Page 68 of Thorn & Ash

Mona took several deep breaths, still panting from holding Evander’s weight. She gently pressed her hand against his leg, then closed her eyes.

I plead for help from the Triple Goddess, Mona thought. Grant me power. Bless me with the magic of life.

Her third eye blinked open, then closed. A burning fire churned to life inside her. Something hot prodded at her hand, and she hissed in pain.

“Mona,” Evander said in warning.

Mona’s eyes flew open, and she stared at the emerald ring on her finger. It was glowing white, and it burned. It was scorching her skin as if it would melt the flesh from her bones.

Of course, she realized. Without a second thought, she tugged the ring off her finger and tossed it to the forest floor.

“Mona, no!” Evander roared.

But it was too late. An explosion of light burst from her hand, bathing her and Evander in a warm glow. Power flared to life inside her, blossoming into a beautiful and overwhelming flow of energy. Her third eye flew open, observing everything.

Mona pressed her hands to Evander’s leg and channeled her power against the shadows writhing against it. “Use the magic of life to end this destruction,” she whispered. “Sano!”

Evander howled in pain, his head thrown back, the tendons standing out on his neck. His wings twitched, quivering from his pain. But Mona pressed more firmly against the wound, intent on driving out all the shadows clinging to him.

Cracks split the ground, and thorny brambles spread from the gaps, snaking toward Mona as if summoned. Even the mist behind them seemed to shift, moved by the very presence of this extraordinary power. A soft wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, and dust and ash floated in the air. The thorns continued to rise up, mingling with the particles in the air until it seemed Mona was surrounded by a whirlwind of thorn and ash.

Be gone, foul magic, she thought angrily. Leave him. Now.

Sweat dripped down her face as she poured all of her magic into Evander, determined to heal him, to save him…

She was thrown backward, and she tumbled on the forest floor, her thorns receding obediently to avoid piercing her skin during her fall. Her limbs throbbed, and her skin was on fire. With a groan, she stumbled to her feet, searching for Evander. He still sat on the stump, gasping, gripping his leg with a shocked expression.

The shadows were gone. His leg was completely healed.

Evander’s bewildered gaze flicked from his leg to the thorns spread along the ground. The ethereal wind had stopped, but the rest of the forest floor resembled a chaotic and decaying wilderness.

Mona rushed to his side once more, kneeling before him and resting her hands on his knees. “Are you all right? Is it gone?”

“How—how?” He shook his head weakly.

“I’m a goddess,” Mona said. “The goddess of life.”

“The ring…” Evander glanced at the ring discarded on the forest floor.

“It’s meant to protect mortals,” Mona said, the pieces clicking together in her mind. “But I’m not fully mortal, am I?” She offered a small smile.

Evander stared at her, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. “You—you remember?”

Mona nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his. She remembered everything. Evander’s song, his dark demonic presence, her insistence that he merge with Typhon…

And he had. He had embraced both sides of himself.

Goddess, he was here, he was alive. With her.

Mona clasped his face in both her hands and brought his mouth to hers. He gasped in surprise, but his mouth moved over hers as if on instinct. As if his body wanted nothing more than to mold against hers.

He lifted her so she sat atop him, her legs wrapped around him. He moaned as her tongue slid between his lips, twining with his. She devoured every bit of him, savoring his warmth and his flavor. Goddess, he tasted so good.

“Mona,” he groaned against her lips, the sound a plea. “Gods, Mona…”

Mona silenced him with another kiss, ravishing him with her lips and tongue and teeth. He was all hers. And she would claim him right here and now.

His hands were on her hips, hitching her skirt higher and higher until her sex was pressed flush against his trousers. Goddess, she needed all of him. Right now.

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