He vanished and my father grabbed onto my arm as I laughed.
“Zara! What did you do? Where is he?”
“Look for yourself,” I said and pointed toward the middle of the battle. My father released my arm and looked to where I was pointing. At the center of the battle, a bulbous fat man was running for his life.
I might not be able to kill him—but they could.
My father cursed but I could have sworn he was smiling.
I clutched the damp grass at my feet, still wet from the rain, and watched Duke Wellington try to flee the battle I had just thrust him into. Ogres were closing in around him and he didn't get far before a fist slammed down, crushing the bulbous, heinous man like a grape.
My grin widened but I didn't have time to relish in his death as I was suddenly pulled to my feet.
“Get up.”
Morgana's sharp command pierced my ear and I suppressed a cry as I shifted all of my weight onto my good ankle. Panic overtook me as I scanned the battle again, noticing Xavier was no longer on the field. Where was he?! And why was she back? I searched again but I still couldn't find him, or Jaxon.
“What did you do to them?!” I said in a panic, and Morgana scowled.
“Open your connection,” she snarled, her yellow gaze piercing into mine.
“I can't,” I choked out, and she stepped closer until we were almost nose to nose.
I won't.
“Open. It.”
“No.”
Her will slammed into me, and it stole my breath as my back arched. Magic surged through my veins, and the thing in my chest writhed and thrashed while I struggled to break free of her control—to fight back.
Morgana laughed loudly. “You think you can overpower me?” Another wave crashed over me, causing my magic to surge through my blood. “They really dug their claws into you deep, didn't they? Made you believe you could fight? Stand a chance? That you could actually defeat me?” She laughed again. “Don’t worry, dear, all of this will be a memory soon enough and I’ll make sure I bury it, like all the rest.”
Something struck the barrier in my bond, though not with the force it should have. Morgana hissed through her teeth, “Open your connection!”
My grip on my will was slipping, but I continued to fight, to push back.
A flash of silver had my back arching, as something sliced across it, making my magic slip even further. I blinked and realized I had fallen to the ground. My entire body burned as heat licked up the back of my neck. A searing pain erupting on my back.
“Morgana.” My father’s voice broke through my pain, and Morgana laughed sardonically at him.
“Going soft, Gormick?”
Her gaze remained fixed on me, an insatiable hunger for power etched onto her features, invading my mind. I could sense her thoughts and feelings, and they were utterly vile. I felt the urge to vomit, my throat constricting. Bile erupted from my mouth as my body convulsed, my eyes squeezing shut.
“Morgana!” My father cried again, but this time it was more of a warning. A sword striking another resonated through the air, and I cracked my eye open, my body going still as my gaze landed on a tall blonde male.
Jaxon spun around, a snarl ripping from his throat as he deflected Gormick's blow. Jaxon ducked, and a vine shot out, wrapping around my father's neck. He was pulled aside, and before he could strike back, a rock flew up and smashed into the side of his head, knocking him out.
What was he doing?! No, no, run!
I felt her amusement, her arrogance. She believed herself untouchable, and Morgana’s rage and indignation festered into something sinister as she turned to face him, a cruel smile gracing her lips.
“This ends now, Morgana,” Jaxon hissed, and Morgana replied with a cruel laugh.
“Oh, son, this is far from over.” She glanced down at his blood-stained shirt and smirked. “Your brother not joining us?” she crooned. “Pity. I do hope you have the right antidote for that poison. Nasty stuff.”
Jaxon’s lip twitched, and his gaze cut to mine, but I was trying to get up off the ground. I was too weak, my back preventing me from moving, but it was healing. Morgana’s willwas still crushing down on me to open the connection to Xavier, and I whimpered as another dark, twisted wave of magic began to suffocate me.
