I don’t know what she’s seeing in his mind, but it’s cracking my mate at her foundation, breaking her apart piece by piece.
Her eyes burn icy blue as she hums, low at first, then louder, deeper until the sound turns physical, pressing into my bones like it’s trying to burrow under my skin.
The ground fractures beneath my hands. Mermen fall to their stomachs, clutching their heads, bracing for something.
Her scream hits me like a blade to the chest. My heart drops when her face twists with pain, and I’m moving before the first tear slides down her cheek.
She might be destroying Tiberius, but something is tearing her apart from the inside.
Fear locks my throat when her cries get louder along with his screams, until I can’t tell where his pain ends and hers begins.
Warmth trickles from my ears. Blood. I glance at the mark on my wrist and watch it slowly fade away. Then a searing pain explodes through my chest, forcing me to my knees.
But it’s not just me. Every single warrior on the field is driven down like the sound of Hazel’s cries is a siren song, pinning them to their knees, forced to submit.
I thought Jackson’s spell would protect us, but Hazel’s power is so overwhelming that it shatters every barrier, dismantles every protection until we’re left helpless on the ground, begging her to stop.
I try to link Hazel, calling out her name, but she’s lost to whatever is holding her hostage inside Tiberius’ head.
So I crawl. My knees and arms scrape against the crushing weight of her magic, fighting to keep me away. With every inch I drag myself closer, I call her name, hoping it will snap her out of it, but nothing does.
I’m forced to listen to my mate’s heart-wrenching sobs, the agony in her voice so raw it drags tears from my eyes.
The pain ripping through my body is nothing compared to what’s tearing Hazel apart as she drops to her knees and drives her dagger into Tiberius like a woman possessed.
With every strike, I expect her to break free from whatever has her trapped, but she only sinks deeper into that abyss, slipping further out of reach until I can’t bear to hear her cries anymore.
She doesn’t stop until there’s nothing left to stab.
This time, when I whisper her name, her head snaps up, searching the bodies scattered around us until her eyes lock onto mine.
A broken, trembling smile pulls at her lips that doesn’t reach her eyes.
I push up onto my knees, dragging in a harsh breath before forcing myself to my feet and moving toward her, toward my mate.
Hazel stumbles before she can take a single step, and something in my chest twists. Something’s wrong.
She wipes under her nose, and her eyes widen. That’s when I see the blood.
Everything happens too fast for my mind to catch up.
She sways, stumbling back again, and I watch in horror as her eyes roll back.
Then she’s falling… off the stage.
“Hazel!” I shout, already moving, jumping after her without hesitation.
Gasps and screams erupt behind me as I dive, but I can’t stand there and watch my mate fall.
My shadows surge ahead of me, reaching her faster than I ever could, wrapping around her like they know losing her isn’t an option. Just before we hit the ground, I twist in the air, shielding her head with my arm.
My essence absorbs most of the impact, but my back still slams into the ground, the air punched from my lungs.
Spots burst across my vision, but the moment I feel Hazel’s weight on top of me, I finally breathe again. She’s safe. That’s all that matters.
My Divine pulls back, circling us like a restless guard, giving me space to breathe as it patches the damage from scraping against the ground.
I push up onto my knees, carefully settling Hazel’s head in my lap.
