Thetraitor.
Tassarion barreled into Marcèllian with such brute force that the clap of breaking bones rang in my chest. Tassarion snapped open his wings, whipped around, and slapped Marcèllian so hard the male’s body shot across the ballroom like lightning, crashing into a pillar. Before he could roll over, Tassarion was there. The king grabbed Marcèllian by his ankles, yanked him up into the air, then wrenched his body back down, smashing Marcèllian into the marbled floor.
“And therein lies the Monster King,” an observer whispered, with more awe than fear. It had to have come from one of our loyal islanders.
The traitor’s face split open. Blood gushed from the open wound, staining the floor with gold. Tassarion hammered a booted foot into the angel’s spine. The audiblecrackwas evidence Tassarion had broken the male’s spine. My king shoved his arms beneath Marcèllian’s limp ones, grabbed hold of both, and wrenched them from their sockets. It had become a bloody, gory sight.
Eight centuries of pent-up rage was finally bleeding out. Tassarion could have easily executed the bastard with one blow. Instead, he took his time breaking him, limb by limb. Turning away from the gore, I hurled myself at the bloodhounds who crouched to lunge at me again. I was badly wounded and weak, but Ihadto fight on. I couldn’t give up.
If my home was going to become, and remain, my safe haven, I couldn’t just leave it all up to Tassarion. I had to fight back. I had to fight for what was ours. We deserved peace. Joy. Liberty,especially in our home. I drew on blackfire and hurled it at the creatures. I moved slower. My reflexes dulled. But I pushed anyway.
The Gargorètti kept a strong front. Though they had been surrounded, they did not yield, brutally tearing through the creatures. The Nanmiess and Esprits teamed up, raging against the boneravens while leaving the bloodhounds to the gargoyles and other islanders.
I focused on taking out the endless rows of bloodhounds in my weakening vision. I coughed up blood, choking on the acidic, bitter taste. My strength fled from me. But I fought on.
Then Marcèllian began chuckling darkly, utterly delirious.
“Roi Tassarion,“ Marcèllian sneered. “Blood. For. Blood.”
Then I was attacked from behind. Large teeth clamped around my neck. Down on my arms. Several of my wings where I’d already been wounded. I screamed so loud it pierced through the noise of the chaos.
“EVERHEART.”
Tassarion bellowed, but already his voice was fading. Ifyusedback into my Seraphim skin, tumbling to the bloody floor.
“We have the Nebulari,” garbled a bloodhound. “We will bring her to the High Farasee.”
“The Hèls you will,” Tassarion raged.
A tsunami of souls plunged into the ballroom. Darkness flooded every crevice. There was a commotion. Chaos. And all the while, I continued to fade. More hounds plundered my body, clawing and tearing. I was broken. Overwhelmed. Defeated. I cried out to the Infinite for help, but I was met with silence and emptiness. Refusing to give up, I tried again.
“Infinite, only you can turn this darkness around. I beg of you.Please.”
Bright light, like a shooting star, shot across the heavens above the open ceiling. Then suddenly, the chamber fell into a blanket of midnight. Not an angel, shifter, fae, gargoyle, or even soul or spirit could be seen. Shouts of despair filled the blackness.
Marcèllian howled one last time.
Then his voice was cut short.
Was he dead? Had Tassarion finally killed the vile angel?
Endless souls plunged into the bloodhounds surrounding them. The possessed dogs released me, howling in torment. The souls sank their teeth and ephemeral claws into the dogs, ravaging them. An unnatural peace settled in my chest. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt cold. Felt like I was free-falling into a deep abyss. I knew this feeling well. I’d felt it before.
I was dying.
“Stay with me, Everheart. Music of my soul. Do not leave me.”
My eyes fell shut as the abyss called my name and Death reached for my hand.
And in the dark's chaos, a diaphanous figure surfaced, floating out of the floorboards to my side. It took a moment for me to register who it was.
“Saundeiah!” Tassarion howled. His voice was in so much pain. I hated that I couldn’t do anything about it. Too broken to move. To ease the pain of my wingmate. “Saunie, help her!”
The twinight plunged into further darkness, unnaturally. Saundeiah floated to my side, blending in with the night. When she reached me, the Nanmiess grinned.
“Our Roi wants me to help,” she whispered for me alone to hear, amidst the continual cacophony of battle and chaos. “So I will.”
Then Saundeiah gnashed her teeth, hissing. She plunged a blade deep into my side, sliding it through my ribs. It wasn’tuntil I felt the ichor inside my body that I realized the blade was coated with poisonousmajik.
