Page 88 of Reign of the Beast

He took his time walking over to me, allowing himself to enjoy his handiwork, wanting to prolong my suffering too by leaving his brutal weapon imbedded in my flesh.

My pulse was pounding.

Sweat was breaking out all over me.

I spluttered, blood spewing from my mouth, down my shirt.

Eyeing my hand, I saw the mark of being struck by an Immortal weapon already taking root, black veinsspreading rapidly over my hand, up my arm. As soon as they reached my heart, I’d be no more.

No, I couldn’t die.

Not like this.

Not yet.

My right hand was hanging limply at my side, the sword buried in my corresponding shoulder taking it out of play, screwing with the nerves.

But there was a temporary way to override that, to transcend biology.

As Draco sauntered over to me, spouting off more reprimands and threats about what he was going to do when I was gone, I let it fade to the wayside, and took advantage of him being distracted by the sound of his own voice, thinking he’d already won without a shadow of a doubt.

I strained like never before to call my power forth.

Come on. Come on!

The familiar warmth surged.

It was coming.

It happened, my green fire sparking within my closed hand, concealed from Draco.

I only had one shot here.

I had to do it right.

Grunting at the effort, I managed to shift my weight enough to see behind me at the Guardians.

Through the crowds of stunned onlookers, I managed to lock eyes with Kalen.

He was the only one of them who I could trust, the only one who saw things the way I did.

“Portal,” I mouthed to him.

I had to get the Guardians out of here. Bricks and mortar could be rebuilt, but lives couldn’t.

He lifted his chin discreetly, then gestured at mybarrier, my green lightning sparking wildly and keeping them protected, but at a price, disabling any of them from being able to ignite their magic. It was the only thing powerful enough to prevent Draco from entering. One conjured with my regular green fire couldn’t hold against him for long.

But that was what had to happen now.

A mass exodus was required and Kalen was the only being strong enough to pull that off.

He could create portals that could transport hundreds of beings in one shot. Not to mention, he resided in the Light Fae Realm, and an off-realm location was the only place safe from Draco. For the time being at least. His focus was on this realm right now and it would be until he’d conquered every square inch of it.

I gave Kalen a nod, letting him know to be prepared to act any moment now.

Taking a beat to shore up what limited strength I had left as the deathly infection wracked my body, I gritted my teeth, then I opened my hand.

I thrust it behind me.

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