The air thickens, like the garden itself inhales and forgets how to breathe. I call my powers up, fierce and fast. It crawls over my skin, no longer contained, no longer quiet.
It seeps out of me in vicious, curling tendrils. Both white…and black.
My hands stretch out in front of me as I meet up with Sevryn and a scream tears through my throat when I release my hold.
A barrier, bathed in white light, shoots from my palm and collides with Yemi’s, fortifying what she already has in place.
Ropes of black wrap themselves around the bodies of Dark Gods that Sevryn isn’t killing.
Coiling and coiling and coiling until I’m satisfied with my grip.
Okay, Obliteration…obliterate.
A grunt rips from my mouth as I snatch my power back to me.
The gardens, for a fleeting second, fall silent as ash blows in the wind.
I watch the particles float freely for only a moment.
Don’t…don’t overthink it.
So what, you just turned like fifteen Dark Gods into ash.
Completely normal.
My chest heaves as I stomp toward Yemi and pull my barrier back to me. Her wide eyes don’t know whether to look at Sevryn or me.
I stab my finger at her.
“I will be giving you more power as soon as we get fucking home. I’m not going to hear shit about it this time.”
Her lips part as she nods. “I think I’m okay with that now.”
I tug her into a quick hug. It’s quick because Sevryn shoves me off her a second later.
“What the actual fuck was that?”
Mara’s voice shrieks behind me as she and Gladian race over to us. He doesn’t say anything as he bounces on his toes, waiting for the next wave of Dark Gods charging this way to reach us. He’s paying attention, though.
“My power. No time to explain. We need to get into the house,” I say.
“Go. Mara and I can hold it down out here for now. Don’t take fucking forever,” Gladian grunts.
“Don’t fucking talk to her like that. Did you not just see what I saw? Ash. Obliteration. She just fucking…oh my gods. You pitted me against her, and she could’ve literally annihilated me. You big ass, egotistical…”
My eyes widen as Mara snaps, punching Gladian in his arm repeatedly. He’s so shocked, he doesn’t know what to do but take the hits.
“Mara! Mara!” I holler and her wild gaze jerks to mine. “I seriously don’t have time for you to crack right now. Get your shit together. Can you handle this while we get inside?”
A disbelieving laugh falls from her mouth.
Great. I broke her.
“Yeah,” she says, tilting her head back. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“Good.” I nod, unsheathing my swords. With a deep, unsure breath, I pass one to her. She stares at it like it’s going to strike her dead. “Just don’t cut yourself or Gladian and you’ll be fine. One hit and they fall. I expect it back in the exact condition I’m leaving it in.”
“Right, right, or you’ll just turn me to ash.” She chuckles.
