“We will die.”
He didn’t say it with fear, but certainty.
And I could tell he’d go down with me if that were what I chose.
But it wasn’t.
Not for them.
We both stood.
I forced my shadows out, creating a thick wall.
Aspen’s immense flame barreled toward us.
I shoved more power into the barrier, feeling even a touch of my hellion’s. Purple and white flickered in the dark depths.
His flames slammed into my darkness with a resounding boom that shook the earth.
The flickers of her colorful power faded as the remnants of her essence left my soul. I poured more power into my shadows.
And more.
And more.
My feet grew heavy.
Still, I gave more.
I swayed.
Alexei gripped my arm.
“That’s enough. We’re safe.”
I ignored him.
“Ronen!” he shouted, shaking me. “Stop.”
“She’s dead,” I said numbly.
My legs gave out, Divine Wasting setting in.
“Lex,” MJ snapped, some unspoken conversation passing between them that I didn’t care about.
Aspen’s flames dissipated, and still I gave more of myself, hoping to follow my hellion into the silence after.
Alexei clutched the nape of my neck, his expression drawn as he pressed his forehead against mine.
“I’m sorry, Ro.”
Then a jolt of electricity speared into my neck, and everything went dark.
Lucille
Miriam’s prophecy had been right.
There once was a daughter of seven circles. Her mother hid her, protected her, kept her away from the shame of her words. She stepped into a world vibrant with color. Met a prince who changed her life. Met a general who changed her soul.
