Page 145 of Of Realms and Chaos

“For you, Princess,” he proclaimed, leaning in to press his lips to mine. The kiss was a promise—a vow—and though now was not the time to be thinking such things, to be dreaming at all, I saw a flash of a projected image in my mind. Something that made my soul ache and my heart cleave in two.

I watched as Bellamy showed me a vision of him down on one knee, presenting me with a ring. And I mourned all that Wrath would miss.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Asher

Shadows enveloped us, pulling my body apart before threading it back together. Bellamy’s magic was volatile as it took us to the coming soldiers, angry and violent in its work. The second our knees landed, it shot out, black fire so hot it felt cold as it burned through the first line of soldiers. I dove, rolling to the side before standing up and forcing my own magic out.

That well of power in my chest roared at the demolishing of my mental gates, watching the faded gold bars break and charging forward upon their downfall. Minds winked into existence, thoughts swarming me as my once-barricaded magic flew forward, soaring like an eagle ready for the kill. My hands reached for the sword at my back and remaining dagger at my thigh, the one gifted to me all those months ago.

I am vengeance.

My scream marked the fall of seventy-seven mortal soldiers from Maliha, the charging force gone in the blink of an eye, dropping to the ground. For Wrath.

Never to breathe again. For Winona.

And when the fae charged on, I had no sympathy as I, too, ran. The first swing of my sword sent an arm flying, the blade slicing right through the vulnerable place where the armor connected at the elbow. For Luca.

When scorching red came for me, seeking something to burn, I gave it what it wanted. Far faster than I normally did, I found the mind of a Fire, watching with a wicked smile as they caught the flames and threw them towards a group of their own.

Bellamy was nearby, using the mud to bury soldiers alive, the rain-filled wind sweeping up bodies. The black flames had moved to form a wall at our backs, protecting all who remained unconscious. I fought to keep them that way, splitting my focus and slowing me down. Awareness pricked at my mind, a single being fighting hard against my magic—throwing up flimsy mental shields to try and allow themselves enough reprieve to awake.

I knew it was Henry, made obvious by the way the blinding Sun magic tasted of fresh citrus. But if I let him awaken I might lose control of them all, so I ordered him back into unconsciousness as I slid through the mud. Grabbing the ankle of a female who was mid shift, I shoved my elbow into her knee, which was exposed by the armor that had split during her transition. She screamed as the bone broke. I eagerly shattered her mind, moving on to the next so quickly that my wet hair whipped into my face.

The tip of my boot sunk into the mud as I stood, sticking and nearly bringing me back down. A Water made quick work of taking advantage, catching the droplets as they fell and holding them midair just long enough to look at me with sad eyes. When she lowered her arms, the movement erratic and abrupt, water barreled into me, burrowing down my throat and taking residence in my lungs—demanding my surrender.

Before my body gave in, I squeezed my dagger, heard Henry’s voice telling me to picture it going straight through my target, and threw it. The blade sunk between her eyes, sending her flying to the ground and smacking into the slop at her feet. But the water had already begun to hibernate at the bottom of my lungs, comfortable in the space it did not belong. I choked and gargled, trying and failing to cough up the water. Black spots filled my vision, my head swimming and my magic still reaching out.

I tasted lilac just as my eyes closed.

But then I heard my name screamed above the battle, Bellamy’s voice so loud it startled me back into consciousness, my heart slowing but arms flailing. All the water that had entered my lungs began to crawl out, climbing up my throat and leaving me gasping on the ground. I had no time to spare because Bellamy was now taking on the entire swarm of soldiers, the elements roaring around us all. I stood on shaky legs, prepared to step in. That was when I noticed that, in his distraction, he did not see the lion charging him from behind, his icy blue gaze a tunnel leading only to me.

Tears streamed down my face as I gave all that I had and let my magic do what it did best.

Kill.

They fell like dominos, the Golden Guard. Beautiful metallic dominos that slumped rather than teetered down. A wave of death crashed upon the shore that was Selkans, Bellamy’s power slowly fading as he witnessed what I truly was. The damage I could do.

And I paid the price as my magic left me, the well in my chest almost completely void of that which made me special. Behind the walls of flames, creatures from both sides began to stir.

Strong arms caught me as I fell, and I managed to smile, my head tilting up in search of those annoying dimples. Instead, I found a pair of nearly black eyes and a blinding smile. Mahogany hair and brown skin sent warning bells off in my mind as he looked at me fondly, like an owner seeing their pet for the first time in too long.

The male from Haven. Malcolm, according to Bellamy.

“Hello, Asher. It is wonderful to officially meet you,” he purred, a single finger tucking my bloody hair behind my ear. He grabbed the jagged top, murmuring quietly, “I remember when these had points, you know.”

Without any sign of him doing so, shadows pooled beside me, from them walking Mia. Her orange hair had been soaked, her face completely bare. I had never seen her this way, without cosmetics coating her face or gold upon her body. But there she stood, wearing black of all colors, the leathers reminiscent of those that Bellamy’s Trusted wore. That I now wore.

But it was her face that stunned me. There, dotting her cheeks and nose, were freckles. Seeing those paired with her eyes, so blue they looked frozen, made my heart sink. My gaze found Bellamy just as a blade of fire whizzed through the air, stopped only by the wall of mud that Mia had conjured.

“I will fucking kill you, do you hear me? I will fucking kill you!” Bellamy’s words were a snarl—an oath born of hatred. He portaled to our side, his fist connecting with my captor’s nose.

Mia seized my wrist, tugging me towards her just as Bellamy took the male to the ground. A branch appeared from thin air, the wood coming towards my body as if to secure me—trap me. I bent low, wrapping my arms around Mia and sending her to the ground in the same way Bellamy had the traitor.

She screamed on the way down, her foot hitting my shin as we fell. “How dare you! I cannot believe—” My head smashed into hers before she could finish, and then she was crying out, grabbing at her nose as blood fled from her presence.

Bellamy’s hand found me, and we portaled a distance away, both of us heaving but unwavering as we faced off with Mia and Malcolm. They stood, mirroring us in both stance and fury.

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