A body fell beside me, the newest casualty in the battle that raged around us. Screams and clashing swords and powerful thunder filled the air in an overwhelming cacophony of pain and death.
“I’m not having this conversation with you.” I started to turn back toward Fenella. If I was quick enough, perhaps the magic of my touch could bend the fabric of the world, just enough to weave her broken body back together.
“I understand your pain, but there is nothing you can do for her. The death she endured is final. Not even a god could undo that kind of head trauma.”
I hissed, moving toward Fenella despite Andromeda’s words. But before I could reach my fallen friend, Andromeda landed before me, blocking my path.
“I don’t know how or why you’re here, but I cannot let you live,” she said. “It ends now between us. And this time, I’ll make certain you can’t come back.”
Forty-Nine
Tessa
The fighting continued to rage around me. Fae against fae against beast. I tried to track where all my loved ones were, but there was too much motion, too much sound. Andromeda steadily walked toward me. Her body was tense, as if she were ready to pounce on me at any moment.
I spotted my sword. It could not harm her, but I could use it as a shield until I came up with a plan.
Ha!A plan.
I did not have even the faintest idea how I could best her. The day she’d forced me to make the vow, she’d annihilated every threat against her. I knew, too, this would be my last chance. We wouldn’t get another one. It was now or never. If we failed, we would not greet another day. This would be the end for all of us.
“You look worried,” she said as I swiped my sword from the ground. Mud coated the blade. “You’re afraid you’re all out of options, aren’t you?”
I searched her gaze, flinching when she stepped into the path of my sword. If only this blade could cut her down. “There are always options.”
A blur of motion briefly caught my attention. Callisto hurtled by, riding a beast, though she had a different vessel now than before. I only knew it was her by the familiar crimson glow of her eyes. They were the same color of her gemstones. The same color ofallthe gods’ eyes, except Andromeda’s.
The shock of it punched me in the gut. I returned my attention to Andromeda. Her deep black eyes stared back at me, but they almost glowed from within. Like gemstones. I understood now, the truth of those eyes, even if hers were a different color than the others.
I tried to steady my breathing and keep my face blank. I didn’t want Andromeda to realize I’d figured it out. All I had to do was rip out her eyes. Then I’d have her power in my hands. And there would be nothing she could do to stop me.
Slowly, I lowered my sword and dropped it to the ground beside me. “If it’s you and me against each other, let’s do this properly. No weapons. No powers.”
She arched a brow. “You wish to fight me in hand-to-hand combat?”
“You said it yourself. My sword is nothing against you.” I cocked my head. “What happens if I snap your neck?”
“You are not strong enough to snap my neck,” she said with a laugh.
“Then you won’t mind if I try.”
Andromeda narrowed her gaze, completely oblivious to the blood that sprayed her steel plate from another gruesome death nearby. She clearly didn’t trust me. And she shouldn’t. But that tiny flash of uncertainty was all I needed to know I was right. Therewasa way for me to destroy her. I just needed to make sure I didn’t hesitate if I got my chance.
“Very well.” She started to sheath her own sword, but I shook my head.
“Put it on the ground,” I said.
“So demanding for such a small, worthless creature.” Still, Andromeda dropped her sword beside her and held up her hands. “Here you are.” Then she dug into her pockets and put on her gloves. She waved her leather-clad fingers at me when she was done. “You’re next. I know you have a pair of gloves.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You said no powers, so go on then. These are your rules, not mine.”
“My powers don’t work against you,” I said.
“But you’ve proven they work against the beasts, and I won’t have you attacking them as some kind of distraction. Put them on.”
Frowning, I pulled on my gloves and moved closer. I sized her up. Andromeda was much taller than me, and her shoulders were broad. I needed to catch her off guard if I had any hope of getting to her eyes. The mud squelched in my slow walk toward her. She remained where she was, making me do all the work.
