Page 80 of Redemption

I’ve seen blood before, but this is different.

A chill creeps into my face and my blood drains, a feeling of unease washing over me as Titus’s other hand wraps around the hilt.

“Titus.” His name slips from my lips like a warning, but before I can even think about what else I was about to say, a silent wind rips through the cave, and a body begins to take form right in the middle of our small group.

I pull my powers around me, and summon a ball of fire in my palm, preparing to launch it at whoever is about to appear.

I suck in a breath at the black hair that takes shape, my mind immediately going to the worst case. Romulus.

Kyros shifts Nelle to stand behind him, already sensing the danger we’re in as the intruder forms.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kallen exclaims, his eyes filled with fury as they lock onto Titus.

I waste no time in placing a shield around us before I launch my attack at him. Of course the ball of fire ricochets off of whatever barrier he’s placed around himself. He shoots me a scathing glare before focusing back on Titus, as though I’m nothing more than an annoying gnat to him.

“I think a better question is what do you think you’re doing?” I demand as I throw a strike of lightning at him. I direct it to sweep over his shield, searching for any weak spots and wrapping him in a web of electricity.

“I’m saving my brother’s life,” he snaps over his shoulder, sending a lightning strike of his own to neutralize mine. “I should’ve known you were going to pull something like this.”

“Just like you knew what Romulus’ plan was this entire time. Don’t play the savior now, brother, it’s not a good look on you,” Titus says with a derisive snort as he narrows his eyes.

“What the hell is going on?” Nelle demands, shouting over Kyros’ shoulder before he moves to hide her once more.

Kallen shifts towards her but before I can even move a muscle, Titus sends a wave of shadows towards Kallen, blocking him from even looking her way.

“Don’t you even look at her,” Titus growls. I expect him to stomp towards his brother, but instead he steps closer to the barrier, placing his bloody hand on the invisible wall. I grimace as my gaze drifts to Maximus, noticing him barely keeping himself sitting upright as he props himself up with his hand.

“Stop!” Kallen starts forward but Titus lifts the dagger, the rubies glimmering off the light in a silent threat. “How could you let him do this?”

My brows knit together as Kallen turns on me with an incredulous glare, like I’m the one who betrayed him.

“I have no idea what’s going on, but you need to leave, Kallen.” I take a step towards him, my shadows swirling around my feet in answer to the threat in his stance. His fists are clenched at his sides, cheeks red as though he’s barely holding himself back from launching towards me.

Fucking bring it.

“I don’t believe that,” Kallen grinds out. “You always seem to have your nose in everything.”

“Leave, Kallen,” Titus snaps, lifting the dagger in warning.

“Come back with me, help me fight against them. They don’t care about you if they’re going to let you do this,” Kallen pleads, turning back to Titus.

Let him do what?

“You still don’t get it, do you Kallen?” Titus shakes his head in pity. “I never agreed with what Romulus did, and I’ll never go back and willingly be a part of his followers again.”

“Then for me.” Kallen takes a tentative step towards him. “Come back for me. I can’t lose you too.”

“You did this Kallen.” Titus sighs in disappointment. “The moment you conspired with Romulus and gave him that spell, you resigned us to this fate.”

“I didn’t know.” Kallen falls to his knees, his arms barely bracing him in time as he hunches over, heaving in deep breaths like he’s trying to stave off a panic attack. “I didn’t know—I didn’t think of the consequences.”

My blood turns to ice in my veins as my gaze flicks between the two of them. There’s something else going on here, something Titus has been keeping from us.

I lock eyes with Kyros across the room, seeing the worry and confusion in his honey-brown depths too. Nelle though—her face is red, her lips curled into a snarl as she glares at the two dark gods.

“What’s the price of this spell, Titus?” I ask, my lips going numb as the words slip free.

Silence rings through the cave, and Titus refuses to meet my gaze, his bloody hand still shaking as he presses it to the barrier.

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