I was wholly and completely surrounded. And I wasn’t afraid.
I pulled on souls entwined with blackfire.
It was time Zemshaza Beliah learned why I was called the Monster King.
Chapter 37
Tassarion
Surrounded on all sides,I was rooted to the stone, unbothered.
I’d lived in the Hèls and survived.
Zemshaza would have to do worse than this t break me.
A slight movement in my periphery again caught my attention. This time I snuck a peek. The curtains of the bedchamber I remember belonged to Yvette fluttered. The bedchamber right next to it also had movement, which meant one thing.
Saccarièl was there.
I looked up at the descending ashbats. Down at the running bloodhounds. A steadying breath reminded me I wasn’t alone. The Infinite was with me. My wingmate’s fire was in me.
And...
“Obi! Now!”
Every single Gargorètti burst out of their hiding places in the Beauradèl Wood, rushing in a coordinated wave towards the ashbats. I leapt into the air, snapped my body downward, and landed on the stone belowhardat the same time Obsidian led the vicious attack against the ashbats above. The cacophonous sound was like a series of explosives erupting, deafening in theair. Bloodhounds rushed me from all sides. I swooped around and slammed my wings into the ground. A war cry for the army of souls hiding in the stones.
“Tassarion Everthorn!” Zemshaza bellowed. “I will drag your carcass back to your cell and remind you of what happens when you disobey?—”
A resoundingcracksnagged my attention. I looked up and found Obsidian had punched Marcèllian’s face so hard the gargoyle’s stone hand left a bloody, bony print. Marcèllian choked on his blood. I grinned at Obsidian, whose eyes flashed amber at me like hot coals.
“He talks too much.”
I snorted. Looking back at the stone, I waited another moment.
Then I jerked my arm backward. The army of souls flooded from the stones, shooting out an innumerable count, plunging into every bloodhound that rushed into the garden. The more hounds came, the more souls surged. I was growing tired, but I pushed through, pushing myself to my limits.
Drawing on blackfire would certainly come at a cost. I couldn’t fathom how Nahomie dealt with all of this power every dawn without losing control. Without losing her mind.
Still, I used it.
It felt like she was here with me, helping me face the unthinkable.
A bloodhound lunged at me. It caught my arm between its long teeth. I howled, unable to shake off the demonized dog. I punched down, crushing the skull of the bloodhound gripping my arm. Another bloodhound latched onto me. I grabbed it by the neck, snapping it in two quick motions.
When the souls finished plunging into the bloodhounds, I began my song.
My souls came to life within the bloodhounds, falling into a bloodthirsty frenzy.
In one motion, every bloodhound grew unnaturally still.
Then the souls ravaged the bloodhounds from the inside out.
As the bloodhounds tumbled into an uncontrollable fray of madness, the Gargorètti tore through the ashbats like they were toys. Blood and bone fell from the sky. The stench of blood tainted the air. Death colored the Beauradèl courtyard black.
I scanned the yard to find Marcèllian’s body. His eyes were hazel again. The traitor had regained control of his body from Zemshaza. Marcèllian crawled along the stone, trying to sneak off to the estate. I chuckled, tutting as I watched him sneak off on his torn knees.
“Now, Marcèllian,” I slid my hands into my pockets as if we were out for mid-dawn kafé. “You wouldn’t be trying to warn Yvette...” I paused for dramatic effect. Marcèllian ignored me and kept crawling. “And Saccarièl,” I purred. The traitorous piece of rot froze in place. “Would you?”
