Page 10 of Of Nine So Bold

The creature’s body lurched, and then a twist of smoke rose from its chest, writhing like a snake in the air.

A Voidborn.

Hovering in the air, I could feel it watching me. Gods, I could feel it smirking at me too, like a contemptuous predator eyeing unworthy prey.

One that couldn’t escape no matter how fast I might try to run.

Behind it, the green-skinned creature stumbled. But unlike the humans I’d seen possessed by a Voidborn, he didn’t fall dead to the ground. Instead, he blinked as if disoriented, his eyes no longer glowing orange. Dazed, his gaze stuttered across the room, only to stop when he spotted the other creature next to him.

A strange cry left him, one filled with rage and shock and a desperate sort of agony that was painful to hear. Though I knew nothing about what he was, I could still recognize the horrified cry of a fellow sentient being.

But he didn’t go for his weapons. No, with one hand, he grabbed at the bone necklace at his throat, ripping it away and then slamming it to the chest of the man next to him.

Guttural speech came from his lips, rhythmic. Frantic. Pleading and ordering and making the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Magic.

For a moment, the body of the Voidborn-inhabited creature next to him shuddered. Struggle flashed over the other man’s face, the yellow light in his eyes flickering.

Oh gods, the first guy was trying to cast a spell to save his friend.

But suddenly, the second creature’s shuddering gave way. He lurched, and then the struggle disappeared from his face while the yellow light returned even brighter than before.

I gasped. “Watch ou?—”

It was too late. With lightning-quick speed, the Voidborn-inhabited man drew a weapon and stabbed it through the chest of the one trying to save him.

The green-skinned man choked, but desperately, he still attempted to press the bone necklace to the other one’s chest. Still tried to grit out a spell.

I started forward. I knew nothing of what they were, but I had still trained with a healer throughout my childhood. I couldn’t just stand here and let him die.

Or let the Voidborn win.

Before I made it more than a step, the Voidborn-possessed man yanked his weapon free and swung it around to slash across the dying man’s throat.

Green blood splattered the white marble. The man crashed down so hard, I could feel his impact with the glistening tile.

The Voidborn-inhabited creature turned his glowing eyes to me. Lifting the blade, he dragged his tongue along it, licking away the blood. Nearby, the smoky form of the free-floating Voidborn vibrated.

Gods, it waslaughing.

I wasn’t just disgusted, but I was too upset by the pointless, desperate death before me to be scared. If the man who’d justdied was any indication, the true owners of these green-skinned creatures’ bodies were each still alive in there.

Could they see what just happened? Were they screaming to get out?

“I’m sorry,” I said to the one holding the blade, even though I had no idea if he could hear me. “I’m so sorry for your friend.”

Still seated on her throne, the queen made a contemptuous noise. “Oh, please. Destroy this softhearted simpleton. He bores me.”

Like a snake, the smoky Voidborn began gliding through the air, heading straight for me.

My eyes darted around, but I knew what I’d find. There was nowhere to go. No way to escape. The touch of the Voidborn turned everything from trees to bushes to animals into ash.

But… how was that part of her plan?

My heart beat so hard, it felt like it was choking my throat. “If you turn me to ash,” I asked, backing up anyway and trying to buy time—for what, I wasn’t sure. But that didn’t stop me from trying. “Then what are you sending to Gwyneira?”

“You thinkthatis what I intend, boy?” The queen’s smile was clear in her voice. “Hardly. I have something much more fun in mind.”

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