And exhaled against her mouth.
A breath that was too sweet. Too thick. Too heavy.
It wasn’t a kiss. He wasn't close enough to touch her. But it was an invasion. Mana spilled from him, raw and searing, a current no mortal could absorb.
The pain was immediate.
As though she’d been fed live coals.
Auryn’s back arched and her vision went black. Awareness shattered, and she was thrown into complete darkness.
***
Shu’Khan watched a shimmer of gold flicker over her skin then burst outward.
Her eyes snapped open—gold, radiant, burning as brightly as the sun.
A voice rose from within her. Ancient. Furious.
“Seravael, you have not changed. Still trying to take by force what others have earned through suffering.”
Shu’Khan froze, breath still caught in his throat.
“The Numen,” he murmured in awe. Then smiled. “So it is true. The Numendoesreside within this damaged vessel. How unexpected. How fortuitous." His smile widened, showing gleaming white teeth. "How…just.”
“Let me go. Remove your vile hands from me.”
“Your vessel is ill. Are you not concerned?”
“Not so ill that I would take your poisoned essence. You violate the sanctity of Breathweaving. You dare.”
He held her limp form closer, looking deep into her eyes. “Anything ofhisis Ours to take.”
“Not this, Seravael. We will not suffer it in silence.”
He held her tighter, as if expecting her to vanish if he gave her room to breathe. “If you wish to escape,lash out. You have control now.”
“I have no need to when my Silari will take your head for what you have attempted.”
His smile didn’t falter. “We do not fear a Construct that knows nothing of its origins.”
“He will soon remember, and the day of your Reckoning will come.”
Shu’Khan exhaled sharply through his nose. A huff. Or a dismissal. He backed away from her, leaving her to lie among the pillows of the divan.
“Your threats do not concern Us," he said, raising his arms. "Here in Our Garden beneath the Shields, the Zephyr are powerless.”
The Numen tried to push herself up, but her body was too weak.
“You will rue the day you took my Silari from the Skyglass. I will break him free of your blasphemy.”
Shu’Khan turned to look at her. “He is too valuable a resource. We would rather lose the Sokâr than risk the Construct.”
A beat.
A moment of dawning understanding.
And as the Numen's eyes flew wide, Shu’Khan’s smile stretched and finally reached his eyes.
