Page 33 of To Love a Dark Lord

Something struck her again, this time harder, knocking her forward and to the ground. It was a blast of some kind of energy. It didn’t really matter what, she supposed. It shimmered as it disappeared into the air like smoke. But it had hit her hard enough to put stars in her vision.

Flapping her wings, Gwen dodged another strike right before it hit her. The force of the impact cracked into a tree next to the clearing, sending bark and a broken branch to the ground.

A third strike felt like a Mack Truck, sending her flying, impacting into another tree. She felt something pop in her spine as she impacted the surface. When she hit the dirt, she had to check to make sure she could still wiggle her toes and her fingers. Fuck, that had hurt. Another blow, and she’d be down for the count.

Zoe was hovering above the devastation, watching her with cold disdain. “I am as old as this island, Gwendolyn Wright. You cannot defeat me. You do not belong here. Stop this now, and I will let you live. Surrender.”

“This island chose me, Zoe. I spoke to it. It told me this was home—it gave me this magic.” Gwen struggled to get back to her feet, pain lancing up her legs. It felt like she had been run over. “I belong here. Same as you.” She walked closer to Zoe, stalling for time while she caught her breath. “And I am not going to surrender. Not to you.”

“A shame you think so.” Zoe lifted her hands, and the circle of darkness around her grew. “I will make your death quick and painless.” There was a surge of something that tasted acrid in the air. Like ozone. Gwen felt dizzy all of a sudden. “I am the elemental of life, Gwendolyn. And while I can gift it…I can also take it away.”

Fuck.

That’s what those blasts were.

Death. Or rather, the absence of life.

One more hit, and she was done. That was it. She’d have failed.

Mordred.

Her friends.

But it was, stupidly enough, the image of Eod sitting by the front steps of the keep, staring out at the field, waiting for her to come home, that did it. Tears stung her eyes. Not of grief. But of rage.

“Enough!” Gwen screamed.

And fire erupted around her. The air sparked and roared, and Zoe screamed as the wave of fire engulfed her without warning. The whole clearing was ablaze like a bomb had been dropped. And there, in the grass, was Zoe. Her wings were charred, and her skin was blackened in spots.

Falling to her knees, Gwendolyn let out a wavering breath. It took all her control to put the trees out—the last thing she needed was to start a forest fire. Black smoke rose into the air, and the sound of the explosion echoed around her.

Zoe coughed. She was alive. Injured, but alive.

Gwen could kill her. Should kill her.

Climbing back to her feet, she took a deep breath and let it out, extinguishing her fire. With a gesture of her hand, she summoned new clothes. Black slacks and a red halterneck top. She hadn’t quite mastered the art of shoes yet. But it’d do for now. The embers underneath her bare feet didn’t hurt at all as she walked up to the fallen butterfly. Her coat had been trashed in the explosion. Damn it. Whatever.

Reaching down, Gwen grasped the shard and twisted the chain of Zoe’s necklace around her hand. One quick yank, and the thin links of gold snapped. “Yoink.”

“Go ahead,” Zoe murmured, her voice weak and broken. “Kill me.”

“No.” Gwen shook her head. “Go home, Zoe. We’re done here.” She looked off into the woods. The trees were still smoking, but the fire had stopped. “I kind of have to thank you, though.” She smiled half-heartedly. “I was almost going to walk away from all this until you showed up. Thanks for helping me make up my mind.”

“I will not stop.” Zoe coughed.

“And neither will I.” She sighed. “But I still won’t kill you.”

“Why…?”

“Two reasons. One? I’m sick of all the dying. And two?” She paused. “Galahad is my friend. I adore him. And I can’t take you away from him. Even if you do deserve it.” Before Zoe could respond, Gwen ran in the other direction, spreading her wings and taking off into the sky. She was getting the hang of it.

Killing Zoe would have been the smart move. But her heart told her it was wrong. Her heart was also telling her something else?—

Galahad was going to be waiting for her at Camelot.

And that was a fight she really didn’t know if she could win.

TWELVE

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