all around me. “When we were being tortured by Matthieu, all I could think about was what he had done to you. We’regoing tokill him, I swear to you. But Ineedyou to be okay for us to do that, goddess.”
A searing flow of magic surged out of my body like electricity. It tingled all around me, starting in my toes and spreading throughout every part of me.
“Breathe for us,” Cas told me, but it sounded like he was underwater. “Damn it, sunshine.When Matthieu had that damn blade under my skin, you’re the only thing I thought about. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. A true brightness shining in our world, and you arenotgoing to let that sadistic maniac dim you.”
The sensation of magic and desperation overwhelmed me as tears stung the corners of my eyes.
“Bless, bug. We’re here,” Aimon urged. “Spirits have blessed us in bonding us to you. You are the most beautiful flower growing under the harshest conditions, and when you let yourself be cared for, you are going to bloom even bigger.”
What if Matthieu had been telling the truth?
How did my family die?
A wave of grief hit me like a brick wall. Images from Matthieu's torture flashed in my mind like lightning, making my heart rate skyrocket even further.
I hated this feeling.
“Fawn, come on!”Silas’s voice echoed off the walls. “This ismyfault for getting us captured…no. It’sMatthieu’sfault. He has orchestrated everything, and we are going to kill him, muse. Mark my words now. You are going to be the one to separate his spirit from his vessel and let it wither and die. I amsosorry for everything I’ve done to add to your stress, but I’m fucking devoted to you—do you hear me? We are going to take him down together, and he’s going to get everything he’s done tenfold.”
Everything seemed to close in around me as everything amplified, setting off an explosion of fear within me that threatened to consume me entirely.
I couldhearwhat they were saying, but nothing was sinking in. Everything felt like it was out of my control.
Nothing had been in my control before—not truly. Not when I’d found out that Matthieu had single-handedly orchestrated my entire life.
My magic erupted outward, the force of it pushing everything away from me with a blasting wave that shook the entire room.
Gasping in a breath, my eyes popped open wide to find my five sweet bonded mages on the ground and the furniture knocked over with scorch marks or water damage.
“Fawn, love, it’s okay.” Bastian’s voice sounded far away as he climbed up off the floor and made his way over to me, a vial outstretched in his hand. “Drink this. It’s a calming potion.”
My trembling hands shook the vial as I tried to take it, but his steady hands cupped mine and helped guide it to my mouth.
