Page 122 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“You won’t. Call your flames.”
I breathe deep, fighting another retch as I focus on pooling the last of my power into my chest. My heart thunders in my ears and my body protests the fishy putridity I’m filling it with, but this is it, our final stand. I can destroy her with my magic.
“Take strength,” Jasper says, his opal magic throbbing in time with the beating of my heart. We’re in sync.
I draw breath again, but with him, and feel the immensity of his love for me. It’s right there at my back, giving me everything I need. I can do this.
“I’m ready,” I shout, hoping the monster whose mouth we’re in can hear me.
The teeth in front of us open and I wince my eyes at the minimal light that spills in. Darkness follows, Ashai’s cloud of angry magic thrashing at the face of the creature concealing us.
Jasper cries out behind me, but there’s nothing I can do to contain the fire. It’s lapping at my skin, burning my dress. I want her dead so badly I’d die for it. I’d kill for it. For my people to be free…
The fire in my chest builds to a pinnacle I can no longer control.
“Crawl back to hell!”
Blue flames tear open my chest. Our joined hands channel my flames into a compressed beam, and fire dashes the darkness beyond. Little explosions detonate like fireworks all around us beyond the teeth.
Ashai wails in agony as our light consumes her. But the fire in my chest is growing too great.
“Jasper,” I whimper, knowing he’s behind me. Knowing he’s being devoured by the flames just like me.
“I’m here, sunshine,” he says in a strained voice.
“I can’t.”
“You are.”
My vision is hazy with tears. “I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to die.”
“You won’t,” he says, holding me tighter and nuzzling my neck.
The flames lick our arms and singe them black. It hurts. But there’s no stopping it. The magic pours out of us, mine fueled by his. We’re so strong together.
She really wouldn’t stand a chance.
Bitch.
I hope she fucking…
Feels…
This…
Chapter thirty-seven
Jasper
My body is aflame with her magic, but it’s bearable knowing I love her. Reina goes slack in my arms and her fire gutters. When the flames die out, the darkness is nothing more than ash. The moons slide in front of our sun, casting the world in a blood-red glow.
Purple magic twists around our bodies and the aching char of my flesh eases a measure. I’m not fully healed, and neither is Reina, but we’re serviceable.
Al’shan’hai’goilowers his head to the stones, and pushes his tongue out, depositing us onto the crumbled roof of the palace.
“Thank you,” I whisper with my head bowed.
His violet eyes lock on me as his massive maw draws away. “Do not thank me yet, little one. Fate has much in store for you. I merely helped along the way.”
