Page 35 of Of Gods and Pain

Keep running, Nell. Just a little more.

Magic touches my chest wall and I sigh in relief, knowing I can use it again when I have no other choice.

Several fae just ahead of me bow as I pass, and I have to force tears back as I wish I could stop for them.

I’m reaching the last of the buildings when I look back to see Andras and his soldiers closing the distance between us. Just behind them, I spot the fae who helped me take daggers and run them across their necks, all dropping in unison.

How could I forget? Andras ordered them to kill themselves if they were disloyal. I see red and get a fresh round of energy inside my limbs, allowing me to push harder.

I will kill him so slowly for this.

That’s a promise. These sacrifices are so unnecessary. All of this is so unnecessary. Fucking prick.

I reach the outer gates and burst through them, tripping over a rock just on the other side and landing on a knee. I cry out at the sharp pain that shoots up my leg, but don’t pause to assess the damage. Though from the way I’m limping, I’m certain it’s not good.

Fuck, I’m so close. Please, Xamira. Please be here.

My lungs are on fire, my head is pounding, and my heart beats so hard I’m convinced it’s breaking each of my ribs with the force. I can hear them catching up, their stomping getting louder with each tree that passes.

A loud roar sweeps through the air, and I can no longer stop the tears. They cool my burning face, and it feels so nice.

“Xamira!” My voice croaks; it’s so quiet and weak that I’m not sure how I’m still standing, or even conscious.

I spot her beautiful, black wings descend through the leaves. She runs towards me, moving faster when she sees how close the group is behind me.

“No! Xamira turn around, go!” She huffs but slides to a stop and moves in the opposite direction. She’s slower this time, giving me the opportunity to catch up.

We’ve worked on this maneuver many times, though not like this. I was never injured, and we weren’t running for our lives. But we have to get it right, Andras is so close.

“Anellah, don’t you fucking dare!” He screams, his voice making me wince.

Please, please, please.

“Now!” I yell at Xamira, coming up directly behind her. She takes off into the air, and I use every last ounce of strength in my body to jump and catch her fur, holding onto her back with everything that I am.

I’m Anellah, the first born goddess. I am the strongest warrior in centuries. I will not be killed by my inability to hold on.

Hold on.

I look down to see Andras and the soldiers paused below. I swear his eyes are a deep red, though I couldn’t trust myself to say whether it’s day or night at this point. A soldier notches an arrow, aiming for Xamira’s side; he lets it free and I throw my arm out so it pierces me instead of her. I scream at the pain but push it aside because more soldiers are readying arrows. Calling on the minuscule amount of magic that’s built back up, I coat Xamira and myself, rendering us invisible to those below.

Andras screams curses at the soldiers and just as we hit the tops of the trees, I see him snap the neck of the one who first shot an arrow.

I’m so thankful Xamira is fast because I can’t hold on to my essence much longer. I’m trembling so badly, and my vision is swaying in different colors. I hold on with everything I have, giving her as much time as I can to get away without being seen.

We don’t make it very far before darkness eases itself into my pores and claims my mind.

Chapter Sixteen

Emrys

Blood pools around my fingers as I slowly bite off the nails and skin. There is nothing that could calm me down right now.

Nothing.

The snap of awareness coming from Nell jolted Cas and me awake. We didn’t get one second to process what was happening before Xamira bolted out of the glass door, jumping over the balcony and shifting into her panther mid-air. It was an extraordinarily beautiful sight, and any other time I may have stopped to appreciate the stunning creature…but instead, I screamed after her as she flew over the Sunsor mountains faster than I’ve ever seen anything move.

I had looked over to Casmir for answers, though he was just as shocked as I was; his eyes met mine, and it was like swimming through the darkest parts of a forest during a storm. We silently concluded that there was only one reason for Xamira to leave the way she did, without even acknowledging us first: Nell. She must be going after Nell…

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