Page 101 of Forging Darkness

Steel’s chest is heaving by the time she reaches his side. His muscles bunch and strain. I know he’s trying to morph and break free from his chains, but doesn’t have the strength to do so. He’s completely tapped out of whatever supernatural mojo he needs to make the transformation.

“The day has come, Brother. Justice will finally be served, and what a sweetness it is for it to be delivered by my hand.”

Whatever fight is in Steel leaks out of him in that moment.

Legion steps forward, positioning himself in front of Steel. Silver stands to the side of them, facing my direction.

“Silver,” I cry frantically. “Don’t do this. He’s your brother.”

Her gaze flicks to mine and holds. “And yet I was his sister and he delivered a much harsher blow.”

Without preamble, she locks a hand on both Steel’s and Legion’s shoulders. The deep, guttural language of the Fallen begins to fall from her lips.

“No!” I scream, knowing the ceremony has already begun. Steel’s body tightens as his head flings back. The pain of whatever is happening is evident on every inch of his face.

“Silver, stop!”

She ignores my begging and speeds up, words pouring unfettered from her lips. A whirlwind appears at Legion’s feet and cyclones up his body.

I yank against my bindings, bloodying my wrists. Heat grows in my body, excruciating without an outlet, but I don’t stop my power from rising.

Twin tornadoes swirl at Steel’s and Legion’s feet. The Fallen is hazy behind the twirling wind that now engulfs him.

No. No. This can’t be happening.

The whirlwind has reached Steel’s chest when he forces his gaze to Silver and pushes words from his chest. “There’s nothing I have ever regretted more than what I did to you.”

Silver’s guttural words falter for a moment before returning to their former cadence.

“I won’t ask you for forgiveness, because I know I don’t deserve it. Just know I’ve never forgiven myself either.”

I’m a trapped animal, beyond frantic to escape my bonds as Steel’s words continue.

“You deserved more than what you’ve become, and if I spent a lifetime trying to right that wrong, it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Silver’s face twists into an expression I can’t decipher, and it’s only when the semi-transparent Fallen grunts a harsh word at her that I realize she’s stopped chanting.

With a shake of her head she continues, and the wind swallows the rest of Steel’s form along with whatever other words might have been his last.

Legion’s form hazes completely out, leaving a formless mass of darkness in his place. With one final yelled word, the darkness ignites into a flame that rushes Steel, absorbing into his body through his skin and pouring into his open mouth.

My scream of rage and despair scrapes my throat raw. I choke up a wad of blood and it coats my tongue before dribbling out my open mouth.

Something snaps and I fall to my knees, my eyes still locked on the darkened inferno that is Steel’s body. Silver takes a measured step backward, her face a stony mask, as smoke billows from his pores before clearing.

When it does, Steel has been transformed. His skin is leeched of its healthy bronzed tone, replaced with a chalky pallor. His hair was a mess before, but now any hint of shine has been dulled. Strands hang loosely over his forehead and ears. I notice red veins running through the whites of his eyes when he’s released from his shackles and starts rubbing at the raw skin on his wrists. His lips peel back in disgust, and pointed incisors grow an inch, dimpling into his bottom lip.

I still have a sliver of hope stored deep inside that he’s made it through the merge, but Steel slowly cants his head in my direction and stares down at me with the soulless eyes of a killer. I know he’s lost to me now.

I thought I knew what pain was, but up until this moment, I’ve only ever experienced a small echo of true suffering. If a Fallen stepped forward and split me open from nose to navel, it couldn’t hurt any worse. And at the moment, I almost wish one would.

Even knowing it’s not him, I can’t stop his name from leaving my mouth. “Steel?”

Smelling my spilt blood, his fangs grow even larger. Blood lust blooms in his gaze. “Steel is no more, little lamb. My name is Legion.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

If presented with the opportunity, strike fast and true.

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