Fearful eyes turn to Fee and Reid, searching for guidance as they shift. Dowhat, exactly?
I glance to the guards, as my magic comes to me, reacting to my fear and the drying blood on my fingers. It’s demanding, as it searches for those who are upsetting me. I’ve only scratched the surface of what makes it work with Oslo. Mediating is slow and tedious and I’m too impatient.
My mind whirls, trying to figure outthe trigger. It only rises when I need help—when I need to fight. Right now, it’s a cresting wave, my fingers stained a black-red as the knuckles begin to twist.
They react when I need protection. Maybe I can tap into that, exploit it?
Drops of blood fall to the ground, blending into the black tile, as I bite my lip.
Will it be enough?
Digging deep into my belly, where I feel the slithering magic ripple, I grab hold of it, willing it to flood me. It fights against the hold of the drug, rising into my chest, brash and bright.
I keep it there, envisioning it as a ball of blood but the image switches. Turning into a red hazy mixture like red shadows. It’s a manifestation of my soul with Kaden’s essence, deep inside me, two halves, now one.
Breathing, I hold my hand with the dripping blood. My magic stirs harder, thrashing, butmanageable.
How can that be?
I look to one guard, focusing on his chest. I’m not sure if this is what Zelos wanted but it’s what I can do. The blood in my hand calls to his, seeking it, begging for it, wanting to make him submit. The very real fear that I will be hurt if I don’t bend his life force strikes me.
He twitches, a slight jerk and I inhale, relieved.It’s working.
Control. I can control this. Tame it. This magic is mine and I can bend it to my will. I don’t have to fear it, run from it, or wish it away. I canharnessit.
The sense of pride floods me, wrapping around the need to fight as I pull harder, straining my ears to find his heartbeat. It’s featherlight but I find it, hold it close.
The beats continue rapidly.Tap, tap tap, tap, tap tap… adrenaline pummels through him, dread in his belly as my ears narrow in. He doesn’t look it but he’safraidof me.
My magic purrs, enjoying his fear like it’s a delicacy. I smile.
Splaying my fingers, they move and bend at odd angles. I releasea broken, soft sob, relief so strong I nearly fall. It’s familiar, the way my fingers wave and it’s beautiful; a gothic mess that’s wholly mine.
I latch onto the heart, the invisible strings only my magic can see and pull. The guard lurches forward, body arching. I don’t stop, not even when Zelos commands me to do so.
No. This ismymagic,mygift. It calls to me to kill those who would hurt me.
Zelos grabs my wrist but the fingers don’t break. They continue to bend, unnatural but unique.
Quickly, my hand closes and the heart implodes. The faint pop echoes in the quiet chamber and my hand moves as if it can still touch the deflated organ. The guard shouts, falling to his knees and blood gurgles up his throat. No one moves, no one breathes as he collapses.
Zelos releases me, throwing me away as if I burn him. Real fear shines in those amber eyes and I fall to my hands and knees, body spent.
My stomach sloshes with guilt. This is the power I’ve missed, implored to return. But I forgot how consuming it could be; how demanding it was. That was why I needed control—why the royals needed me to harness it before it returned.
I didn’t listen. And now, Zelos sees me as the threat that I am. I’ve made myself a target.
Blood splatters on to the tile before me and I swipe at my nose.
Standing, I look back to the siblings. They’re stone still, staring over my shoulder at the king. I can feel his gaze, the heat of his anger, but the flicker of his fear is still there.
“That’s enough,” he growls, turning to the crowd, perfect mask back into place. “As you can see, my son’s mate is quite powerful. Drinks!”
I escape back to Fee’s side, body trembling. The power still surges under my skin, only held back by sheer willpower and the dark shadows that float inside me. As she wraps my palm, Reid puts an arm around us both, holding us to his side.
Killing is something I’ve done, but it’s never gotten easier. Especially this kill. It was done for sport, for a demonstration. Did the guard matter? Or would he have hurt me if Zelos asked?
Though we want to leave, we remain in the chambers, far in the corner. We wait until the party dies down, keeping Zelos in our sight at all times, before the siblings return me to my chambers. At the last moment, they both decide to sleep in the sitting room.
