Page 27 of Of War and Realms

“Please, let’s get water. I feel like I’ve swallowed all the dirt in the Veil!” The males chuckle, walking faster ahead of me to see to my needs. Insufferable, but irreplaceable.

I follow a few steps behind and involuntarily halt when my face smacks into a wall of nothing. I touch the space in front of me to make sure I’m not going crazy.

That’s certainly a wall…and it’s not mine.

I jolt when a force hits my back, pushing me into the magic again. Turning around, my eyes narrow when I see my mother standing in the middle of the arena. All at once conversation and movement stop when the goddess’s threat permeates the field.

I face her fully, raising a brow. I will not speak first. She smirks.

“Since you seem to suddenly hate me so much, now is the time to let your anger out. Emotions will only make you weak, Anellah.” I cross my arms and widen my stance, not deigning her a response. The moment her jaw clenches, I cover myself with essence. She’s going to try to bait me.

She proves me right when a blast of energy hits my chest. I can see her mind turning when I don’t move, trying to figure out the best way to humiliate me and gain the upper-hand again. This isn’t her territory. She feels out of place and is doing everything she can to maintain the power she possesses in Europa.

She doesn’t understand this is my territory. And fuck if I’ll let her control this, too.

Several more blasts slam into me from all sides—I just watch her. Pure satisfaction sings in my blood the more disheveled she gets. “Come on, just hit me back! Let out your anger!”

“It looks to me like you’re the only one here who needs to let out their anger.” I’m not having this fight with her again. I am done giving her my time and energy when all she does is abuse them.

She marches up to me, snarling as she stops not a foot away. “You spoiled f—” A smile tugs at my lips; she’s making a fool of herself in front of everyone. “You had one last job, Anellah! You’re to be sanctioned in a mere five years! How could you allow yourself to be with them?” She points to my left where Cas and Em watch us closely.

“I told you how. Or do you not care that Andras used my body for his own pleasure this entire time?” I swallow past the thick sludge in my throat. I almost think I see a flash of guilt in her eyes. Almost. But then her uncaring mask slides back into place.

“That is your own fault. There were things you could have done to escape earlier.”

“You—” I hold my hand up to stop Emrys. She’s sucked the life out of me for decades. She doesn’t need his, too.

“Well then I implore you to turn yourself over to Andras so he can siphon your magic and hold you in a constant state of paralysis. Where you can’t even move your eyes to see what tool he’s grabbing next to cut you open with. And when he blocks all of your memories and plants fake ones? I’ll make sure to stay away so as not to fuck with your escape. Please, mother! Go try it out for yourself; because only then will I listen to a single fucking word you have to say about Emrys and Casmir.”

She shifts, taking a step closer. “I do not know who you think you are, but you do not speak to your mother like that.” That makes me smile. Of course she would somehow make this all about her.

“I think I’m exactly who you raised me to be. And now that I’m free of your manipulation, I’ll do whatever the fuck I want.” This time, I step closer. “But that’s not what really bothers you, is it? No…you’re jealous. I’m making the choice that you always wanted for yourself but were afraid to go after until it was too late. Now you get to watch me—your own child—live the life you dreamed of. That’s your fault, though.

“So, no, I will not be coming back to Europa. I will complete the bonding ceremony. I will spend the rest of my life happy with my bonds and free of you. And there will not be a single moment that I will ever regret my decision.”

Her hand moves so quick that I don’t register it’s trajectory until it slaps me hard across the face, swinging my head to the side. Gasps ring through the arena, and I know Cas and Em want so badly to intervene, but they won’t without my permission. A metallic taste coats my mouth, and I have the urge to spit it out. I don’t. Instead, I swallow it and keep my arms crossed as I level her with an emotionless gaze.

“I have always hated you. The difference between then and now is that I am done putting up with your shit.”

I turn to meet my bonds but feel her wall is still up. Without another thought, I throw my fist into it and revel as the magic cracks and shatters. Out of the corner of my eye, Cyran’s jaw drops, but I’m only focused on one thing. Stepping between Cas and Em, I look back to see Aeryn still watching me with a look of disgust. I smile and grab Casmir’s face, pulling his lips to mine. He opens for me immediately, and I melt into him as we deepen the kiss.

After a minute, I pull away and he smiles warmly at me, kissing my forehead and turning me toward the captain. I don’t check to see if she is still there when I throw my arms around Em and frantically drink him in. He tastes of lemon and honey; that mixed with the scent of his new leathers? I’m about to say fuck who’s watching and ride him right here.

Emrys breaks the kiss, his brows furrowing deeply. “Is it true, then? You were serious about your choice?” His words are so quiet and heavy that my chest squeezes tightly. I may have said yes to their proposal, but until now I’ve been hesitant to put these words into existence.

I cup his face and nod. “Yes. I choose you. I choose Casmir. I choose our bond. And I am so sorry for ever making you think that you, Cas, and Xamira will not always be my first priority. I will always choose you.”

The males squeeze me in a tight hug, and I can’t help but laugh at the euphoria swimming between the three of us. A feeling of rightness settles in my soul, and I know I’ve made the correct decision.

They each grab one of my hands and we walk back up the hill toward the horses. I am exhausted and just want to lie in bed with all three of my bonds.

“Honestly, love, you handled yourself so well.” Emrys continues with his mini-speech, but I don’t hear anything else.

Slowly, I look down to see an arrow protruding from my abdomen. I must be in shock because the only thing I feel is undiluted fear…it’s an obsidian arrow. Blood seeps from the wound while my mind completely stalls on how to move the rest of my body. Something fills my throat and I cough, hot blood now covering my hands.

Cas and Em are a few steps ahead and turn at the noise. I can feel the obsidian’s poison touching my flesh, and suddenly I’m so fucking weak. I try to cough again when my throat fills, but the muscles will not listen. The blood just pools in my mouth until it starts draining down my chin.

Everything moves in slow motion, blurring as if I were on a train watching the landscape through an open window. I do not remember the prince and his captain calling for anyone, but there are several people surrounding me. I do not remember losing my feet, but I’m lying in someone’s arms. I do not remember calling for Xamira, but her soft fur grazes my cheek.

---