Page 66 of A Reign of Malice
And just when I was beginning to think this wasn’t so bad, it becomes the nightmare Aurora warned us about.
Theo and Estee scream. A raw, agonized sound, not of the living but of something dragged back through the veil of death itself.
The floor quakes beneath them, more cracks form beneath the table, spider-webbing outward as if the entire god realm is resisting what’s happening.
Isla shrieks, reaching for her sister, but Sloane and I lunge forward, grabbing both her and Asher, holding them back.
“Don’t let them go!” Aurora barks, sweat glistening on her brow.
“Let me hold my mate,” Asher demands, his body coiled with tension.
I look at his face, searching for his control. I don’t know this man, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see the agony pulsing through him as he watches his mate fall apart, knowing there’s nothing he can do to stop what pains her.
Without needing to think twice, I release him as Sloane carefully passes Isla over to him.
Her breath is ragged, her body thrashing against his hold while the screams continue, louder by the second. “Please forgive me, Estee. I can’t lose you yet.”
Isla’s eyes spill over with more tears as we all stand there, helpless to do anything other than watch. Minutes pass, and when the torturous sounds finally cease, I think the worst is over, but then the bodies begin to smoke, their skin darkening.
This time, it takes all three of us to hold Isla back as she roars. “What are you doing to them?”
Aurora, of course, doesn’t answer. Nor does Elyn. If I didn’t believe we could all die, I’d help Isla kill this goddess, but before I can further wonder if it might be worth it, the power thrumming through the room eases.
The four of us watch, my chest tightening with anticipation as I hold Sloane’s hand, hoping like hell this will work.
First, Theo’s back arches, his lips parting on a ragged, soundless gasp, his fingers twitching above the sheets.
Estee’s body shudders violently, her chest rising too quickly, too erratically, as if her lungs aren’t sure how to breathe again.
Then everything stops.
The energy collapses inward, slamming back into their bodies in a final burst of gold and violet light. The hum fades. The trembling walls still and cracks in the floors fade.
Silence.
A long, endless silence.
Then…
A single inhale.
A ragged, gasping breath, followed by a second one.
Theo’s fingers curl, his chest rising and falling quickly.
Estee’s eyes snap open.
The room erupts.
Isla breaks free, and this time none of us try to stop her when she launches herself forward. Asher moves with her, nearly colliding with the table as they reach for their family.
Estee blinks rapidly, her expression dazed, confused. “I—” Her voice is hoarse, barely there.
Theo groans, head lolling to the side.
Aurora staggers backward, her glow dimming.
Elyn catches her, pressing a steadying hand to the goddess’s back. “It’s done.”
