Page 143 of Fated In Forever
Ravok only thought he commanded the chaos.
In truth, this power was far beyond him, and always had been. But his bumbling ritual was close to ripping open a passageway between this world and the Underworld, and once that happened, there was nothing that could close that door.
Not even me.
My Maker had gone mad.
“God of everything…who will stop me…” he ranted, sweat pouring down his face as he underwent some sort of metamorphosis, his skin changing, the reek of rot growing ever stronger, as he expended more and more magic. He was decaying from the inside, from where Vicious stabbed him with the iron blade, his corrupted flesh too damaged to regenerate, his organs failing, from the smell.
But he was still drawing power from somewhere, still on his feet, and still dangerous.
I warned Blake to get Vicious out of here, because once we both went through the portal, this entire mountain would collapse. But they were still there, outside the room, staring at Ravok’s transformation like they couldn’t look away.
Go, I told him again.Fucking just go.
The liquid in the pool turned impossibly black, likestaring into the void between stars. The portal behind Ravok pulsed with renewed vigor, shadows snaking out, ready to wrap themselves around Ravok and drag him in.
I would follow, shedding my mortal form, and then…then we would battle.
I would have the advantage, as far as the terrain. My feet already used to the cutting obsidian shards, the slippery sands.I could lure him to the river and drown him, I could…
The temperature in the chamber plummeted, the stone walls cracking as the gateway tore open like a wound in reality itself. Darkness poured through—along with more of those reaching shadows, snaking through the air toward my Maker, who opened his arms, ready to welcome his destiny.
I braced myself, ready to leap.
“It is as I foresaw,” Ravok threw back his head with an unhinged laugh, his form beginning to shimmer as more power flowed into him. “Everything I was promised is mine.” His dark gaze fell on me.
“And you will be the first to feel my fist. You will never…”
But his words cut off, those reaching shadows shifting, changing direction.
Faster than I could see, they shot straight past Ravok—toward me.
“Malachi.” Evangeline's scream echoed with fear as tentacles of pure darkness wrapped around my arms, my legs, my throat, with inexorable strength.
I understood then, what this was. The realm was calling in its debts, rubber stamping my short stay, now that Vicious was healed. My oath—the second one I’d ever sworn—was snatching me away from her, when she needed me most.
Leaving her at Ravok’s mercy.
And he would be merciless, he would make her andeveryone else I cared about pay for my mistakes, with their lives.
“What is this?” Ravok demanded, triumph turning to confusion as the shadows ignored him completely, tightening around me painfully, lifting me off the floor.
“No,” Vicious launched herself toward me, her magic blazing, but Blake caught her around the waist, pulled her back, pinning her to the wall with his considerable weight. His eyes met mine, and with a nod, a promise was sealed between us.
He’d keep her safe, then get her out.
I looked as long as I could, memorizing every detail of her face as the darkness dragged me inexorably toward the portal. Her eyes were wide with desperation, hands reaching, as if she could somehow bridge the distance between us through sheer force of will.
I love you, I told her.Remember I will always be with you. Think of me, when you?—
The shadows yanked me through the portal with violent suddenness. The last thing I saw was Evangeline's face, twisted with anguish, before the gateway snapped shut behind me with the finality of a tomb sealing.
Then I was falling through darkness absolute, through realms of shadow and flame that I had once called home.
But this time…this time everything was different.
This time, I’d left my mate at the mercy of a monster.
