Page 79 of Petals for Deadly Power

“I offer my own death, to be claimed when Terrhan peace is ensured.”

Never mind that it had been precisely the Core Cardinal who had told her she’d die up to five times. Never mind that it seemed it was precisely this goddess who had been more interested in Hope surviving and coming out alive.

The red eyes staring at her narrowed. “A life for a life. I accept your price.”

Hope’s eyes widened; a part of her disbelieving how easy it had been. It was almost as if the Core Cardinal had already known what her answer would be when she asked for Ciaran’s life. As if the goddess knew she’d rather have a forbidden love than lose the man she had fallen in love with.

The Core Cardinal circled the floating feather with her fingers. The crystal melted, its shape shifting as it became a liquefied, living mass of Cardinal-red magic.

It was like nothing she had ever seen. The waves emanating from this power were deadly, devastating, and dominant. They were incomparable and unmatched.

The Core Cardinal guided it to Hope’s mouth. “You may drink your Fifth Power.”

She wouldn’t have been surprised if the touch of such substance killed her instantly, but an irrational part of her trusted the goddess who had always seemed to protect her.

The Fifth Power burned her throat with electricity, ice, and fire. She couldn’t scream in pain as she swallowed the mass of magic, the air not finding the way out of her lungs while this new power took over her whole body, changing her—reforging her.

She’d never know how long it took for the transformation to happen, but when she lifted her head and removed the hands from her throat, she felt it.

In her blood, there were no longer four powers to access. From her panom mark at the back of her neck, she could not only pull the four petals to Give, Take, Harm, and Heal.

She could also now pull the Core, the unification of all powers, to use the Fifth.

50

Lenna

Hopelookedthesame,and yet the power emanating from her every pore was not that different from the omnipotence of the Cardinals themselves.

This type of magic could end worlds and create new ones, and now, the bastard daughter of the Organ Mandor, who he had discarded and abandoned as a newborn, who was the only living female with Core panom blood—owned it now.

There were few words to describe the awe in Lenna’s heart at the determination, stubbornness, and perseverance of the woman in front of her, the woman blessed with the Fifth Power.

There were even fewer words to describe how fucking annoying she found the loud, slow claps of the East Cardinal resonating in the chamber.

“Such generosity, Core, yet alas,disappointinglyuncomplicated for your girl.” The disgust of the Harming goddess was palpable in her spiteful words and the hateful stare towards the Core Cardinal. “I don’t think I can cope with the pretense that this was not long-planned by your secret lover and yourself, my dear.”

The Core Cardinal narrowed her red eyes, and the sight was terrifying. “We must not interfere with the writings of fate, sister, nor forget the unwavering, unified front we represent.”

The East Cardinal scoffed, the scars on her face crunching together as she grinned. “But of course, why would I wish to interfere with the intricate affairs between you and His Darkness?”

“You ought not to speak of that which lies beyond your understanding, East.”

The East goddess curled her upper lip, her white teeth splashed with what looked like dry drops of blood exposed. “I long to leave this putrid pit where you two copulate, and the sooner, the better.” Her red stare turned from her sister to Jake, who—Fifth damn him five times—wore a side smile full of amusement and not enough wariness to deal with the hatred of such a being. “Jake Coralt, successful striver of the Harming ordeal. Do you present your feather to unveil the fate of your gamble?”

“Yours to take. Say your price.”

The silence that followed as the East Cardinal examined him as if she could read his mind sent goosebumps all over Lenna’s thighs. She didn’t like this goddess one fucking bit.

“I will not demand one price, but two.” She lifted a hand up as the Core Cardinal opened her mouth. “My opportunity to grant the Fifth, my gamble, thereforemyrules.”

The silver in his eyes glittered as he narrowed them. “Say your prices.”

The East Cardinal stood from her throne and paced until her eyes met his. “I like you, Jake Coralt.” Her fingers caressed his cheek, leaving an open, bleeding wound behind. He didn’t even flinch.

Do not move, Jake whispered in Lenna’s mind.It’s all a game.

How was he worried aboutherand not about the abusive creature touchinghim? Lenna’s nostrils flared, her jaw aching from clenching it so hard, the inner side of her cheek bleeding to keep from jumping and attempting to rip her throat and wings at once.

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