Page 74 of Shadow & Stars
“Are you alone?” Roman aimed at Ismael.
He ignored him, his regal stature radiating power. My chest contracted, my legs filled with lead.
“I loved you so much, Xavier.” The king spoke in soft tones. “The dreams I had for us were so special. I miss those carefree days how we used to be.” His foreboding exterior melted away, showing the Ismael of old. A smile to break every heart that ever beat, an inner beauty to diminish all contenders of wonder.
Past Me pined for him, fighting to push me away.
“I love you,” the other me said.
“But it’s too late,” I followed up quickly. “My love belongs to another now.” I glanced at my witch, his own inner beauty a much stronger radiance, not tarnished by the corruption of power.
Roman smiled for a few seconds, then gnawed anxiously on his bottom lip.
Ismael watched me, his aura of sadness dragging the already chilly temperature down. I shuddered, feeling somewhat cruel. As terrible as he was, his father’s death sent him spiraling into the darkness. Not an excuse, I know, but he always had my deepest sympathy. Even now.
More fool me, I suppose. And maybe my sympathies didn’t help him move through his grief. Maybe I should have been a more supportive partner to him. Kept him on a better path, not stood back and allowed his rise to tyranny to last for so long.
“You love this witch?” Ismael inquired, unbothered by the guns pointed at him.
Do not try saying yes,Past Me warned.
But I do.
Please…
We both stayed quiet.
“You have nothing to say to me?” Silent black tears suddenly trickled down Ismael’s cheeks. “You express your love for another and leave me empty? I see.” More tears rolled free, streaks of ink against his bronze complexion. “And I am the one labeled cruel?”
I did speak then, pushing Past Me aside. “You should be sleeping. You’ll always be a part of me, Ismael, but our love is in the past. It’s time to accept your fate.”
He cocked his head to the side. “As you are accepting yours?”
The more he spoke, the hotter my fury burned. Whatever I felt, he posed a threat to my new love. He was the thorn in hope’s side, the weed in my front garden that refused to die.
“I will stop you,” I asserted.
He pointed a slender finger at me. “I knewyouwere insidehim.” Languidly, he stretched his arms above his head.
“I’ve had enough of this,” the human woman said. “I’m taking you down.”
Ismael moved before she did, quick on his feet. An agile, speedy warrior, he hurled something at her. It hit her with a thwack.
“Michelle?” the human man spoke. “What the?—”
She fell onto her back, dropping her gun. A throwing star jutted out of her forehead, one of the points buried deep into her skull. Unblinking, glassy eyes stared up at the sky.
The man went to her, checking her pulse. “She’s dead. You killed her.”
“Indeed,” Ismael drawled, running a hand through his obsidian hair before hurling a second star.
The agent met the same fate, the star hitting him in the left temple.
“No!” Roman roared.
“Yes, Roman!” Ismael bellowed. “Oh, yes!” Slowly, he strode forward. “You are fools to think you can run and hide from us. We may not have magic, but our senses are clear.”
“And we remain connected, Roman Gold.” Butterfly stepped out of the shadows along with Tanith and two humanoid demons—big men serving in bodyguard roles, carrying guns.
