Page 84 of Court of Heathens

Something inside me cracks and breaks, and my eyes turn to the gods.

With a roar, I fling my magic at them. “No!” Phrixius screams, and he appears before me, taking the blow. My eyes widen as he flies through the air, a million cuts appearing all over him.

The last shard of my soul breaks as I stare into his hard eyes as he accepts the hatred meant for the other gods. Even now, he’s protecting me, knowing what I have become.

Everything else is gone.

I feel nothing but hate.

“Freya,” Phrixius whispers. “Come back to me.”

“Too late, god.” The necromancer behind me coughs. “It was always going to be this way.” His laughter reaches me once more as I turn to see him lying on his side, his lips tilted up. “This was alwayshow it was supposed to end, Freya. Now do it. Do what we could not. Destroy them. This world is yours, light eater. Embrace it. It is too late to fight now. The gods have taken what was left of your soul and those who helped control it. All that is left is evil, just like me. Welcome home, necromancer. Welcome to your future, our queen.”

I look at the gods for a moment, and with a snap of my fingers, I rip apart his body without even looking. “You have taken what is mine!” I call. “Return them or end up like him.”

“Freya, please,” Phrixius says, heading my way, panting and still bleeding. His glow lessens, as if I stole his magic.

“Necromancer, you are to be sentenced for your crimes.” Their voices come as one as they turn their attention to me.

My eyes go back to the earth and the scarred marks where my demon and creature were. Without them, I am nothing. My soul is gone.

Without even meaning to, the gods just stole the last of my humanity.

I laugh. All this resistance, and this is how it ends. Gods, I was a fool. My laughter tumbles out, louder and louder, until power flows into me, trying to force me to submit to their wills.

He was right. I understand his willingness to give up this world for the one you love.

Fuck this world and fuck the gods.

They will all pay.

I lift my hands, ready to do just that, when their combined magic hits me. I scream in agony as it tears through me, ripping me to shreds. Their power floods me, obscuring my own and stealing my control over it. I’m surprised I’m not dead as I fall to my knees on the edge of the roof.

“Stop this!” Phrixius calls to them. “Stop it!”

Golden shackles appear around my wrists. They glow and start to burn, and I scream as they block everything, making me numb and weak.

I meet his panicked gaze as he stops before me, turning to face them. “Give me time to explain. Just stop.”

“Phrixius,” I murmur, and he glances at me over his shoulder.

“Shh, I’ve got this, Freya. I will keep you safe, just hold on.” I search his desperate eyes, and I realise he will. He’ll stand against the gods for me.

I cannot let that happen. They will kill him too.

The necromancer was wrong.

This is not destined. We make our destiny, and I choose him. I choose to save him. I choose to save whatever is left of the Freya he fell in love with.

“I love you,” I tell him as I throw myself forward.

I do not scream as I fall. The wind roars around me as I plummet towards the ground to stop this once and for all. My death will accomplish that. This is the only way.

I turn with the force of the wind, my hands chained in front of me as Phrixius dives towards me, his mouth open in a scream of denial, but we both know he will not be fast enough.

Surprisingly, peace fills me. I have been fighting for so long, and I am ready to rest.

I do not close my eyes as I hit, ensuring he is the last thing I see in this world.

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