Page 17 of Our Lady of War

“My wife may have mercy on you, but I never fucking will again,” he bit out. “I don’t give a damn who you are to me. Who you used to be.” He snapped his exposed jaw at her, just to see her soul flinch. “Do I make myself clear?”

Thanasim did not let her respond. His ghouls, his night, snaked out from his shadow cloak, wrapping around her soul from crown to end—a binding so thorough the likes of which Asteria had never seen. She was stunned to silence, immobile.

“Thanasim,” she finally whispered through her tears as Athania struggled against her binding of night. “She is our sister.”

“Asteria.” His voice was never harsh with her and it wasn’t now, even though she’d never seen him so angry. “Look what she’s done. Look what she did to you. If she would treat you this way, what more will she do to humanity?”

“Give her a chance, my love.” She could taste the salt of her tears as they poured. “Please.”

Asteria could feel his ire in their bond. Feel him pleading with her to let him end her. With one gentle shake of her head, Thanasim snarled and threw Athania’s soul back into her body. He took her by her mortal arm and roughly hauled her up. Without a word, he threw his shadow cloak until it covered them both, and they disappeared in a burst of smoke.

Asteria hit her knees, sobbing as she cradled her belly, cradled Belfry. Her oldest, dearest friend had become what? A monster? It wouldn’t last. She was hurt, not herself. That was all.

Thanasim returned, his fleshly form stepping from the smog. He crouched down beside his wife and wiped her tears away with his thumb. “She has been slaughtering anyone in her path, love. And she blamed you.”

“Where did you take her?”

“Threw her,” he corrected quietly and Asteria turned wide eyes on him.

“Where?”

“Another realm. Aureland. She will be amongst powerful beings there, unable to harm.”

Asteria swallowed hard. “I’ll go to her soon. We will talk, and all will be well.”

She felt Thanasim’s gaze on her as much as she felt his doubt and concern coursing through their bond, and she turned to meet his eyes.

“My goddess, I hope you’re right, little witch.”

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