Page 196 of Gift from the Source
It’ll make me snap.
“Willow, Willow, Willow,” my name thunders from the Summum-Master’s mouth and my attention snaps to him.
The echo causes any creature in what’s left of the forest to flee and the hair on the back of my neck stands with their petrified squawks.
His voice cracks me across the chest like a whip, but I swallow it down.
I look at my brother. Our conversation the night before flashes through our minds.
He slowly crosses the few feet from me and gently grips my hand while holding my eyes the entire time.
“Call your magic to your fingers. Command the wordspeakwhile you double tap your throat. Careful not to slice your own neck with these claws, little dragon.”
His small smile is forced like it’s paining him to give me these instructions. I return it, though, and wiggle my hand, forcing my deadly daggers back into fingernails.
I face back forward as he steps away from me and do as he just said. The tingling that races down my throat makes me want to cough, but I hold it in.
“Malvolio Choice.” My voice slices through the anticipating silence and I watch as he bristles. It surprises me that he’s surprised.
What did he think I’d call him? Grandfather?
“You do not have the privilege to speak that name.”
Although it carries, it’s whispered darkly.
“You aren’t one to speak on privileges. You lost all those when you betrayed your people, your realm, and your creator.”
“We are past the point of this discussion, granddaughter. I have tried many times now to be fair with you. You continue to push me and this time you’ve gone far enough.”
The mania that colored his tone in my vision slips through just a little. I wish I could find pleasure in the way Donald and Dr. Drin both flinch away, but I can’t. If they are that fearful of him right now, then I should be as well.
“This will be my last compromise, WillowChoice. If you are so very concerned with these people, this realm, or your trifling creator, hand yourself over. Save my people from bloodshed and I will make the deaths of those you care for quick and painless. The last offer I gave you will still stand. I will spare the dragon’s and the Shadow Walker’s lives and they will join Donald’s Nexus. My creature and his treasure will be returned to me, as will my relic. And for you, dear granddaughter, I will spare you. You will be chained to my throne at my feet for all of eternity.”
My ears ring as the laughs of the twelve surrounding him echo to me. I watch with narrowed eyes as Silvia makes her way down the line and places herself in the middle of Donald and Claven.
Her new Nexus members.
Disgusting.
She only needs two more…
I’ll be fucking damned.
With a deep breath, I suck in all the air separating us.
“Today will be your last day on this realm, Malvolio Choice, and for any who truly follow you. This, I command.”
Blood drips down my hand from the punctured marks of my claws. Each drop sends a wave of power flowing across the land. It whips through their army.
Marking each one of them.
“Bring me my granddaughter,” he bellows, making the earth crack between his legs.
His army rises like a tsunami, running past the thirteen.
Tillman raises his fist in the air and my family follows his lead.
“For Elementra,” he thunders.
