Heavenly Shit. He was scared.
The reality of that sent a rush of cold adrenaline through my system.
“Can’t we just lusceler?—”
Part of the tornado ripped away into an unnatural line of wind and circled the perimeter in front of us. A hazy white wall glinting with ice stood tall and threatening. The wind had us caged in on all sides, stopping every mode of escape.
“So what’s our plan for surviving the massive, shredding ice tornado coming our way then?” Alexei directed the question to Ronen.
I signaled to my Glory, pulling up the warm energy and coating my hands. “Can’t we just melt?—”
My white flames shuddered, becoming as wispy and insubstantial as Ronen’s shadows.
“It’s the Veil Wind. Try your Infernus,” Ronen ordered.
I did, and although my purple flames held longer, I wasn’t sure how they could help. I’d never used my Hellfire alone to melt anything. The black flame was not only draining but, without the aid of my Glory, burned slowly, designed to torture and prolong screams, not melt ice.
“I mean, it’s something.” Alexei nodded, scrunching his face before his attention drifted back over my shoulder. “Does the all-powerful pet have a plan to save us, or has he volunteered as the first to become ground meat?”
“What?” I whipped my head around, and Ronen’s grip tightened on my arm. Aspen had been right behind us with Rune. But it was just her now.
I furiously yanked on my arm. The guardian bond clawed at my desperation, forcing me to try harder.
Aspen knelt farther away, staring at the approaching storm with acceptance. That was what his fucking relief meant. A way to end his pain.
I jerked my head back to Ronen. “Let me go!”
“No.”
“Ronen!” MJ snapped.
Her severe tone did nothing to persuade him. He only squeezed tighter.
“Lucille purposefully mutilated her face for him. The consequences of their bond are taking effect, and the pet wants to die.”
That was his logic? Let Aspen die so I’d be safe?
“Is this your praesidium speaking?” MJ asked, her auburn brows pinching together.
“This is what’s best,” he retorted, neither confirming nor denying her assumption.
The invasive force cut through my mind, searching and discarding my emotions until it found what it sought. Violence bled into my thoughts and hooked into my muscles.
Slowly sliding a dagger from my sheath, I had a split second of doubt before the bond drowned it out. Then I pushed lusceler into my arm and quickly slammed the blade through Ronen’s wrist.
He cried out, loosening his hold. Rune growled, then whimpered. Their reactions should’ve upset me. But they were standing in my way. Taking advantage, I ripped out of his weakened hold and luscelered. Snow sprayed as I skidded to a stop in front of Aspen and dropped to my knees.
His glazed eyes averted from the storm, and the relief he’d felt spiked into fear.
“Leave,” he rasped.
“Never.”
“Yes,” Ronen pressed, having followed me along with Rune. She bumped her head against my chest, almost knocking me over. I shoved her away.
“Let me end it for us,” Aspen pleaded.
I framed his face. Tingles instantly vibrated through my fingers as I searched for a spark of will. Hope. Anything I could work with. But all I found was dimming light, dark acceptance, and a suffering I couldn’t comprehend.
