Page 157 of The Moon's Fury
Ruslayn was still taunting Zarian, but she drowned him out, focusing on her rage, letting it consume her thoughts, her heart.
Her entire being.
She prayed to the moon, to the sun, toanythingthat would listen.
Please. Please let me use my powers. Please let us escape this.
Please, let Zarian live. Please.
She called to her light, begging, pleading.
Wake up. Fucking wake up!
Tears pricked her eyes, and she squeezed them tighter. Slowing her breaths to calm the racing of her heart, she tried again, desperately searching for a flicker of light.
But it was no use.
Where her power had flowed like a raging river in her veins, there was only dried-up dust.
Please, Daughter. Don’t leave me bereft. Not now.
A heartbeat.
Two, then three beats.
There was no answer.
61
“Ruslayn,please.”Zarian’svoicewas quiet. Desperate. “I’m begging you. Don’t do this. I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?” the malevolent, hateful man behind her asked.
“Anything.”
“Would you take her place?”
Layna’s eyes snapped open.
Her heart protested, afraid to hear his next words.
“Yes.”
Her panicked gaze shot to his, and he gave a barely imperceptible shake of his head.
Don’t say anything. Don’t give him anything else he can use.
Ruslayn was silent, mulling over Zarian’s offer.
“Please.Please,Ruslayn. Don’t hurt her. I’ll get on my knees and beg. Just let her go.”
Something broke inside her at the sound of Zarian’s hoarse, desperate voice. Blistering fury—rage that had been simmering since this vile man accused her of cowering—boiled within her.
He had made her mighty lionbeg.
For this, she would not let him live.
Fuck the Daughter. She was going to make him fearher.
