Never they need fear the night anew
Upon her finish, she knelt and raised her arms to the sky above, tilting her head back to drink in the moonlight. Those in the pews followed her lead, letting the light that soaked through the stained glass dance across their features in rippling waves. The beauty of the ceremony left me stunned. I’d only known the gods and their worshipers to have claws and teeth. This was different. A brush of fingertips, soft and delicate.
The crowd rose to their feet as the moon reached its peak in the sky. My cue.
I walked down the carpet in the center of the pews, pulling back the hood of my pitch black cloak. My white hair spilled out behind me as I ripped the fabric from my shoulders, tossing it to the ground. I let my magic swirl around my fingers, up my arms, and into the surrounding air.
Here I am. Take me.
The pews erupted in murmurs of confusion, but my eyes remained fixed on the tree line beyond the priestess. The only place to hide. Where the moon’s light failed to touch. I could almost feel their eyes on me. Questioning. Waiting.
It’s me. Your monster.
I let the shadows grow larger, wrapping my body in darkness. A familiar wet, metallic scent burned my nose. Finally, I’d received my answer. Bright blue runes formed circles around the room. More than I’d anticipated. Good. Let them come.
As the first circle closed, an arrow whizzed past my head, grazing my cheek.
“Get everyone out! NOW!”
Icouldn’t afford a distraction, not with this many enemies surrounding me, but seeing the love of your life—no, your entire existence—for the first time in twenty-five years did something to freeze time. Surrounded by figures cloaked in hooded black robes that covered most of their faces, I’d still recognize those crystalline eyes anywhere. Especially with the way they looked at me. With a fire that made me feel like I was everything worth fighting for.
One of the men shouted, “Kill everyone!”
The room erupted into a cacophony of screams and panic, and we fell into our roles as planned.
Alandris rushed at Kaz, a blade formed of pure flame marked to strike. Kaz parried with his steel sword, leaving the two locked in a contest. A cloaked figure rushed at me, leaving no time to wonder or worry why Alandris hadn’t yet dropped his act.
Quickly raising a shield of hardened shadow in front of me, I braced myself against the two twin blades swung at my front. My attacker was nimble and lithe, their face covered to their eyes by a thin black mask. My shield did little to dissuadetheir onslaught. They pivoted, lunging for my side. Their blades forced me to raise my magic defensively, time and again—barely avoiding them.
They were wearing me down, keeping me distracted. None of the other council members had their attention focused on me—instead, they were engaging with Kaz and Makatza, or attempting to stop Jyuri, Lorian, and Zorinna from evacuating the worshipers. Odd, considering I was to be a priority for them. Something wasn’t right.
I needed to end this quickly, and dodging wasn’t the answer. My magic was practically begging to be released, roiling beneath my skin.
On my attacker’s next strike, I pushed through my shield with a blast of magic exploding outward. My shadows formed into clawed hands, swiping at the same time I lunged with my dagger. The dagger barely grazed them, slicing into fabric but not reaching flesh. It was the claws that tore into them, sending them flying into a pew behind them.
Sparing a few moments to ensure they didn’t stir, I turned my focus back to Kaz and Alandris, both still engaged in battle but uninjured. Hopping over crumbled stone and weaving between flying arrows, I rushed to Kaz’s side.
“About damn time,” Kaz growled, shoving Alandris back with another parry. “I’ve got something to take care of. Take over for me, will you?”
I couldn’t get a complaint nor a question out before he took off and left me to block Alandris’s next, which I managed only by the skin of my teeth. Flames licked at my arms, nearly burning me.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I choked out amidst his relentless assault.What was he doing? Seriously.
His expression remained flat. “You are favoring your right arm to block. It’s predictable.”
I scoffed. “Nice to see you, too.” What the fuck was he doing? Seriously.
He brought his conjured blade of fire down at my shoulder, and I instinctively brought up my right forearm, shelled with my magic, to block.Damn it. He was right.
“See?” His lip twitched, a faint smirk rising.
I blocked another attack, this time with my left. “Are you not going to help us?”
“Am I?”
“Are you having fun?”
Alandris pushed toward me faster than I had a chance to counter, sending us tumbling to the ground. He pinned me beneath him, flames dancing at his fingertips held up to my cheek. “You shouldn’t have come over here.”
