Page 85 of Of Flames and Crows

Nikolai hesitated, his expression wary as he followed her gaze. “I think it’s more a metaphysical space than a real one.”

“Oh.” Mae blinked. “That would make sense.”

“The crack is this way.”

Nikolai took her hand and headed into the whiteness, as if he were scared to let her go.

Tingles of awareness shot up Mae’s arm. She swallowed self-consciously. The way Hellreaver looked at her told her the weapon had sensed the direction her thoughts had just taken.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she recalled the voice she’d heard.Was that Ran Soyun?!

Na Ri’s presence surged within her, confirming her suspicion. Mae looked around.

Is it because this place is filled with the magic Azazel gifted our mother?!

Something caught her gaze up ahead. A darkness amidst the light. The phenomenon grew into a black scar some fifty feet long and ten feet wide.

It had ripped through the heart of the nexus and was spewing Hellfire Magic into the Earth.

Mae shuddered when her core resonated with the hellish energy throbbing from the crimson and black flames.

Master, Hellreaver mumbled.

She glanced at the weapon, surprised.

Hellreaver whined.Master is close!

Mae flinched.

“What is it?” Nikolai said.

She stared at the anomaly, her chest tight.Is this thing connected to the level of Hell where my father is?!

“Hellreaver says he can feel Azazel,” she replied grimly.

Nikolai startled. “What?!”

Mae ignored the sudden longing growing in her heart and clenched her jaw. “Let’s close it, like we planned.”

The sorcerer hesitated. “Are you sure?”

Mae met his anxious gaze with a calm expression. “I hope to meet my father one day. But not like this.”

Nikolai watched her for a beat longer before nodding. “Okay.”

He took a shallow breath, let go of her hand, and stepped up to the edge of the abyss. Hellfire Magic flared on his fingertips. Alastair’s wings detonated with a scarlet blaze laced with inky threads.

They focused their powers on the crack.

Mae reached for her core. A red haze exploded across Hellreaver as he boosted her magic. She touched Nikolai’s back and invoked the spell bubbling in her veins.

“Sever!”

Her heart thumped against her ribs as she felt the spell traverse Nikolai and Alastair’s cores. The sorcerer shuddered. He ground his teeth, sweat beading his face as she used him and his familiar as a conduit to close the rift.

The fissure trembled.

“It’s…not enough!” Nikolai gasped after a moment.

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