Page 34 of Vengeance and Fire

“Cordelia!”Torin calls my name and I immediately focus on the Mages who are now throwing what looks like energy balls up at me.“Baby, focus,” Torin says as he circles around me and shoots off on the back of the Dragon his riding. He’s right. I am so busy checking in I hadn’t realized what was going on underneath me. I let my flames climb up my arms and I let my thoughts clear as I think of nothing but obliterating the Mages. My fire shoots out of my hands, hitting each Mage, igniting them instantly, their bodies become consumed by flames. I watch them all scream as the fire eats away at their flesh down to the bones, until there’s nothing but silence and ashes. A wave of nausea hits me as I look at the piles on the ground. My bile rises as it hits me that I’m killing people. Innocent or not, I am taking someone's life. I freeze in the air for just a second, and it almost cost me. A Fae sentry throws an iron rod at me, and it barely misses me as I twist out of the way.

I sense my Dragon then, almost like she’s telling me to get over my shit and keep fighting. My scales ripple across my skin as I get a flash back of my father with the same type of rod sticking out of his body. Rage claws its way up and out of me as I extinguish my fire and pull my sword so fast that the soldier doesn’t see it coming until it’s too late. I fly towards him at breakneck speed, swinging my arm back with a scream, and the soldier’s eyes go wide, as if he sees his death approaching on wings of fury. I pass him, quickly swiping my sword hand forward and taking his head with me.

“Like for like, asshole!” I scream at him as I turn and watch his headless body fall forward to his knees, then hitting the ground with a thump. From that point on, I don’t question my morality. Kill or be killed. I will forgive myself later. The soldiers around the dead Fae throw down their weapons and run away from me, but they run directly into a waiting Torin, who leaps from the Dragon’s back. He slams his hands down into the dirt, and the ground begins to quake, knocking them off their feet. Some begin to sink, the ground turns into quicksand as they all scream in terror. So much is happening around me, but I stare transfixed at my mate and the power he holds.

It dawns on me then that this is the first time I’ve seen any of my men in action, and I am one hell of a lucky bitch. These badass men belong to me.

“Cordelia! It’s time to die. You have been a thorn in my side for too long!” I turn in a circle at the sound of my name, searching for Maurelle. I hadn’t noticed her initially, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

Then I spot her easily as she walks out of the tree line across the opposite side of the clearing. As soon as I see her, I know exactly what’s about to happen. Her body begins to glow, growing brighter and brighter until I can’t watch any longer. Guarding my eyes against the blinding light, I practically scream telepathically to my mates.

“Get away from her as fast as you can!”I panic, thinking back to the platform I was tied to as she battled with my father. She doesn’t care who she is going to kill in this moment, as long as she gets to kill me and mine. The light she emits will decimate whoever it touches. Well, not today bitch, not today. Dropping my sword to the ground, I call on my shadows, and let them grow up and around me, and a black thick mist of fog rolls over the ground from me. I cast my net out wide as I let my thoughts guide my magic.Protect my people and allies.I watch as it spreads out like a living entity as it follows my will to create a dome around the palace and everyone I need to protect. It all happens so fast that the moment Maurelle’s power explodes out of her, it reverberates off my shield and sends her flying through the air. The force is so strong that even with the shield in place I fall to my knees, yet I make sure I keep my focus enough to protect those around me.

I lift my eyes as Maurelle recovers faster than I thought. Dravyn’s Dragon flies directly at her, and I know what he’s going to do before he does it, but a massive black Dragon catches him off guard, colliding with him mid-air and they both begin to plummet to the ground. I don’t even question who the Dragon is. I can feel it. Thaddeus.

“Dravyn!”I scream to him. I am sure the last thing he needs is a distraction, but it’s a knee jerk reaction and I can’t help it. Between what’s happening in the sky, and Maurelle stalking me like a predator, I acted without thinking. I turn my head, and my eyes lock with hers.

I am ready to dance with the devil. Bring it on, bitch.

“Did you think it would be that easy, child?” she taunts me. Why is that word everyone’s go to? I am no one’s child.

“Oh, I knew it wouldn’t. Hey, a woman had to try.” I shrug, making sure I prepare myself for anything. I have no clue what she is truly capable of. Maybe that’s the question I should have asked my father earlier.Oh well, fake it until you make, Cordelia.

“How dare you use what’s mine against me!! You are nothing!Nothing! None of you are! I am going to take pleasure in watching the light leave your eyes. Then your wannabe mother and each and every one of your mates.” She’s so mad, as she slowly approaches I realize her words are meant to distract me, but I don’t fall for it.

