The knife hooked around my back and dug into the exposed skin under my ribs. A metallic tang filled the air as he dug it in—and itfuckinghurt.
A cry tore through my clenched teeth.
No!
I tried to slam a barrier on our bond so Vaeron wouldn’t feel my pain.
But it was too late. The halo disappeared from around him, and his entire focus was on me. Zarethiel snatched at his distraction, magic whipping out and lacing around his neck. With a harsh yank, he pulled my mate backward.
The court screamed, cheering on the victory for thehead of House Elyriane.
I wrinkled my nose, glaring at the nobles seated across from me. Disgusting, each and every one of them. Never had I hated anyone more than I did the Koron and Korona. Because now, not only would Vaeron lose, his magic would be stripped away.
I’d wished for that, all those months ago, after he’d captured me.
And now, here I was, sick at the thought of someone cutting him off from his divine Command.
Light surged from Vaeron as he clutched at his neck, body dragging across the floor toward his opponent. A trail of ruby marked where he had been.
My breath was shallower than a puddle on the street after a heavy rain.
Zarethiel flung more power around Vaeron’s limbs, attempting to control him. Ice-blue eyes collided with mine as one arm, then another, slapped to the marble.
The male who had emerged from behind the cold mask was gone.
Instead, I saw the monster who always lurked beneath.
The Issaraeth.
No soul. No life.
Onlyrage.
“Fuck!” I heard Maelsar curse a heartbeat before white exploded. A shockwave of power shattered every single mirror. Shards tinkled to the ground. Nobles cried out. Around me, people ducked, covering their heads.
And yet, amid the blinding, a void crept in on the edges of my vision.
Our bond twisted tight with fury, flooding me with Vaeron’s every emotion. A flash of the past seared into my mind.
A male, so stern, so angry with irises in a familiar shade of blue, the corners crinkled with age, standing over me. Limbs pinned.Helpless. A bronze blade dove to my chest. Fire burned where it dragged against my flesh.
“Duty above all, Vaeron. Do not forget.”
I gasped, slamming back into myself.
“What is he doing?” Iaoth shrieked. Calrien’s grip on me tightened.
But my mate was in the throes of something violent and tortured. I couldn’t breathe. My skin was too tight. My spine tingled like the static in the air before a bolt struck the earth. I flashed in and out of my body, in and out of my mind.
“Vaeron!”I shouted down our mental connection, trying to anchor him amid the storm.
A growl rent the air.
“Vaeron, stop!”
The whirlwind continued, picking up shards of the broken mirrors. I barely managed to duck one as it flew by.
“You’re going to hurt me!”
