Page 54 of What Courses Through Her Blood
Chapter 26
Colton
The campoutside the castle’s boundaries lies in ruins, a stark testament to the fierce battle that raged here. Everywhere I look, remnants of destruction meet my gaze: small fires flicker in the darkness, casting an eerie glow on the shattered landscape. The smell of death hangs heavily in the air, clinging to my senses as I tread through the debris. Each step is a grim reminder of the cost of this battle, of lives lost.
The war still rages on in the distance. Every so often, an echo of howls from the Lycans reaches my ears, and I find myself hoping for victory at the other camps. I trust Drew has everything under control. Bim and Dorian are nowhere to be seen. We’d all split up when the arrows hit and had to resort to physical combat.
Suddenly, I feel it—my magic returns, the remnants of the spell wearing off. Thank fuck. A few Sorcerers lie groaning on the ground in front of me. Without hesitation, I wave a hand, setting their bodies on fire.
Feeling satisfied that my people here will be triumphant, I channel to where I last saw Nyx through my projection beforeour magic was cut off. I wish I could channel directly into the castle itself. That would make this a lot easier.
The ground is sodden with water and decay. The once-beautiful gardens are now a flattened wasteland. Commotion echoes from within the castle. It must be nearing morning, and I find myself longing for this wretched night to end. Too many lives have been lost on both sides—a grim testament to the futility of this conflict. Shaking my head at the devastation, I channel to the outskirts of the castle.
Climbing a flight of stairs, I step over bodies strewn across the steps, making my way to one of the side entrances. Inside, the commotion continues from all directions, yet the halls are eerily deserted. I curse myself for not paying more attention to the castle’s layout during my last visit with Lyra.
As I pass, the wall sconces flare to life, lighting my path. I check each room along the corridor. Most are empty, though a few host skirmishes—our forces holding the upper hand. I press on, determined to find Samael.
As I reach the other side of the castle, I pause, noticing a shift. The vibrant flooring is now dull, blanketed with dirt and rot as if abandoned for years. Trailing my gaze up the walls and down the hall, I see cracked sconces and roots piercing the stone—signs of decay mirroring the rot we found in Athalda’s quarters at Euric’s palace in Zomea. It’s clear now that dark spells have been cast here, their corrupt essence seeping into the crevices, decaying the castle from within.
I press forward into this decrepit wing, the air thickening around me, filling with the stench of corruption. It’s a tangible reminder of Samael’s horrors—what creatures might have been harmed here, what souls tormented under his reign. My disgust mounts with each step, fueled by the high-pitched echo of his voice. It’s a sound that grates, a reminderof why I’m here. Tightening my grip on my weapon, I quicken my pace, driven by the urgency to end this for good.
The castle reeks, and I step over at least a dozen corpses as I rush down the hall toward Lyra’s parents’ old bedroom, where the voices seem to be coming from. Surprisingly, I encounter no living guards as I approach the door, which suggests they’ve already been dispatched—Nyx must have been here. Pausing outside, I listen for any signs of what lies ahead. Suddenly, a loud crash from within spurs me into action. I kick down the door and burst in, both blades ready.
Immediately, I’m confronted by two Sorcerers. I thrust my blade into the side of one’s throat without hesitation. As I turn to face the other, he flings a handful of golden dust at me. Godsdamnit. I choke on the golden mist, feeling my magic drain away again.
“I’m getting real tired of this shit,” I grumble, taking a moment to assess the room.
Nyx and Citlali are engaged in a deadly dance near the windows, while Samael sits nonchalantly at a table in the corner, a mask obscuring most of his face.
“He knows he can’t stand a chance against us if we can use our magic,” Nyx calls out, narrowly dodging Citlali as she lunges at him, her jaw agape.
Where are all his other men? How has no one else reached this far? They can’t all be dead.
“Why do you look so confused, dear Colton? Surprised your men didn’t fare as well as you thought they would against my forces?” Samael teases in his unnaturally high-pitched voice. The Sorcerer who threw the dust at me edges backward, and a smirk tugs at my lips—killing him will definitely be a highlight.
“I always knew you were thebrawn of the operation, but it seems Nyx snagged all the brains,” he continues, his voice dripping with derision. I shrug off his barbs.
“Good thing killing you is a no-brainer.” I step closer to the table, my gaze flicking between Samael and the clash between Nyx and Citlali. Part of me wants to see her fall by Nyx’s hand, but we made a promise to Drew—I’ll let her deal with her daughter.
I’m sure that’s the only reason she still stands now. “Where are all your followers now, Samael? And what the hell is that on your face? I mean, it’s a relief not having to see your usual scowl...” I watch as he bristles under his mask.
Nyx and I lock eyes for a split second, but his nod is all the confirmation I need. I lunge at the Sorcerer to my left, driving my blade through his armor and deep into his chest. He coughs up a torrent of blood as his body hits the ground.
Simultaneously, Nyx grabs Citlali, slamming her head against the wall with enough force to crack it. She slides to the ground, unconscious, leaving her for Drew to deal with later. I kick the fallen Sorcerer onto his back and yank my sword from his chest, wiping the blood on his garments. Samael laughs from where he sits, a cackle that makes my skin crawl, clearly thinking he’s beyond our reach.
“Easy to laugh when you still have all your magic. Why don’t you stand and fight us like a man?” I challenge him, stepping beside Nyx.
“Because he isn’t a man. He’s a sick freak, in love with his sister and abusing his power,” Nyx adds with disgust.
Samael stands, clapping his hands mockingly. “I guess we all have something in common then, don’t we?” he taunts.
I scoff, shaking my head. “More like sick infatuation, and last I checked, I wasn’t in love with my sister. Hell, I don’t even have a sister, and I could never be that sick.”
Samael continues clapping, laughing maniacally, and Nyxand I exchange a look that says it all—this guy has lost his fucking mind.
“Stop checking the door, my dear King Onyx. No one’s coming for you. Did you really think I wouldn’t cast spells to ensure we have some privacy?” Samael taunts, his gaze flickering between us.
“I don’t need help to finish you,” Nyx retorts, his temper flaring visibly.
