Page 84 of Cursed

“So I finally get to finish you off, you ungrateful shit,” he threatens.

Shayla calls out to the room. “My power can manipulate energy! Use it to create magic! Mannyx intends to let you all die! And take over the realms.”

I hear Mr. Silva curse. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him spin out of Branden’s hold and launch at Mannyx, who is currently fighting off Hollis’ dangerous teeth with spells to blast him backward.

Hollis just keeps coming, through each painful strike. I don’t know how much more he’ll be able to take though.

Mannyx is so focused on deflecting Hollis’ attacks that he doesn’t even sense Silva’s approach.

Silva yanks Mannyx by his hair and asks, “She’s not lying, is she?”

He pauses for a beat too long, and with no hesitation, Silva rips Mannyx’s head clean from his body.

Holy shit!

Blood shoots into the air with his last few heartbeats. Then Mannyx’s headless body falls onto its side.

Hollis snarls and leaps at Silva as Branden swoops in to assist.

Fortunately, my father was just as transfixed by the scene and neglected to attack while Silva was attacking Mannyx.

Three guards rush in. One goes for Branden, one for Landis, and one for Arden, who now holds Shayla in his arms.

I turn to my father, wondering what his next play will be.

All but ignoring me, he rushes toward Shayla. With no doubt in my mind, I know that he means to steal her and enact Mannyx’s plan for himself.

I step into his path and jab my long dragon claws into his gut.

He partially shifts. His soft flesh, now dragonhide, repels my attack.

Claws descend from his fingers too and he slashes at my throat.

In a split second, I shift my skin for protection.

His claws scrape against my scales without harming me. He calls out to his guards, “I need the girl alive!”

With all my force, I kick my father in the chest, and he flies away and lands on his back.

Guards converge on Arden as he holds Shayla.

Shayla opens her eyes and begins to glow with power.

I pray to the Goddess that Shayla can help us, because I fear we are failing her.

25

BATTLES

SHAYLA

My mind is finally my own. Landis has occupied Shade enough that the evil incubus is out of my head.

Goddess, I don’t like how far he got inside me. He saw all my weaknesses. Not like they probably came as a surprise to him. But he whispered vicious lies to me. Making me doubt my mates, my power, and my place in the realms.

I was instantly strengthened by my mates’ presence in the room. As if they were my anchors, my rocks, I was able to pull out of the darkness Shade had shoved me into.

I had been drowning in my fears. Then, with just their love and existence, I was brought to face the sun. However, I still had to crawl out of the hole on my own.

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