Page 114 of Twisted Bonds

It’s the signal.

Brilliant Chroma beams burst forth from three different directions: Tairyn behind me, Cor’than ahead, and Callum above in a second-story window. Our streams intersect and merge, creating an unbreakable connection. The purple, green, and red hues swirl together in a dazzling display of unity.

His smug grin twists, bending into a grimace as our magic engulfs him. But then his eyes flicker, and something feral comes to life beneath his skin.

“Oh, a challenge,” he growls, his voice twisting into a deep, rumbly growl that raises the hair on my arms.

The feral gleam in his eyes darkens, and the real battle begins.

sixty-one

Callum

I can tell something isn’t right, and it's not just from Mira’s fear pulsing through our bond. The brilliant waves of Chromatic hues pulse and dance around them, but I can make out something else sinister growing on the street below.

The ground begins to shake and rumble as Yurghen and Mira engage. Lightning crashes to the ground next to them, blinding me for a moment. My ears ring with the thunderous echo, but I shake off the disorientation. Now isn’t the time to falter.

It’s Yurghen’s dark energy, a swirling mass of black and silver that transforms the makeshift battlefield. The ground is cracked and broken where he stands, his magic blasting out in waves of black energy that taints everything it touches.

Mira stands firm, her body coated in a brilliant aura of red Chroma that fights back against his curses. But she’s tiring. I can see it in the way her stance wavers, how her magic flickers like a candle in the wind.

My heart pounds in my chest, a wild rhythm that beats in time with the chaos unfolding beneath me. Tairyn was firm in his instructions. No matter what happens, stay in position.

But as I watch Mira’s magic struggle, my heart breaks with the knowledge that our plan may fail. With every second that passes, Yurghen’s strength surges, his black energy growing stronger and darker.

Time slows to a crawl as I struggle to make the split-second decision. Do I trust Tairyn and his plans enough to risk letting Mira fall to Yurghen?

sixty-two

Sunder

It does not take long to figure out where Malicryn and her little gang are. They aren’t trying to stay hidden. Blowing up buildings and setting fires seem to be their main objective right now. The South side of the city is mostly made of low wooden buildings as it's the newest part of town. Eventually, only the timber frames are kept and stone will be added over generations.

“Ok, so when we find her, how are we going to isolate her from the others?” Bobble asks behind me as we creep through alleys towards the sounds of destruction. Each explosion, each scream, feels just like the knife she stabbed through my heart a lifetime ago. Someone else’s lifetime.

Dan’thiel has given up everything in order for us to fix this and seek justice. My heart races with determination, urging me to move forward. I push myself even harder, my desperation to reach her growing with each step.

“I don’t know,” I confess, gingerly tiptoeing around the corpse of an elderly woman who, despite her current state, reminds me of a doting grandmother. Someone who would always be baking cookies and spoiling grandchildren with affection. My jaw tightens as I try to contain my emotions.

“Ok well, what if we try to lay a trap too? I could be a cat and try to lure her away. Everyone like cats.”

Of course, Bobble thinks a cute cat will be enough to distract any crazed villain. Normally, I would kiss him and tell him how adorable he is, but at this moment all I can see is red. I respond with a noncommittal grunt and continue to focus on what’s ahead of me.

The quiet between us is tangible, something solid in a world spiraling out of control. The hum of his support is a balm against my swirling rage, grounding me.

As we move deeper into the chaos, the fires seem to get hotter, the screams louder. The city that once represented so much promise now lies crumbled around us, and everything in it is dying.

A joyful, melodic tone echoes from around the bend. I recognize it instantly. “Not that one, stupid. The other one. Yes, her. Let’s see what she’s made of.”

Every hair on the back of my neck stands on end, prickling my skin with an overwhelming sense of dread. My stomach twists and turns like a stormy sea, threatening to expel its contents at any moment. Bobble’s arm wraps around me in a desperate attempt to provide comfort, but I am paralyzed. Gasping for air, I struggle to stand upright, my body trembling uncontrollably as I fight the overwhelming urge to collapse.

What is happening to me? Bobble rubs my back in soothing circles. His purring in my ear soothes me enough to push down the urge to vomit. Taking a deep breath, I push off my knees and force myself upright.

That fucking bitch.

I don’t think. I just race around the corner with sword drawn. Behind me I hear Bobble groan, but I can’t stop the propulsion inside me that says Run. Attack. Avenge. Save.

There stands Malicryn, her back to me as five members of her personal guard, The Ralvore, force three fae women on their knees in a line before her like an executioner.

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