Page 53 of When Storms Collide

“I didn’t have a choice,” I spit out, tightening my grip on Stormslayer.

His smile widened. “Didn’t you?”

He could see how a part of me hadlovedit. The rough sex, the blood drinking. There was a part of me that did… but I didn’t wantthis. I didn’t want Nik when he was Noctani. I wantedmyNikolai back. My protective, cocky, stubborn Nikolai who would never dream of hurting me. This abomination before me wasn’t that man, despite how easy it was to pretend.

A tear slid down my cheek, mingling with the rain that now lashed against us. I was soaked through, the tunic sticking to me in an uncomfortable way. A sob racked my body as I felt myself losing himagain. The Mother above had a cruel sense of humor.

How many times would I have to lose him? How many times could I endure?

I didn’t want to leave him here, but Ihadto. I had to trust that I could get the antidote and cure him. That everything would be ok.

I opened my mouth to speak, and another cry escaped me. He moved forward, to capture me or console me I would never know. I reached out to the storm above and I grasped a thread of its magic, pulling it down towards us with all my strength. Lightning struck, and this time I knew to shy away, shielding my eyes.

When I turned back Nikolai was on his knees, grasping his arm as he grimaced, his fangs exposed as he threw his head back with a cry.

Thank the Mother I hadn’t killed him.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I took a step back.

“This isn’t you. I only want the old Nikolai back. The one who wasmine,” I cried, my vision blurred from the tears and pelting rain.

That first time, when my magic had detonated, and he had escaped, it had felt as ifhewas the one who left me. But it was me leaving him now. I was leaving a piece of myself here—wherever that was.

A piece I would never get back.

I turned, Stormslayer tight in my grasp as I took off down the street.

Soft words spoken behind me met my ears, but I didn’t stop, didn’t turn, I just kept running, tears streaming down my face.

“I still am yours.”

Ididn’t stop until my legs were tired to the point they physically couldn’t carry me further. I cursed myself for not keeping up with my running training more, but I never was one for endurance activities. I had no idea where I was, only that I was in a remote portion of Istmere, and I was tired top the point of possible collapse. I wasn’t sure where I was headed, either, only that I needed to put as much distance between me and that house as possible.

Nikolai hadn’t followed me.

I had left him there, shirtless and bleeding on the cobblestones. The thought left a sickening lump in the pit of my stomach. Had bile rising up the back of my throat, but I swallowed it back down, out of breath. I was in desperate need of rest and water. The roads were small and narrow, with sparse houses scattered about.

It was most rural—I certainly wasn’t in the city.

I pushed my exhausted legs to carry me further, across a small river with a narrow, rickety bridge. The roads ended here, but I continued on through the wood, knowing I would either end up in a city or on the coast at some point. I was fine with either. I was terribly lost but for some reason the thought didn’t scare me. I was relieved to have escaped that house with the both of us still alive.

I had successfully escaped Nikolaiwithouthim stealing my magic, and I was thankful for that. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t stolen it at the first opportunity, or any of the ones that had come after that. Maybe it was a deeply buried kernel of his former self? I tried not to think too hard on it. The thought of the old Nikolai brought tears to my eyes, and I was too tired to cry. Too spent from the events of the last three weeks.

It wasn’t until I had crossed another river, stopping to drink as much as I could fit into my belly, that I stopped to rest for the night. I had nothing but the damp, baggy clothes I had left in. I curled at the base of a tree, hoping that I could make it through the night despite the chill settling deep in my bones.

When the sun rose and its warm rays beat against my face, I thanked the Mother for what little sleep I had managed to get. And for protecting me through the night while I was alone. I gathered myself and carried on, finding another road after a few more hours of weary travel.

By the time I hit a cobbled street and a few small shops came into sight, I recognized where I was. This was the westernmost part of Akra, the small town at the base of the mountain that housed the castle. Luckily, I was on the southern sideof the lake, and the castle wasn’t within my sightline. If I kept traveling this road, I would eventually end up in Prins.

I didn’t have any coin on me, but I was starving and dehydrated. Exhausted down to the bone. I ducked into a small tavern that had a rickety, wooden sign out front proclaimingthe best Dragon’s Ale in the realm. I trudged inside, closing the door behind me.

There were few patrons sitting at the bar and scattered among the tables in the tavern, but no eyes turned towards me when I entered. I sent another silent prayer to the Mother. Nobody was searching for me here. Not yet, at least.

I sat at the bar, dragging out a stool and settling onto it.

“Looks like ye had a long day, eh?” the bartender asked, slinging the dish towel over her shoulder.

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