I tapped into my spirit vision, and my breath caught.
Jas had allowed the dark magics of Hexarium into his spirit and was using them to siphon power from Hexarium.
Madness had taken over his spirit, but it wasn’t completely black yet.
“Jasper!” I reached out with spirit powers, pushing the glowing wave of magic toward Jasper’s spirit to try and quell his rage.
I could feel my power being absorbed by his, but he turned toward me with a lash of a large dark wisp.
“Fuck! Jasper!” Aimon summoned a rock wall, but the wisp crumbled it.
I swelled a protective shield around Aimon and myself that deflected the attack from us. “Jas, let the magic out!Please don’t do this.”
Hexarium’s magic swelled through me, but I wouldn’t let myself fall into the madness.
“He thought you died, sunshine!” Casper yelled at me. “As soon as the dagger pierced Matthieu’s heart and his vessel turned to dust, your heart stopped!”
“I had to kill his spirit in Hexarium’s heart!” I shouted back, sending whips of wind at Jasper, making him fight me with his dark wisps and take his attention from the others. “The spirits gave me a choice!”
His red eyes had turned darker than I’d ever seen before, and my spirit gave a jolt as I pushed at the madness swirling with his.
“What choice?” Casper moved toward me and Aimon as I got to my feet and moved forward.
“They asked me if I wanted to let my spirit rest—to let myself finally die!” My voice cracked as emotion swelled in my chest. “Youknowhow long I’ve wanted that!”
Jasper’s darkness lunged forward, and he tilted his head. His body was moving, but I couldn’t feelhisconscience in his spirit.
Casper knocked the darkness away with a stream of light. “Damn it, Jasper!”
“The other choice was to stay with you—all of you. Here!In Hexarium!” I sent another surge of spirit magic over him with the intent to soothe him and make him listen. “I chose you over death becauseI love you!”
The bond between the six of us gave a jolt as a blast of shadows expelled from his vessel.
I watched the madness part from Jasper’s spirit, shredding away. His eyes widened, brightening from the dull, glazed film that had taken over his gaze, and he let out a shuddering breath.
“Goddess?” He blinked a few times as his gaze rested on me.
“Jas,” I breathed in relief.
He stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground as our eyes met.
Cas light-jumped to him, tending to him while I stumbled back into Aimon’s arms.
Jas had done it—he pushed the madness off before it could completely consume his spirit.
“Great job pushing the madness out and expelling your power,” I murmured, leaning against Aimon as we made our way toward Jas and the rest of the guys.
He nodded, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I...I don't know what came over me. I felt lost when I saw you die, and I got soangry.And then...I don't know."
"It's okay." Casper patted his back gently. "We get it.”
Jasper’s ragged breathing filled the throne room, but his gaze locked on me. “So, goddess, you chose to stay immortal with us?”
I nodded, pushing the feeling of exhaustion back from my mind. “I did.”
“I fucking love you, sunshine,” Cas muttered, shaking his head with a smile.
“Proud of you, bug.” Aimon’s eyes glistened with admiration.
