Page 164 of Of Blood & Stone

Elnok had been right. She would never be a hero, but perhaps, she could cease being a monster.

She’d give back everything her and her people had stolen.

A harsh gust of wind whipped around her, so powerful it could topple ancient trees. Her fingers dug into the soft beating flesh, sending the orodyte serum out of Distrathrus’ heart and back where it came from.

Into all of Druenia.

She screamed, the pain no longer in her back but in her heart—ripping and tearing as she pushed harder than ever before. Light blinded her as golden power spiraled out of her, into the air, into the earth, and around her body.

Then, she thought of Distrathrus. The control he had had over her, the way he had used her, abused her—her and all her people.

She allowed herself to feel the emotions for what they were.

Rage and sorrow. Betrayal and joy. Dread and freedom.

Roots of her willow climbed down to the altar, surrounding her, spearing Distrathrus’ heart. More orodyte serum spilled from it, her power continuously pushing it back into the earth.

Distrathrus’ screech reverberated through her ears, his sharp nails clawing at her skin. Her willow roots formed a cage of branches, separating her from Distrathrus.

From everyone.

Suddenly, sharp pain shot through her chest. She didn’t stop. Another shot of pain ripped through her leg, her torso, and into her neck.

“Sylzenya!”Elnok’s familiar voice shouted,“Stop!”

A familiar scent rushed past her nose. Musky earth and worn leather.

He was alive.

She screamed a cry of relief. It didn’t matter how or why Elnok no longer lay in his pool of blood, but she couldn’t stop. This needed to end.

Everything became shadow as the roots closed in on her, crushing her; Distrathrus’ dying heart beating frantically underneath her. The heart’s acrid black blood spilling all over her body, into her mouth as she became flush to the sulfuric scent. Piercing blue eyes flashed through her vision—the gray and white feathered bird from her vision crushed by twigs, its face shifting in and out of focus, melting away until it transformed into something else, something human?—

She looked at a reflection of herself.

Her head became dizzy, her power fading…

Thump.

Thump…

Thump……

Her goddess’ heart beat slowed with hers, dying with her?—

No. That wasn’t right, it didn’tfeelright. This wasn’t her goddess’ heartbeat, but her own. She felt for Aretta’s heartbeat one last time, needing to feel it, hear it…

Thump.

Thump.

All she could hear was her own, and yet, her last remaining power echoed with it.

Realization thrummed with the heartbeat, slow and steady against her chest:

The power she used to receive her vision in the altar room, to escape the Willow Grove with Elnok, to fight in the forest…to kill Distrathrus.

Ever since Aretta’s blood had been seared into her back at her Kreena Rite…

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