Page 62 of Veiled Fate
“With the power of the stone and another shard of you, he would be unstoppable,” I surmised. “Nobody would ever be able to kill him, would they?”
“Unlikely, no,” Fate concurred.
“Then help me!” I almost shouted in frustration. “Like you did back at the inn. We could have taken him already, defeated him, if you had just come to my aid as I had asked. Then this wouldn’t be an issue. Give me a fighting chance!”
“It doesn’t work that way,” Fate said.
Was that a hint of regret I detected?
“Howdoesit work, then? Because I didn’t ask for help at the inn.”
“They simply are or are not. I am little more than an embodiment of that. Not the arbiter. If you want it, Jada Saunders,then make it so.”
The mountainside and the glowing green woman disappeared, and just like that, I was back in Lycaonus’ jaws, agony hammering into my mind like hot spikes of iron. I screamed.
Make it so? Fine.
Grabbing the pain, the blinding hurt, and the torturing anguish, I balled it all up in my mind and flung it at the Alpha like it was physical. I pictured it exploding across his snout and latching on like tiny claws, each one drilling deep into him with its—
Lycaonus yanked his head away, taking most of my throat with it as he howled in pain, slamming both paws to his head as if that would make a difference.
Blood swiftly pooled under me as I lay on the ground, watching Lycaonus howl, hopping around as invisible pain stabbed its claws into him.
Make it so, Jada.
Eyes narrowing to slits, I simplycommandedthe wound on my jaw to heal. I willed it to stop bleeding, for torn flesh to be made whole again, and to stitch itself back together.
“Stop her!” one of the guards shouted, the paralysis of the situation wearing off as I got back on my paws.
The guards jumped at me, one swinging a sword, the other lunging with a spear to impale me.
With a fierce howl, I sent another wave of energy out of my body, flinging it at the guards. An explosion of jade light washed over them, tossing them back. Almost immediately, the screams began.
When my vision recovered, I immediately saw why. Not only had the energy slammed into the guards physically, but it hadmeltedtheir armor, welding it to the guards' skin like some sickening nightmare.
Nearby, Lycaonus was finally gathering himself. He had shifted back to his human form and was getting to his feet, only wincing occasionally.
“Neat trick,” he growled.
But he kept his distance. I growled at him. No words, just a threat.
“You won’t be safe,” he said plainly. “No matter where you go. I and the others, we will hunt you down and rip this power from you. We will kill everyone around you and everyone aroundthem. No one will help you. They will fear you and their deaths will be onyourhands.”
I snarled loudly.
He flinched.
It wasn’t much, a tightening of his jaws, an extra crease at the corners of his eyes. But he flinched. That told me everything I needed to know about his posturing and where we both stood.
I wanted to go for him, to tear his throat out in retaliation for all the death he’d caused, all the pain he’d inflicted. But I didn’t. It would only slow him down, and in the end, it would change nothing. An empty, petty gesture. No, I would have to find a way to kill him for good. That was my quest now.
I bared my teeth, one last rumble escaping from my throat. The intent was clear.
I’ll be seeing you.
Before Lycaonus could reply, I turned and raced after the barge and Clive. I’d already done far more than I expected. If the power faded, I didn’t want to be caught.
So, I fled.
