Page 155 of Of Blood & Stone

“It’s not for me,” he smiled, pointing to Sylzenya, “it’s for her.”

Her stomach dropped.

“You saidyouwanted to duel me,” Elnok retorted.

“And you will, through her.” Distrathrus grinned wider. “Sylzenya, take the sword.”

Sylzenya tried fighting against it, but she was no longer her own, only her thoughts and her pain stayed with her. The barrier didn’t just stand between her and her power any longer—it prevented any connection withherself. It wasn’t so much a barrier, but a large endless pool, and she was drowning in it.

Power and pain rushed up her arm as she took the sword, its cold hilt like ice in her hand.

“Very good, Sylzenya,” Distrathrus said as he approached her, “You see, the closer you are to my heart—my beautiful pieceof flesh resting atop the orodyte pedestal—the more effectively I can control you. A little secret I purposely kept from my sister.” He paused, stroking a piece of hair behind her ear, “Now, let’s show Elnok why you’remine.”

Chapter 37

Sacrifice

Sylzenya’s hands moved without her wishing it, her body stolen from her. Perhaps it’d never been hers to begin with, being born in a kingdom where she would be destined to be given to Aretta’s temple.

Given to Distrathrus.

It all felt strangely poetic, the way she gripped the cold, sword’s hilt in her hand instead of dirt caught underneath her nails. A strange mockery of her life that the person who hadn’t sought to control her, hadn’t asked anything more of her besides to be who she was, failures and all, now stood across from her with a glowing sword in his hand. Sweat beaded down his face, shouting at Distrathrus that he refused to fight her.

But Elnok was going to finally learn what she always knew to be true: Distrathrus—the High One—played by his own rules. There would be no stopping him.

Aretta’s vision had been wrong.

Distrathrus’ laugh echoed. “If you wish to kill me, Elnok Rogdul, then you’ll have to start with her.”

“Coward,” Elnok shouted, “Too afraid to fight your own battles, god of chaos?”

There was no time to prepare herself for what happened next. Pain shot through her legs as she sprinted forward, sword aimed for Elnok’s chest as she lunged for him. But Elnok was a far more skilled swordsman than her and Distrathrus.

He dodged her attack, but he didn’t counter.

“Syl, you need to snap out of it,” Elnok begged.

Body surging with power, she lunged again, this time for his neck. He parried, sliding a foot behind him as he caught her weight. Yellow light clashed as he spun under her sword, grabbing her shoulder from behind.

Sylzenya didn’t miss the growl reverberating through Distrathrus. She could feel it in her veins, the grip of Distrathrus’ blood turning into ice; realization thrummed through her.

His true form was exposed, and Elnok was proving more deadly than he’d thought.

He was afraid.

Her lips finally undid themselves. “I need you to hurt me. Once you do, use the sword to kill his heart.”

“No.You can stop this,” Elnok said.

Before she could argue, her mouth sealed itself again. She gripped his wrist, and in one smooth movement, she whipped him over her shoulder. Elnok grunted, stone cracking underneath the force of his body. Blood ran down his arm, her nails biting into his skin.

Elnok spun, an outstretched leg colliding with both of hers. She tumbled, metal scratching stone as her sword clattered to the floor. Elnok jumped on top of her, gripping both her arms as he pinned her to the ground.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he panted, “so you better get your act together and regain control from this weakling of a god.”

Hot fire stoked in her chest as she pushed against him, the anger coming from elsewhere—from Distrathrus.

But Elnok held her fast.

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