It wouldn’t be long now.
I was at full power.
On the ball physically and mentally.
I had allies in place who trusted in me.
I was well-versed in the mechanics of the Fuel Core and of all that I needed to do.
My loves and my family would be working with me through all of this.
And then it would all be over.
Not just Sanctus, though.
I hadn’t told anyone this—not my allies here, not my family, not my loves—but there was no fucking way I was gonna do this in two parts.
I wasn’t gonna let Ruxnoth go.
He wouldn’t survive the night.
Once everybody else was clear, I’d see to it myself.
He’d fall by my hand.
Here goes nothing.
“It’s fortunate that you took initiative where this bonding transference is concerned, actually even designating this night for it, much sooner than I’d thought would be acceptable to you,” Ruxnoth spoke as we walked along the corridor toward the CoreChamber where all the necromancers were already gathered inside as per his command.
“Fortunate?”
“Yes. I predicted you would attempt to draw it out, so I had an incentive planned to demonstrate that I would not stand for that.”
A chill rolled down my spine, but I managed to keep my voice steady as I asked, “What incentive?”
“I told you previously that my decision not to harm anyone else you love was an act of supreme benevolence and mercy on my part. However, that doesn’t mean it was something I’d forever outlawed. To incentivize you, I would have damaged another of your parents. I intended to make Cassius my target and inflict untold agony upon him. Now, as much as I would have relished witnessing his turmoil, him being at my mercy, perhaps even begging me as he writhed beneath my boot, it would have required great effort—now unnecessary effort with you finally prepared very nicely for me.”
My eyes narrowed.
Fucking fiercely.
Rip his head off. Rip his fucking head off.
I clenched my fists inside my hoodie pockets.
I couldn’t lose it now.
Not when I was so close.
Not when we all were—my allies here, my loved ones. Everyone was counting on me to see this through according to plan. All the many moving, intricate parts, needed to go off properly and without a hitch.
I wasn’t gonna let this megalomaniacal monster ruin that and throw me off course.
So, when he looked out at me again, my expression was normal, and I even smiled. “Good thing it didn’t need to come to that.”
“Too true,” he said, reaching out and stroking my cheek. The no-touching thing with him hadn’t held long as I’d unfortunately predicted. “I relish it much more and far deeper when you are aligned with me. It is deeply gratifying. A god standing beside another in this manner. We are kindred, Winter.”
The fucking fuck we were.
