?I feel like everything moves in slow motion as I look up through the crowd. And he’s just standing there. A storm raging above the open ocean holding every secret within its depths. That’s what his eyes look like. Blue and gray raging together instead of warring. There are threads of glinting gold through his golden-brown hair.
?In this slow motion moment, he extends an arm out and curls his ring and pinky fingers into his palm as he points his middle and index fingers at me with the thumb pointing at the ceiling. He bends his thumb and another bullet hits me straight through my chest again.
?Precautions, I hear him whisper to me through that open link between me and Varian. There are other voices, words spoken and screamed, but I can’t focus as the full effects of the poison of the deadliest thing known reaches every corner of my body. Flowing through every vessel, consuming every muscle, lining every bone, and touching every organ within me.
?You don’t know.
?He tilts his head and flicks his thumb again to symbolize another shot, but something blocks it this time. A shield of green and gold runes appears in front of me and I only get to glance at Asher beside me before my knees hit the ground.
?That slow motion moment finally passes and time resumes to its normal pace as everything comes back into focus. The sights, sounds, scents. I slide to my ass and slam my hands into the floor as I pant. The poison working faster than any other as people surround me, but I can only focus on one.
?I try to turn and grab and curl my fingers into Asher’s jacket but my body is not functioning properly. I have seconds – maybe. Hopefully.
?“Don’t let them destroy the Willow of Lore.” His green eyes flash and flicker with what I think is confusion, but I can’t focus on it. “Use my aura and your runes and protect it. It can’t be destroyed yet. I need you to go now.”
?Asher shakes his head and Jullia I think says something but everything is getting muddied.
?“GO!” I scream. Or maybe whisper. I don’t even know if I was able to say it. “I’ll be fine.”
?Unfortunately.
?Somewhere deeper in my mind I can hear him chuckle. Something pulls too and I wonder how catastrophic it would be if I were to open those four doors within me and try to use my magic.
?I could forgive you for killing my witches because your fated were at risk,he says in my mind.But then you killed my shifters and threatened my family.
?Someone roars in my mind. It aches. I can’t fully concentrate.
?Don’t worry, he tisks.Percius has the antidote to blue belladon. Just give us a second to destroy the willow and then we’ll get you all well again.
?I’d laugh if I was able to. Through bleary eyes I think I see red eyes encased in gold. It almost feels like it did when that vampire jumped me. Disorientated and unfocused.
?You don’t know,I repeat. Percius and his true form right beside me. I squeeze my eyes shut to try and concentrate. Tofocus. Control. I can tell now, they’re all listening in his mind.Blue belladon cannot do anything to nothing. But even still. Didn’t you hear what they called me? They said I am a forgotten goddess reincarnated. Blue belladon cannot kill primordials. There is only one thing that can.
?“Godskiller.” I hear that clearly enough as it leaves my mouth. And that presence that was silently watching explodes with existence andsings. “Forgotten God of Blood Moons.”
?I lock eyes with Mr. Arcturus. An almost sense of déjà vu hits with a bittersweetness as I incline my head at him.
?“Poisoned boy,” I whisper and his eyes shutter.
?Turning to the Death Devil, I stare at the face of my fated. Eyes identical and yet impossibly different. His expression drops as he looks at me. As he watches me straighten my back and rise from the ground. My blood flowing openly and freely as I stand but I don’t stop it.
?I haven’t even released my aura or magic.
?“Rule number one,” I hiss at him. Kolasi, the Death Devil. One with his true form, and yet terrified of little me who feels no more powerful than a vampire right now. “Never hesitate.”
?“We weren’t trying to kill you.”
?“Then your death is your own fault.”
Forty-Two
Jullia – March 22
Asher’s hand doesn’t leave mine as we stand with our back to the rune etched on the Willow of Lore. The famous symbol that has been known since the beginning of its creation – now just a dead hunk of wood with decaying flowers.
?Hanna, Ricka, and Kyno stand around the base, surrounding it. The three of them holding their weapons that they point at the rebels that are stalking us.
?Different races surround the runic shield Asher made. He had started forming it the second Mavyn told him too and locked the final links the moment we were within the boundary line. One of them already lays dead, their body still smoking from the shock or fire or whatever defense Asher wove into the runes. His magic amplified by Mavyn’s aura and flickering with the bases of her magic.
