Page 52 of Fate and Flame
Slowly, so fucking slowly, the magic began to move as I willed it. If I hadn’t feared it before, I would from now on. The weight of a thousand worlds pressed down on my chest and numbness still moved, creeping up my body while I continued to force the magic until, at last, I was able to open my eyes. Three terrifying faces looked down on me as I lay in the fetal position on the ocean floor. My power had destroyed half the castle.
Fen?
Thank the gods. I’m here, Ara. I’m here. The hydra hasn’t let anyone move. She waits for you.
“Hello, friend. You are well now?” the three melodic voices of the beast asked in unison.
My heart pounded, and it took every ounce of self-restraint to keep the fear from my face. “I am well, I think. If you could just move off me a tiny bit so I can breathe, that would be helpful.”
She jerked, realizing she was crushing me, and slithered back, but only inches.
“My mate,” I coughed. “Please let him come.”
She leaned so uncomfortably close. “There are several menacing males with weapons that look like they want to try to kill me. Which one do you request?”
“The most handsome one.”
“You may come forward,” she said to someone in the crowd.
She shifted only slightly as she let him in. I closed my eyes and coughed again, but when I opened them, Greeve stood above me. I couldn’t help my smile. “The hydra thinks you’re the best-looking male in the room,” I laughed and wheezed.
He didn’t think I was funny at all. The fierce look on his face was only brutal.
“Glad you got my message to take out her wards. Help me up?”
He reached out a hand, and I used it as leverage, pulling my stiff body to stand. Anger radiated from him. He was pissed at me, and I had a feeling that only meant Fen was even angrier.
“All right, let us out,” I told the hydra.She gave me a questionable look, and I patted her. I had no idea how to comfort a sea creature.“I have to deal with these people now, so you have to let us out.”She opened her coiled body and Greeve helped me walk over to the other brooding males and one pissed off female.“Hey guys,” I said tentatively.
“What in the fuck—”
I held up a hand to stop Wren from the ass chewing. “Not now. Later.”
I reached for Fen’s hand, and he let me take it, but he would not meet my eyes.
“Only you would make friends with a hydra, Ara,” Kai said.
Looking around the frozen crowd, I was surprised to see Lichen still standing.“You didn’t kill him?” I asked Fen.
“The world exploded before I could get there,” he bit out.
“Care to take your anger out on him? He’s the one who trapped me, after all.”
Fen’s eyes finally met mine, and he drew his sword. Each of my crew had earrings similar to mine. Leora was still nowhere to be seen, but I had a feeling she had something to do with that.
“Who do you wish us to kill?” the hydra asked, watching me carefully.
“Keep your panties on,” I answered.
Her faces contorted into what I believed was supposed to be smiles, but Wren still moved behind me.
“Lichen,” Fen called. “Where is the antidote?”
My head whipped around so fast I thought I’d injure myself. “It’s true, then? Your father has been poisoned?”
He dipped his chin as he watched Fen. Lichen hadn’t moved.
I wanted so bad to shred that fae into tiny fucking pieces and feed him to the hydra bit by bit. But this was not my kill. This was Fen’s. For the years and years of betrayal. For his mother and maybe even his father.
