Page 219 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

Then, without a warning, it starts again. I clench my teeth as his magic again laces with my bones. Shatters me from the inside, just to create me anew.

Again, I fight him. I try to kick him, to push him. His magic only drives me into the wall once again, his body against mine again. I bite him again, sink my teeth into his throat until I taste blood, my nails shredding his skin as his unholy power eats me from within.

Something in me opens its eyes then. My magic, but no longer. My magic, laced with his, woven together, streaks of silver and black. I can feel it, his magic running along mine, interlaced, melded together, butminenow. I can feel the runes on my wrist, powerful, and my new magic drawing from them.

It surges in answer through my veins, through my blood. Flaring through my fingers right into his chest. Undiluted, silvery light laced with his blackness and lightning. Stronger than ever.A monstrosity.

His eyes widen. He staggers back from me, clenching his teeth, flashing them at me in pain. Then he looks down at my hands stillon his chest, burning away his skin. I can see his ribcage opening, his bones shining through. His beating heart.

The sight almost tears me apart. Makes me sick to my stomach. The expression on his face is even worse.

No anger. No hate. No fury.

No. For a second, I think the corners of his mouth lift into the faintest hint of a smile.

I pull my hands back. Horrified at myself. By what I just did.

I never wanted that.

But just like that, his skin, his bones, everything starts to knit itself back together. Slowly, but healing already.

I won’t have long.

My fingers close around the hilt of the black sword.

With a last glance at him, I run. But not towards the door, but toward the window.

I spread my arms and—

Jump.

Falling, I swallow the pearl Arbor gave me.

70

Melody

Freefall. The ground comes into focus too quickly. My heart, leaping into my throat.Fuck, fuck, fuck.The pearl—it doesn’t work! It was supposed to allow me to fly. Maybe I should have asked how quickly it would work.

I fall and fall. It feels so much like I always imagined it would when I stood on that cliff, those grayish swells waltzing underneath.

I watch the hard rock passing me by in a blur, the stony, unforgiving, desert ground that will be my grave already waiting.

I don’t even blink when something catches me and lifts me three seconds before I collide with the ground.

No, nothingcatchesme.Somethingcatches the wind.

I turn my head and stare at the pair of beautiful, lavender moth wings protruding from my back, shedding sparkling dust every time they move. They beat of their own accord, as if they are sentient.

Not long,Arbor warned me. They won’t last long.

“To the town,” I beg them because I don’t know what else to do. I’ll find a horse and then go north, as Sarynx said. I pray that the spell will last long enough and not run out in the middle of the desert.

The wings beat hard, lifting me up and up in the air, shedding more glittery sparks into the night.

Just then something blots out the blood moon. My head snapsup, and my stomach plummets. Something gargantuan. A…dragon.Above me is adragonwith four horns protruding from his head, an immensely huge, leathery body, and a deadly, black Morningstar as a tail.

Its gleaming golden eyes find me. Then it dives for me with teeth the size of my forearm bared. Terror seizes my throat and my heart lurches.

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