Page 86 of The War of Wings
I opened my mouth to shout a warning to the mother and child behind me, but before I could get a single word out, the drivas’ body slammed into the ground in front of us, crushing the few demons who’d been close by. Two inches closer and we would’ve been pinned to the damn wall.
The little girl shrieked, her mother shushing through sobs. “Stay here, okay?” I called to them. With the driva’s body just inches from their crouched forms, they were relatively protected. “This will be over soon.” Though it was an effort to convince myself of the same thing as I shuffled between the wall and the driva. I cast one last glance at them, praying the stranger and her daughter would be okay.
Bodies littered the street. People of Araqina. Men. Women. Children. I fought the bile that rose in my throat, my eyes stinging as I stared at the dozens of lifeless forms. Saints fucking help us.
But suddenly, it all stopped.
The Occulti vanished into thin air. Even the demons and driva that had fallen. Only four drivas circled overhead now. It was all just…gone.
“What the fuck?” I whispered to myself, trudging on and turning that final corner. “Petra.” She couldn’t have heard me where she stood at the end of the street, but she must’ve felt my stare, because slowly, she turned. Her mouth was set in a thin line, a familiar determination etching her features. Her brows were furrowed, her jaw square. But her eyes…
Pain lanced through me at what I saw staring back at me. Hopelessness. Desperation.
I sprinted forward, reaching her just in time as she collapsed. “I have you,” I whispered. “It’s okay. I have you.” I was careful not to touch her hands, not to let them brush against anything. The blisters on her palms were angry.
Her eyes searched mine for one final second before they fluttered closed. The skies cleared of clouds, the stars suddenly blinking down at us. With her limp body held tight to my chest,I lowered myself to my knees in the street, the same way I had after her house in Inkwell had caught fire. Her breathing evened out, her features relaxing as consciousness left her body.
A part of me relaxed then, too, at seeing her look so peaceful. I’d never known someone could be so beautiful while they slept.
Malosym hadn’t been anywhere near full power, and how many people had we lost? How many soldiers? How many civilians? How many innocent fucking people died screaming and terrified?
I placed a kiss against the tangles in Petra’s hair, trying to fight off the other side of the truth that was calling my attention. I didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to consider there was any truth to the thought. But I couldn’t deny it, couldn’t push it away.
I couldn’t ignore the fact that even though every single part of me believed in Petra right down to the marrow of my fucking bones, I was afraid she wasn’t strong enough. Even with the army she’d constructed. Even with the support of every kingdom. Even with her powers. I was afraid it just wasn’t enough.
Chapter 34
Petra
I’d almost had him. Malosym had been here in Araqina. I’d seen the blue light. Adorex had confirmed it. I’dfelthim, the moment I stepped out onto the street. He’d been here, and I never even managed to lay eyes on him. I let him go.
Fuck.
“We should’ve burned it then.”
Katia’s words were just audible over the furious chitters and hisses as I opened my eyes to the Darkness Beyond. I didn’t want to move, didn’t want to reveal I was here. They’d kept the truth from me, hidden the fact that I had the power to end all of this.
“We cannot relive the past, Katia.”
“What else is there to do here, Rhedros?” she snapped, more venom in her voice than I’d ever heard. The noises of the Occulti picked up for a moment, and when Katia spoke again,it was quieter, more measured. “We could’ve saved her all of this pain had we just burned the world when she was born.”
“And it would’ve taken away her chance at life.”
“What kind of life is one that will end at the hands of Malosym? It would’ve been a kindness. It would’ve been a mercy, Rhedros.”
“Her life will not end at the hands of Malosym. Maybe Noros will convince her to take the Sanguilite’s path. Build her own realm,” Rhedros continued. I winced as an Occulti passed by far too close and hoped it wouldn’t somehow spot my invisible form.
“She won’t,” Katia answered, anger and sorrow hardening her tone. “You know her soul. She won’t do it. She’s too much like me. I should’ve fucking killed him when I had the chance.”
“But you didn’t. Petra may be like you, but you arenothinglike him.”
I wanted to cover my ears. I didn’t want to hear this conversation. What good would it do me to hear of their regrets?
Katia sounded like she was breathing through gritted teeth. “You know how it’s going to end.”
“I do, darling.”
They fell silent for a beat. “H-How did it come to this?” Katia finally whispered, the words choked.
