Airess’ eyes widened at the mention of Bas, the Death God, Taryn’s Godspirit speaking through him
Morana’s jaw dropped at the sight of Taryn. She shot out another string of darkness, her amateur skill from being previously powerless was evident. Taryn moved lethally, pushing his palm forward and blasting her with a lightning strike. He met his mark, just barely, and grazed her bicep with electricity. Morana cried out in agonizing pain. Her sleeve singed away, leaving an angry burn in its wake.
Morana moved to her feet quickly, gripping her burned arm. She fled the stage, running into the fearful crowd. Airess watched her disappear into the bodies, leaving as quickly as she had appeared. Morana had gotten away. Despite the fact that Morana had almost killed her, Airess felt relieved her old friend had fled.
Taryn continued to rage. Heavy winds increased and ripped pieces off of the buildings nearby. The clouds thundered above, and she pivoted her bound body to him. He needed to stop destroying this city.
“Taryn!” Airess screamed over the raging winds, her hair and dress whipping around. He looked to her like he would strikeher, his movements quick and precise. He looked confused, then recognized her and smiled. “My Ghrian.”
Airess realized his Godspirit was recognizing her as the Sun God, and was calling her as such. Her heart pounded incessantly as she met the eyes of a God, speechless.
Taryn moved his arm and her chains broke off instantly. She tripped forward, now loose from her chains and fell to her knees. An arrow pierced itself into the wooden board in front of her hands.
Taryn growled, moving in front of her protectively. He reached his hand to the sky and drew lightning from thin air. As he brought his hand to the ground, lightning raged down like a shower, electrocuting everyone around them. The scent of burnt flesh and singed hair filled the air. The ground trembled as bodies dropped like flies at Taryn’s power. Airess’ breath hitched as she watched him, his facial expression void of any emotion. His eyes, wholly silver, struck her true and deep. It was in that moment that Airess truly knew fear.
By then, even the guards began to flee, the power Taryn holed up inside was even more powerful than Airess could have ever imagined.
“We must unite the realms as it once was, Ghrian.” Taryn–and the voices coming out of him–bellowed, “The world has lost its way.”
He stood, his back to her as he breathed heavily before raising both hands in the air. Airess saw the temple ceiling blast apart in the distance, outpouring the pink flames–the Soulfyre. The flames traveled through the air like it was sentient, traveling towards them both. When it reached Taryn, the flames collided into him forcefully.
“A touch of fyre,” Taryn–and all the voices inside him – recited, “An earth rebirthed to be made from desire.”
His other hand was conjuring lightning, shooting it upwards into the sky. The electricity and Soulfyre merged, weaving itself together as it shot up in the air. Airess thought it would dissipate in the sky, but the lightning hit an invisible wall. Upon impact, a green translucent dome across the ocean revealed itself. The dome began to crack, its remnants falling into the ocean.
Taryn turned and gripped Airess by her waist tightly, bringing her in possessively to his chest. “Let us go home.” The voices spoke to her.
For the first time, Airess truly feared Taryn.
Horror coursed through her veins. He was not the sarcastic, stubborn male she had fallen for. No, he was a vision of the Gods, consumed by the power he was Spirited with. Taryn held her tightly with one arm and shot into the sky, their bodies bolstered by the pressure of storm clouds swirling beneath them.
Her stomach lurched as they ascended upwards, over Rune’s capitol. The teal wall had finally broken away, revealing a cliff in the distance. She didn’t realize she had screamed as they flew through the air so fast, the world blurred around them. She gripped Taryn’s neck and buried her face in his neck as they flew.
“I sense your fear. I will not hurt you, Ghrian.” He said as they passed over the ocean. They landed on a cliff that hadn’t existed before Taryn’s lightning. Airess looked at Taryn's glowing eyes. Gently, she reached up and placed a trembling palm to his cheek. She felt the faintest jolt of electricity beneath his hot skin.
“Taryn,” she whispered, searching his face for any trace of him. “come back.”
Taryn’s face twisted into betrayal, before it slowly faded. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fell down into a grassy field of black salaroses all around them.
Chapter 42
‘Our son will be the One who brings forth the dawn.”
— Unsent correspondence from Rinya Kazimyr to Tann Azar
Taryn
Taryn emerged from a dreamless slumber.
His entire body ached as he came back to reality. The world spun. He groaned. His head wasthrobbing. Taryn propped himself up, bracing his arm on a soft surface. Soft fabric grazed his fingertips.
“He’s awake.”
It was Airess’ voice. His eyes snapped open.
A single candle flickered on the bedside table, its flames the color of violets. He was in a bedroom, and a small one. A single bookshelf dominated the dimlit setting, the shelves cramped with books and trinkets. There were no windows in this room, just dark walls painted black.
The end of the bed sank as she sat down next to him. He felt her before he looked at her. “It’s okay.” Airess said, and grabbed his hand. He exhaled. Safe. His Mate was safe.
