“This will be the last thing you see before I rip out your eyes and burn your carcass to ashes.”
I raised my free hand and began my song of summoning.
Souls swarmed the Beauradèl younglings.
“Blood for blood, Marcèllian Beauradèl.”
“NO,” the angel wheezed through my grip on his neck.
“Younevershould have put your hands on mywife.”
I opened my free palm, then fisted it.
“Blood. For.Blood.”
The souls opened their mouths and sank their ghostly teeth into Yvette and Saccarièl. Like vicious demons, my souls feasted. Golden blood poured like a river from mouths, nostrils, eyes, and ears. Yvette and Saccarièl screamed and thrashed until theirmovements slowed. Until their voices grew faint. Until they screamed their last and died.
“No,” Marcèllian whimpered, tears staining his cheeks.
“A glorious sight, wouldn’t you say?”
I laughed low and dark. Then I turned the full might of my wrath on Marcèllian.
“Blood for blood, you insolent bastard of the Six Hèls.”
I shoved my fingers into his right eye, pushed into the socket, and ripped it out. As my Gargorètti encircled me, I shoved my fingers into the other eye and ripped that one out, too. I summoned my souls with blackfire, formed a long sword, and shoved it so far deep into Marcèllian’s stomach, it protruded out of his spine. I yanked out the sword, the blood making a wet, sucking sound as the blade slid through Marcèllian’s bones. Then his carcass fell to the ground.
An unnatural strength filled my limbs. I leaned on it as I pulled on a wealth of blackfire I knew would come with a cost. I growled, loud and fierce, joined in by my Gargorètti.
I set every inch of Beauradèl land on fire.
Black flame with lavender stars raced through the manor, the garden, every courtyard, and the surrounding property. The fire burned down the Beauradèl Wood. Then my strength broke. Obsidian took hold of my arm. Coralai came to my other side, upholding me. I watched with triumph. After eight hundred cycles, I’d finally avenged my family, my island, and now, my bride.
As everything burned, I found myself in tears.
As I watched the flames, I mourned Manmi. Papi. Vitani. Tovares. I mourned all that we had. All that we lost. I mourned my crown. My citizens. The Everthorn legacy. I mourned all the damage done by the Fallen Angels. My Gargorètti surrounded me like a protective shield as I sobbed.
“I will never understand why you made me into the monster who had to destroy you,” I whispered to the flames. “But I can assure you, Marcèllian Beauradèl, I will never regret bathing the earth with your blood. I promise on the bond to my wingmate, I will blot out your very memory from this soil. Your name will forever be a curse. And I hope that your kin all rot in the lowest parts of the Six Hèls.”
I turned away, finally free of this Hèls, once and for all.
“Let’s go home.”
The Gargorètti clapped their wings and hooted.
“Awoui, mi Roi. Let’s go home!”
Chapter 38
Nahomie
I yawned,stretching out like a feline. Sitting up in the bedcloud, I sank into the pillows. I looked at the bed. I’d fallen asleep on Tassarion’s side. Again. And without my bonnet. I kissed my teeth, annoyed with myself.
I looked to the side, angling my head to see outside the windows. It was still dark as pitch outside. I could hear the rolling waves crashing onto the seashore while the stars above littered the manor with their tenebrous light. I frowned.
How long had Tassarion been gone? How long had I been asleep?
I could only hope it was for a few hours and not a few dawns.
