I understand now what Famine was referring to earlier about my stamina. Even though I’m getting those adrenaline hits when I exchange the rot inside me with pure magic, it’s not replenishing my energy levels. So, the only drawback is how quickly I’ll tire from the process, but at least I’m not blackening the Earth or draining her of magic. The balance is being kept, and that’s the point I need to keep. I will just need to push through the fatigue to move past this as quickly as possible.
There has to be another way to purge myself of this, though.
“I know how much the Earth means to Mages, so I wanted to create a safe place for us to hide away.” Emer breaks through my thoughts.
“Us?”
“Of course.” Emer giggles, and it's like scratches on a chalkboard.
“We don’t look at Earth the same way, Emer. You are more into the superficial qualifications of the world,” I point out.
“That might be,” Emer pouts, but she quickly shakes it off. “We still have stuff in common,” she insists, and my hip burns slightly as a mental image appears for me.
The golden scales appear before me, and I find them completely tipping to one side, weighing, judging Emers' soul. It’s not telling me anything I don’t know, but it does show me different ways of judgment if I choose to act on some, and relief fills me as one thought takes hold.
The old Levi, the one before Nerezza, would have scoffed at all of this. He wouldn’t even believe he’s standing in the middle of a maze at Thornbark Castle during the Gauntlet, let aloneholding hands with Emer. But I’ve been reborn, and I’m ready to fight with all my heart and soul to be with who I love and get what I deserve.
A lesser man might be willing to accept his fate, but I’m not a lesser man, I’m fucking Famine, and this bitch has fucked with me for the last time.
“You’re right, Emer,” I say, moving in closer to her and pulling on Reaper's leash to make sure he comes closer. “We have one of the most important things in common,” I tell her as I hear her guards move behind me. She waves them back as I raise my hand to cup her cheek.I knew we weren’t completely alone.I softly smile down at her as my thumb rubs her skin, and I watch her melt into my palm.
“Really?” she whispers.
“Yes.” I allow my breath to whisper over her skin as I lean in and she closes her eyes for the kiss. “We will do anything for our family.” My thumb crosses over her lips a second before I pour all of the ichor from my chest into my hand and out into her face, blackening the area I’m touching.
She screams as she tries to rip away from my palm, but it’s just what I needed.
“My lady!” one of the guards yells. They run to Emer, and I grab Reaper and quickly whisper a teleportation spell right as one of the guards remembers me.
The potion will no longer work now that it’s on Emer, but the rot will be there. Getting rid of it will now be her problem. She can keep it and return it to the Earth once her body turns to dust for all I care; I’m free.
“Get him,” another guard yells as they turn to me with a dampening cuff in their hand.
I salute him as I blink out of sight.
CHAPTER 40
Cup of What?
Ryker
Capradilla.
Out of all living nightmares, it had to be a capradilla.
“Say what?” Lynx asks as he shakes Rez out of her stupor.
“I could have sworn they were just a bedtime story my father made up,” I say, staring at the monstrous land beaver from a hellish fantasy.
“Why does that look like a nutria from back home?” Rez asks, licking her dry lips and rubbing her arms.
“Because it is,” I explain. “Or at least a version of it. “The cousin is a capybara. This, though, has the quills of a porcupine, teeth of a piranha, and a spiked tail to tenderize its food. And yes, it’s carnivorous.”
“How do we take it down?” Moni asks, looking pale white, which is definitely an improvement over her sad blue. What really surprises me is that she’s the one who’s asking the practical question here.
Everyone turns to me with expectations, and all I can do is shrug.
“What? I told you. I thought that thing was just a bedtime story my father told me to get me to behave.”
