Page 129 of A Kiss From Death
Aire shoves his finger one more time harshly against Hade’s temple, making him gasp for air he can’t find, and I lose all control. Both my hands whip out, black and red magic sitting ready in each of my palms.
“I said ENOUGH! You have my attention now, so what do you want?”
Looking between my hands as I harness two types of magic, he smiles, satisfied. “I want you. It seems the rumors were true. Of course, each new god will be born of magic stronger than the last. That is the magic of evolution. But two powers? Wellthatis unheard of.”
My hands twitch, the magic dancing wildly while Hade’s body trembles, though a bit softer now that Aire has let up a fraction. “I thought you wanted me dead?”
Shrugging, he states, “Plans change, my little goddess. Now that I’ve seen what you can do, I want you for myself. The strongest god to date, born of two powers, in my back pocket? I would be unstoppable.Wewould be unstoppable.”
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. You must live on without me, or this will all be for nothing. Live that beautiful life we talked about. Promise me.” I send the words down the bond to a barely coherent Hade before locking Aire in an intense gaze. “Let him go. Let them all go. Promise you will not harm them, and I will give myself to you.”
“Deal!” His words feel thick and sticky across my skin, making me uncomfortable, but I keep my face blank and devoid of any emotions until I know Hade is safe. “I have big plans for us in Ouranos.”
In another flash, Hade falls to the ground, and Aire appears by my side, gripping my hand possessively. I try to pull away, but his grip tightens painfully, making me hiss.
Hade screams a guttural sound that shatters my heart. He blinks heavily, trying to stay awake as he, inch by inch, tries to drag his limp body to crawl to me. “You c-cannot have h-her.” He does not stop. He does not waver. Determination flames across his face as he desperately grasps the remaining light slowly fading from him. Every place his trembling fingertips touch the grass below him, his Death magic weakly seeps out, draining the ground of life.
“I told you, dream. My heart only beats for you. Without you, there is no me. I will not face a life without you in it. My life was gray before you brought the color. I will not go back to a life of black and white when I can have the whole damn rainbow.”
As he lifts one trembling hand, black shadows snake down his arm. Pointing one threatening finger at Aire, he looks me painfullyin the eyes. I feel every aspect of his next words as he says down the bond, “I love you, Nyxi.”
Before Hade’s magic gets a chance to blast towards us, Aire zaps a single bolt of electricity right at Hade’s battered body, hitting him directly in the chest. With a scream, I jolt forward, but Aire wraps his arms around me from behind, restraining me as Hade crumples to the ground.
Hade’s lifeless body is the last thing I see before clouds envelop us, and we slam through time and space at a nauseating speed. I don’t react when my feet hit the ground once again, or when a new land I don’t recognize comes into view. I don’t react when Aire announces, “Welcome to Ouranos, your new home.”
I don’t react because all I can think is,if Hade is truly dead, then so am I.And if he’s not, I will tear every realm apart until I have him again. I am a demon disguised as a god, ready to destroy her enemy from behind territory lines.
My love does not live on without you, Hade.
A new god is in town, and this time, she’s getting her vengeance.
To be continued…
