“He shouldn’t have moved,” I say more frantically as my feet pound against the dirt. “No.”
The second the word burst from my chest, the boy spasms.
Sevryn barely catches him as he himself hits his knees. His back arches much farther than it should. The bellow that rips from his throat has a shiver racing down my spine.
Creed reaches them first, screaming for Riven to do something.
The Harmony that blasts from Riven’s body has me halting my pace a few feet from them and taking a deep breath. Kyzen positions himself in front of me, with time slowed and swords drawn, ready to wield as my gaze scours the crowd.
A dark, forbidding laugh pierces my ears and my glare snaps to the carbon copy of Sevryn that appears behind the kneeling innocents.
It’s unnerving how much they look alike.
The only difference truly between them is that the God of Pain has black eyes. They’re stark and boundless.
“My son. Welcome home.”
He stretches his arm out, and another agonizing scream roars from Sevryn’s mouth. My breathing labors as fear pushes me and my power forward.
My hand stretches out to match the piece of shit father currently torturing his only son with power they share.
A ripple blasts through the air.
I grit my teeth, grunting as the God of Pain’s power pumps against my barrier with unrelenting force. Some still slips through, hitting Sevryn straight in his chest, but it’s mellowed enough that he can get words out. He doesn’t even spare his father a glance. He begs Riven to help Teagan.
My glowing gaze collides with the God of Pain’s as my shaking arm holds my barrier strong in front of us.
For now.
“Well. You must be Miss Thayla Godrun. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I don’t say a word, but I let my disgust and hatred show through every feature on my face.
The bright flash of white that beams beside him has my barrier flickering. I shove my attention and power back out with as much force as I can.
“You’d be right, Seveous. This is the young Miss Godrun. Isn’t she spectacular?”
I sneer at Kirabaddon.
I should’ve cut his fucking head off the last time we were here.
“Nifty little trap, asshole.”
“Oh, this,” he says, motioning his hand from the start of the line of beings to the end. “This isn’t a trap. Seveous just wanted to remind Sevryn what happens to people who betray the Abandon.”
The God of Pain waves his hand in the air.
Bile races up my throat from the overwhelming echo of cries and cracks that ring through the air. The blood drains from my face and I stumble back as body after body hits the ground.
Creed’s and Sevryn’s bellows create a haunting melody that I’ll never forget. The pain and devastation splitting across my soul have my knees shaking uncontrollably.
Kyzen jumps to Riven’s and Amick’s aid, holding Creed back as he charges toward their father. The tears streaming down his cheeks don’t splash against the rubble at his feet.
They sink into it.
The gravel slumps into sand, then dust, then nothing but a stain on the path.
Everything inside of me runs cold as I peer at Sevryn, rocking back and forth as he cradles the body of that boy.
