Page 357 of Heat of the Everflame

“Release, Xipherus,” he said.

The gryvern’s talon unclenched, and I smacked down onto the road. My fear had always masqueraded as anger, and now was no exception—my answering glare wasscorching.

Strangely, that seemed to please him.

I scrambled back to grab my fallen sword and climb to my feet. The hilt of the blade throbbed warm in my hand, a pulsing heartbeat with a toxic edge.

“The people in this city are under my protection,” I snapped. “I won’t let you hurt them.”

“Ah, yes. I see the Crowns inside you. Three of them, in fact.”

He hooked a finger and yanked it back, and the Crowns shot up through my body. They strained at my skull with excruciating force, like he might rip my head from my neck just to steal them away.

Ophiucae clicked his tongue. “How very impressive.”

He wanted them. I smelledthe hunger in him, saw it swirling in his eyes.

“You wish to rule these people?” he asked. “To protect them, give them a better world? Together, we can make it so.”

“Not if you keep killing them,” I shot back.

His smile turned colder. Harder. “There are debts that must be paid.”

“I heard what happened to you. I’m sure you must be angry—”

“Angry?They left me to rot in a lightless room, feasting on vermin and living in filth. They tried to forget me.” He laughed—a dangerous, poisonous sound. “Oh, I am so much more than angry. And I’ve had plenty of time to plan all the ways I’ll make sure they never forget me ever again.”

Icy fingers skimmed down my back.

“You want vengeance against the Descended. Believe me, that’s something I understand. But these are not the people who did you wrong. You cannot punish them for—”

“You dare tell me what I cannot do?” he exploded. His furious roar rolled through the earth, sending buildings trembling and boulders cracking. My godhood shrank back, cowering in my chest.

His stature grew as he prowled closer. Again, the sword in my hand thrummed with an odd, restless energy. My grip on it tightened as I forced myself not to yield.

“Fire burns within you, daughter. That can be useful. But even the brightest flame can be extinguished.” He raised a long finger to my throat, and the ten-pointed star burned so hot, the odor of burnt flesh singed my nose. “Perhaps you need to learn this lesson the hard way. If you—”

His threat cut short, garbled among a celebratory howl as Doriel and Vexes collided into us, sending me sprawling on my back and knocking Ophiucae and his gryvern through the air. Doriel speared a bolt of electric energy into the enemy gryvern’s hide, and it tumbled to the ground with a wounded shriek.

“By the Flames,” I gasped, crawling backward. “Doriel, he’s going tokillyou.”

At the desperate pace they fled, they were well aware. Doriel raced from the city at impressive speed, helped by the two Descended seated behind them and casting magic at their back.

Ophiucae roared and mounted his wounded gryvern. He pressed a hand to its neck, a pale light glowing beneath his palm. The creature staggered to its feet and sprang into the air, a predatory glare mirrored on man and beast.

For a moment, I was paralyzed with equal parts excitement and horror. And then—relief. The plan was working. The pressure of Ophiucae’s aura had already begun to ease. If Doriel could keep up the chase, we stood a chance.

But if they couldn’t...

If this became Doriel’s final sacrifice, I’d have to make it count.

I rushed back into the city, aiming the black blade at every shielded mortal I could find. It was getting harder and harder to remember to pull my blows. Perhaps if I were smarter, colder, more ruthless, I would have killed them all.

But these were still my people. Vance had poisoned their minds, and Ophiucae had weaponized that hate for his vengeance. These mortals were not my real enemy, and I had to hold out hope some part of them could be saved.

Between blows, my eyes combed for my missing Prince. My heart leapt at every glimpse of black hair or olive skin, only to plunge when there were no blue-grey eyes to be found.

I was so distracted by my growing unease that I nearly caught a blade as it swiped past my arm. I hissed and lunged toward its wielder—then froze.

---