Page 44 of Night of Death and Flowers

“Then I shall sink the island and everyone on it,” I scream, tears flowing down my cheeks.

“Enough with this foolishness,” he warns.

We both whip our heads when the door slams open, and Azkiel enters, his silver eyes focused on me.

My father falls to his knees, hands pressed together while any resemblance of the man I grew up fearing—that this community still fears—is gone.

“Please don’t kill my daughter,” he begs, and Azkiel’s lips warp into a frown. “My other daughter is already going to die in the tournament.”

So much for preparing Arabella to win. She is far more competent than he realizes. My sister’s biggest downfall will be her kindness.

Azkiel circles my father, his shadows morphing around him. “Pathetic.”

The dream magic weaves through my core, suppressing every monstrous desire to lash out and turn this entire town to ash. My father has hazed my abilities, taken away the anger that guides my strength, right when the predator has come to taunt me.

My father’s pleading only deepens my rage. “We beg for your mercy.”

“He doesn’t have any,” I say, and Azkiel snarls, the muscles in his arms bulging as he brings his touch dangerously close to my father’s throat. “Leave,” he shouts. “Or I will lay waste to your entire family.”

My father does not move. He’s really willing to die to protect me.

“You should go,” I say, struggling to push any fight into my words. “Azkiel can’t kill me.”

A sense of victory washes through me as I watch him flinch.

“Cali?” my dad whispers, his lips parting, confusion weaving through his expression.

“Please, leave.” I try to stand from the chair, but I’m forced back down by the sedative effect of dream magic.

“I will not kill her,” Death growls, his fingers blackening..

He would if he could.

My father hesitates between me and Azkiel and then finally leaves with a quick bow to the God, casting one final worried glance back at me.

Once the door shuts, Azkiel walks to me, standing over me in the dark, damp room, a cold draft seeping through the old bricks.

“You told him you’re immune to my power,” he states, each word dripping a venom that matches my own.

“I plan on telling everyone who will fucking hear me, you bastard!” I retort.

His shadows steal the light from the lone candle, and he leans over, the silver in his stare turning into a matte, smoky gray—the kind that comes from the chimneys of infirmaries where they burn the dead. “I should have broken your fucking neck.”

“Now you can’t,” I snark and lift my chin, fighting the trance-like effects. “A person with nothing left to lose is the most dangerous of all.”

His growl rumbles in his chest, thunderous to match the brewing storm outside. “Then you should fear me.”

I scoff a laugh. “If you really have nothing to lose, why are you here? Nobody fights this hard without something to fight for.”

“You know nothing of what you speak.”

“We both know that is simply not true. You desperately want me away from Dahryst and you,’’ I say, leaning forward, any fear I once had of him vanishing as I think about Arabella and Drake fighting to the death on Tenenocti. “I swear, I will find out what that prophecy says and ensure it comes to pass.”

“Our deal was sealed in blood. Do you know what happens if you break it?”

“That all those you love, die,” I whisper as images of my two younger sisters and father flood my mind.. “I guess you had me fooled. You don’t have anyone you love, do you?” I was so focused on saving Drake that I didn’t even think about that possibility. “You chose my friend and my sister.”

“I did not break our deal,” he spits. “I freed the boy. You said nothing of what will happen to him after. I am a man of my word.”

---