Page 43 of Of War and Realms

The fae can heal from many things, but even we cannot survive an arrow to the heart. My mouth becomes so dry I cannot even force myself to swallow. The delicate skin of my bottom lip breaks as I bite down to quell the trembling.

I stare into her lifeless eyes for an obscene amount of time, begging anyone that will listen to tell me this isn’t real. I run a hand through her crusted, pink hair and lean forward to place a kiss on her forehead. She cannot hear me, but the urge to say something to her is too strong. “I’m sorry. May you find every bit of peace you deserve. You will never be forgotten, Ansa.” Tears splatter against her cheeks, streaking the blood and dirt that coats her skin.

With one last look, I gently close her eyes and walk away, hoping that her body stays intact long enough for us to hold a proper funeral for her.

I’m so lost in the ache gripping my heart that it takes me a moment to realize the ground is shaking while the most devastating scream flies through the field. Nell. Her earth-shattering anguish wrings my insides, and I double over for a moment to gather myself before running to my bond.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Anellah

“Tired already, Nell?” Calix laughs, scanning the area for any immediate threat.

“Shut up! We’ve been at this for hours, and I feel like we haven’t even touched the number of demons here!” My voice cracks a little, exhausting frustration settling in my bones.

This is never going to end, is it?

A hand grips my shoulder. I drag my eyes to Calix’s blue irises, looking for any hope in him that I can’t seem to find in myself. “We will get through this. And then you can go back to ogling your soul bonds for the rest of time.” My jaw drops as I huff out a laugh.

Shoving him in the chest, I say with no confidence, “I do not ogle!” He throws his head back to laugh, stepping forward to wrap his arms around me. I lean into the hug, his relaxing scent calming me enough to organize my thoughts.

I refuse to acknowledge the river of blood branching through the area. Or the thousands of bodies already beginning to decay. The smell of death is too much already, so I will not allow myself to see it as well. I cannot handle it right now.

“You do ogle.” He squeezes tighter when I move to bat him again. “But that’s okay, I still love you.” He releases me, cupping my face with a concerned expression. I know things are serious when Calix is worried. “You good?”

Am I good? No. Am I ready to continue fighting? No. Do I want to stay here and pretend like there aren’t hundreds of fae dying around us? Yes.

I open my mouth to tell him what he needs to hear, but I don’t get the chance as his head is suddenly flying away from me.

Second One: I stand frozen, not registering the warm hands that slide from my cheeks as Calix’s body drops to the ground. My eyes follow so slowly I’m convinced time is moving at half-speed. Black claws swing through my vision, causing a few pieces of loose hair to breeze across my face.

Second Two: I look over my best friend’s crumpled body, where hot blood spills onto my boots. My eyes turn to a couple dozen feet away where his head rests, eyes watching me as if I was the last thing he wanted to see before his soul left this realm. My attention snaps to the demon, who stands next to me, unmoving. It raises its chest, appearing like it’s gloating before it swings at me.

Second Three: Everything inside me shuts down. The panic. Exhaustion. Doubt. All thoughts vanish. All intentions cease to exist…except for one: kill.

A shrill, all-consuming sound halts every single being on the field. Their gazes turn toward me and the ground begins to shake as I call to the deepest parts of my essence. I pay them no attention, twisting my body and running my arm through the air as if I’m wielding a sword. My magic slices through something, and I bask in the stillness before the demon’s abdomen separates, falling in opposite directions. Thick, black sludge splatters over my body, joining with the crimson that’s already made home on my skin. I spit and wipe just my eyes, needing to see every detail of what comes next.

I do not hear the shocked gasps of the surrounding fae. Nor do I see every being in my vicinity back away slowly. No, I see him. Standing at the edge of the field, not having lifted a finger this entire time. He stills—his mouth agap—when he notices what I’ve done. The moment he meets my eyes, I nod to let him know he’s next. That I’m coming for him. He clenches his jaw, refusing to move.

I walk, not slowly, but with purpose. Each step is a direct line to the most vile demon of all. The fighting around me resumes. Bodies drop in my path, blood soaking me from every direction. I feel several demons rush me, their essence reeking of death. It takes one thought to have them in pieces; barely a moment of my time wasted.

I will not give any more energy to this war while he watches with a smirk. I will not allow him to continue living. This ends now.

The sky finally begins lighting in front of me, illuminating the horrifically devastating scene that seems to span for miles. I swallow thickly, telling myself that I can feel later. So I step over the bodies of innocent, Anlorian soldiers and do not falter in my path to Andras.

I have the urge to pick up a dagger, though with the intense thrumming of magic in my veins, I know my bare hands will be significantly more effective. I’m only several feet from my target, glaring at him with every piece of rage and pain he’s caused me the last two decades, when something swings from the corner of my eye. I snap my head left, using my essence to block the sword Dominik aims at me. He hits the wall hard; the metal recoiling and forcing him to stumble back. My foot lifts to close the distance between the ex-god and me, but the too familiar voice halts my movements.

“What’s the matter, Nell? Don’t want to play with your father?” I suck my teeth, warring with my need to beat the fucking life out of the fae and execute Andras. The latter’s smirk makes the decision for me, and I spin, throwing my fist into Dominik’s jaw and sending him careening across the ground. He laughs, spitting out a mouthful of blood before grinning up at me. “I knew you still had a soft spot for me.” He pushes himself up, cracking his neck. His dark eyes are full of malice, watching me in the same way predators hunt their easiest prey. “All those times you stood next to me, with no idea who I was to you. I was so close to fucking the memories back into your head. Reminding you of who exactly taught you everything you know.”

My heart stutters, arms trembling with an anger that has been festering inside me for so long. My body screams at me to lash out. To take all of my frustrations out on him. But that’s exactly what Andras wants; the fucker couldn’t win against me without an upper-hand. He knows exactly how to get under my skin, how to make me weak enough for him to overpower my will.

“Taught me what? You were just a memory that never existed, Dominik,” I taunt, sauntering toward him. “You have no idea what it feels like to fuck me. And honestly? It’s embarrassing how much you clearly wish it were real.”

His teeth grind, sending a shiver down my spine as I focus solely on his gaze. “Close enough, sweetie. Imogen may not have liked what I did to her, but it was worth it for you to know the feel of my cock inside you. The sound of my voice in your ears. The feel of my hands all over your pretty, little body.” I’m going to be sick. He acted out the memories they put in my head?

As much as I want to tell myself he’s lying, I know it’s the truth. I do know what his body feels like…intimately. His pleading voice as he took from me what I was never willing to give. Realizing just how many layers of choices were taken from me is disorienting. I…do not know what to do with this information. The panic creeps into my senses, threatening to overtake the numbness I’ve forced through my body.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath before shoving the information away. That’s just one more thing I will process at another time. If there is any more time for me.

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