“And why’s that?” Squirming beneath him was futile, since I had no intention of causing him harm. He held me between his knees, his weight immobilizing me.
“I’m dying to kiss you.”
My jaw dropped open, and I forgot I was in the process of fending him off. Before I could respond to the ridiculousness of that statement—made even more insane by the fact that he was moments from melting my face off—a gargled scream tore through the temple.
Alandris took his eyes off for me to turn towards the noise, and I took the opportunity to throw him off of me. We both sprang to our feet quickly, but this time, when our eyes met, his indifference gave way to unfettered resolve.
“I believe Kaz has completed the task I set out for him. Had to keep my betrayal a secret. Thank you for playing along.” He smiled and brushed his thumb along my jaw. “Ready, my love?”
I was going to kill him for that, but I smiled, anyway, and let the full force of my magic run free in answer.
Shadows spilled from my palms in waves, forming into countless claws at my control. The robe figure who’d begun rushing towards me paused at the sight—an error on their part. Their lapse of focus served as my opportunity. My claws ripped into them like a rabid beast, leaving nothing but gore in their wake. Such savagery would have perturbed me in the past. It probably should have—even now, but it doesn’t. Not anymore.
There was no time to move before the next was upon me. A magic wielder with vines coiling around his forearms. They lashed at me like a whip, not to wound but to restrain. I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the first. The second wrapped around my wrist before I could move. Glancing at the vines, I spotted the state of my arm. I hadn’t even felt the dark tendrils begin to form. They’d ascended up to my elbow.
I couldn’t worry about that now. I needed to yank myself free, and the easiest way to do that was to use more of my magic. Feigning haplessness, I allowed my attacker to pull me toward them, waiting until they were within reach before I grabbed onto their arm. Skin to skin, I forced my magic into them, watching as the tendrils slithered up their arms, to their neck, to their face, destroying them from the inside out. The vine withered away from my wrist as their body collapsed to the floor.
Another. Another. How many had they sent to kill me?
You are enjoying this.
I shook my head. No. But I was, wasn’t I?
Yes. More.
Another fell to my shadows. Using this power was second nature now. The way my magic was supposed to be, supposed to feel—like an extension of myself. It was what I’d been striving for all along, and I’d finally achieved it. And it felt good. So good. And it was mine.Mine.
The screams began to fade into the background. The only thing I could hear was my heartbeat and a buzzing between myears. Even their faces blurred into repetitive nothingness. Just another number to destroy.
They deserve it, this punishment.
Of course they did. They’d done horrible things to innocent people. They would have killed Alandris. I was the result of their actions, my magic—a tool to enact the revenge they so irrefutably deserved.
Kill them all.
Hands grabbed for my shoulders, and I whirled around, digging my nails into the arms of the male behind me.
“Nairu, you need to stop.”
Spare no one.
“It’s me, my love.” Those hands gripped me tighter. “It’s done. It’s over.”
“No!” I didn’t recognize my voice as my own. It was too deep, layered and echoed.
“I promise. We’re safe now.” He reached for my cheek, and I recoiled.
He’s lying.
“I would never lie to you.”
Had I said that out loud?
“You are killing him, Nairu!” A female voice shouted. “Jyuri, do something, please. Where is that blasted concoction?”
“I can’t kill her. A bargain is a bargain.”
“I’m not saying to kill her. I’m telling you to shove that thing down her throat!”