She throws out her light towards me, but I immediately deflect it. The force pushes me back, and my feet slide against the grass. Thank heavens for boots. I can hear my name being called, but I focus all of my strength on protecting myself and manage to hold a larger shield over everyone else.

Fighting is still happening all around us. I don’t dare glance up and see what’s going on in the sky above me. Dravyn’s bond is strong, so I know he’s OK. Maurelle screams in frustration as she realizes what she’s trying to do is not working. She starts throwing her magic wildly, even hitting her own people, and they begin to fall all around her.

“You would kill your own people in anger? You are a heartless, sad creature!” I yell over the noise. My words effectively stop her from killing more.

With her attention back on me, she smiles, when out of nowhere invisible constraints wrap around my legs, squeezing tight. I bite back a scream as it digs into my legs, cutting deep, my blood starts to run slowly down my legs. Maurelle controls the power with her hands twisting, moving me like a puppet as I crash to my knees. I lose control of my shield, and she moves in like a viper ready to strike her killing blow. The power moves up my body, wrapping around my stomach, my arms, and my neck. Maurelle closes her fists, clenching them tight as I struggle to breathe, with her other hand she knocks me flat on my back. My mother’s crown is snatched from my head, pulling on my braids painfully.I just got these done. Shit, I liked my hair

“You see, child. You could never defeat me. You know nothing about the power you hold. I will take back what’s mine. You will give it to me. Now!” She squeezes me tighter. I’m bound so tightly there is nothing I can do to stop what’s happening. I begin to panic. I think about my mates but most importantly unborn children. I call on my magic, I can feel it, eager and ready, it sparks and fizzles and does nothing.

“Don’t worry, you can’t shift. No need for your Dragon to get in the middle of this. I will ask you again, give me what’s mine. My brother was stupid to give it to someone who doesn’t deserve it.” She frowns down at me, squeezing tight.

“Fight, Cordelia,”I hear Adrian say, and the sound of his voice in my head brings tears to my eyes. I can’t lose them. I made a promise that nobody else will die, and Maddox’s body is only a few feet away. Now, everyone is going to lose me and my babies. I haven’t even told my mother yet. My thoughts are spiraling, and I know I need to act before I die on this damn ground.

“Looks can be deceiving, Cordelia. If you don’t learn anything else from me, remember that above all things,”my father’s words pop into my mind like an answered prayer, and I remember I have one last trick up my sleeve. Let her think I am weak. Good thing she likes to hear herself talk.

“I am not giving you anything, Maurelle,” I say breathlessly, trying to take in as much oxygen as possible. “I told you I was going to kill you, and I meant it.” She laughs. She twists her hands and lifts me off the ground, pulling me towards her.

“I will be the one doing the killing here, my dear niece.” She smiles manically. I can hear Torin and Adrian yell and scream from somewhere near me, but I couldn’t look for them if I tried. Maurelle squeezes me tighter, and my arm snaps from the force. I refuse to cry out. It takes everything I have to divert her attention away from my shadows pulling my knife from my neck holster.

“No. It’s me doing the killing.” I strike fast and true. The knife embeds directly into her heart, so fast she didn’t see it coming. From the look on her face, it still hadn’t registered that it was in there, until a look of horror crosses her face as she looks down to the knife, up to me, and then back down to where the knife is sticking out of her chest.

I fall to the ground, landing on my broken arm, crying out in pain. Rolling to my other side I get to my feet. Grabbing my sword, I watch as blood begins to pour from her chest. Her body is reacting to the iron instantly, and I silently thank Maddox for his foresight. I slowly walk over to her still trying to catch my breath until I am standing over her.

“Don’t worry, Auntie. Unlike my father, you will not return.” Maurelle still sneers up at me as her eyes flash in realization of what I said. After a heartbeat I will never forget the look of surprise when she finally feels his presence and knows that her brother is alive and well.

“You little bitch!” She spits blood at me, coughing uncontrollably. A part of me wants to leave her here to die but I can’t risk it. Plus, a knife in the heart is too easy, a far too kind death for her. I watch as she struggles to pull herself into sitting position.

“You think you can take my court? I will never hand over my power. It will die with me.” She whispers, barely audible but I shrug.

“It will die with you, yes, but it will not be lost. One of my children will inherit your court, and it will be the better for it.” I smile sweetly. Maurelle’s eyes grow wide at my news bomb. She eyes me as if she can see my children growing inside of me. The look of utter devastation washes over her face. She screams, almost like a gurgle as blood pools and spills out of her open mouth. It’s almost enjoyable to see her like this.

“I will find a way. I will kill you. Them.” She coughs again. I have had enough threats to last me a lifetime.

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