“I already told you, you stupid bitch,” the soldier spat, saliva flying through the air. “He is going to destroy this kingdom and anyone that denies him as their ruler. He will take the entire empire into his hands.”
“Tell me why he wants to turn me into one of the Hykahs,” I commanded, prolonging my investigation while we waited for Sawyer to return with part two. We had the time, might as well get as much out of the Draemornian as possible.
“Why wouldn’t he? You’re already the most powerful being on this planet. Why not make you even more powerful,” he shot back against his own freewill.
“Tell me how we kill the Hykahs.”
“I don’t know.”
“Damnit,” I muttered, my hands falling to my sides as I looked over my shoulder. “Anything to add?” I asked Sebastian, who shook his head.
I released my power, deciding to preserve my remaining energy for Leighton.
Kade kicked off the wall, marching for the Draemornian and putting the edge of his sword flat across his neck. “Give me a good reason to hold off on killing you,” he sneered, putting his face in line with the male’s chattering teeth.
“I already told you everything I know. You would have been better off with my partner. He’s closer to King Beaumont,” the man replied, finally releasing the fear he was holding on to as his entire body began to shake.
“Final answer?” Sebastian stepped forward with his own blade pointed out.
The Draemornian nodded, then bent his head back, exposing his neck to give them easier access.
Kade turned to Sebastian, pulling his blade away from the Draemornian’s flesh. “I assume that you want the honors?”
“Fuck yes,” Sebastian growled and didn't waste a single second.
My entire body recoiled as I watched the man I loved pierce his dagger through the begging male's carotid, dragging it across the artery and faultlessly shredding the pathway.
When Sebastian pulled the blade free, blood spurted in a steady stream down the front of his victim's armor. He studied the man who bled out before him, the color of the dying man's skin fading as the veil came for him.
The Draemornian’s eyes converted to a foggy white, a telltale sign that his soul was preparing to leave his body as he became close to meeting the gods.
Time seemed to pause for a moment as the man fell limp and silent.
I drew a deep breath, keeping the air locked between my teeth as I stepped back to avoid the river of blood that flowed for my feet.
Abruptly, my body flinched as the Draemornian’s head accelerated upright. He held his neck completely steady while reaching his arms out for me, trying to pull me into his grasp.
“Goddess?” he cried out, the white emptiness in his eyes searching for me. His voice imitated pure awe as tears began to stream down his pale skin. “Oh my, this can’t be real. Is this real?”
“What the hell is he talking about?” Kade asked in a panic.
“How the hell is he even talking right now?” Sebastian answered with another question, his head cocked while studying where he had stabbed the man.
“He must be seeing things beyond the veil,” Pia added.
“Stab him again,” Kade ordered.
Sebastian stepped forward and collided with the arm I held out to stop him. “Wait.”
I took a step towards the Draemornian, crouching down before him, no longer caring that I stood in a puddle of warm, fresh blood.
Though I didn’t know what drew me to him, I reached out, placing my hand in one of his outstretched palms. His body was already cooler than that of an alive mortal, but when our skin connected, a rush of power ignited every cell in my body. Though I shouldn’t have been able to describe the feeling, the sensation seemed to be recognized by my brain, as if I had felt it a million times before. It was as if I was transported out of my own soul and thrown into his, where I saw his life as it flashed through his memories, from the second he was born to the very moment we were in, in the span of seconds.
“Goddess,” he wailed again, though his voice was raspy and weak this time around. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
Pure tranquility flew through me, collecting in my brain until our connection was cut off, and I fell back on my ass into a sea of blood as his hand went limp in mine, releasing me from his tight hold.
I sat static in front of his corpse, staring at him and granting him the wordless eulogy that I knew he deserved after what I had just seen.
