Page 43 of Fire & Ice

Ice flowed through my veins and froze me in place as my memories unlocked themselves. A sharp pain shot through my body, like my soul was being ripped apart. I gasped, unable to move away from Sara's embrace. The pain seemed to last an eternity before it finally began to recede, leaving behind an ache deep in the pit of my stomach.

Everything that I'd felt in my study, everything I'd done, rushed back to me at that moment. Now there was no pretense, no illusion, nothing clouding my vision or emotions. My heart was unshackled from Sara's magical choke-hold.

I looked up at her as she stared at me on my knees. She was beautiful, but it was hollow, sinister, selfish beauty, capable of inspiring nothing but mistrust and unease.

"What did you do?" I asked softly, not expecting an answer.

Sara arched an eyebrow, "Come here," she beckoned.

I felt her power flow over me, felt its magical undercurrent prodding and searching for something in my mind to latch onto too and my fangs dropped in revulsion. But I didn't move off of my knees.

Sara's eyes darkened, her vines starting to slither around. "Beau!"

I remained in place for a beat, before rising, and she smirked, until instead of stepping toward her I backed away a step, my heart racing despite feeling like one of her vines had it caught in its grip. Sara stomped her feet, before lashing out with her vines, to wrap them around my wrist.

"No!" I pulled and twisted her vines before my other clawed hand shredded them. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Sara laughed hysterically, drawing me to a standstill.

Again, her gift surged, vines wrestled, and I shot out my own gift, freezing them and turning them cold and worthless.

"Fine! Prince Beau wants to know what I want. You Beau! I want you!" Sara purred before she propelled herself forward, plunging a silver dagger directly into my chest. "And if I can't have you.... Tempest never will!"

Stunned, I felt the blade cutting through my shirt and sinking into my body. It was cold agony. I looked down in shock to see the blade protruding from my body, dark blood starting to run across the hilt before dripping down on the floor beneath me.

I stumbled back, gasping for air as the pain ripped through my chest. My mind reeled with disbelief as I stared at Sara, who was now smirking wickedly. I couldn't believe that she had actually plunged a dagger into me, and all because of her obsession with me.

"You blood-addled bitch," I growled through clenched teeth. I clutched at the hilt of the dagger, writhing in pain as I pulled it out of my chest. My breathing was ragged and sweat beaded on my skin as I staggered away from Sara, dark blood dripping from the weapon in my hand.

Suddenly, the door flew open with a loud crash. I spun around, my eyes widening in surprise as Gabriel and Marcus rushed in, swords drawn and ready for battle.

"Beau!" Gabriel shouted, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on me. "Are you alright?"

Marcus stepped forward and scanned my form with a critical eye. His gaze lingered on the bloodstain seeping from the wound on my chest before he spoke, his voice calm but determined. "What happened here?"

I shook my head slowly, unable to find the words to explain what had occurred here tonight. Gabriel sighed heavily before standing up and turning to face me again, his expression unreadable.

Sara let out an enraged screech and lunged forward, vines snaking around her arms as she prepared to launch her attack, but Gabriel was faster. He grabbed her by the throat and yanked her back.

"Where is Tempest?" I asked softly, feeling a wave of dread wash over me as Gabriel hesitated before answering. "She's with Charlie," he said quietly, looking away from me.

My heart sank as I realized that Sara had been telling the truth.

"You will never get Tempest back," she spat out defiantly, releasing one final vine that crackled like a whip as it darted towards me. But before it could reach me, I reacted instinctively, launching myself at Sara and plunging my fangs into her neck without mercy.

As I drank deeply from Sara's neck, I could feel her power surging through me, a dark, twisted energy that made me feel invincible. But it was fleeting, and as I pulled away, I could feel the emptiness inside me growing more profound.

Gabriel and Marcus watched me warily, their swords still at the ready, but I ignored them, my attention focused solely on Sara. She lay motionless on the ground, her eyes staring up at me in shock and disbelief. I plunged the dagger into her chest without mercy and watched as her remaining lifeblood drained onto the floor below us in a trickle of crimson red. Finally lifeless, she disintegrated beneath me.

I could feel the darkness receding, replaced by a sense of overwhelming guilt and shame. What had I done? I had betrayed my mated. I couldn't feel her.

Chapter 43

Beau

We hurried back to the palace, my heart heavy with worry for Tempest and dread for what was to come. We arrived to find a flurry of activity, fragiles scurrying about in preparation for the arrival of the king and queen. My parents had been alerted by Marcus's report and were on their way to assess the situation in person.

Marcus and Gabriel took up positions outside the throne room doors, steeling themselves for what was ahead. I waited in silence, my hands clenched tightly at my sides.

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