Page 77 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
Just like the first time, I portaled without intention or forethought. One minute I was watching Mia rip out the branch, the next I was between them, catching the spear as she brought it back down. She gasped, staring at me as if there was no world in which she thought I would defend the male beneath her. Dumbstruck was the only word that could describe that look.
“It is Asher Daniox, you stupid bitch.” And then I dug into her mind, shoving my magic her way. I tunneled and burrowed, trying to sink as deep into her consciousness as I could before she fought back.
Mia was quick to release the branch and use my momentum against me. She shoved my chest, sending me flying backwards. I hit the ground only to be scooped up by tree roots as they erupted from the dirt. They lifted me, smacking me back into the ground as Mia shouted from beyond.
“You selfish, ungrateful monster! Every day I love you, and every day you return that love with disgusting hatred! I have said it before and I will say it again, I will keep you bleeding and toeing death before I let you go!” I watched in horror as she pulled her arms back and threw them forward with a scream of vicious fury.
My body sailed through the air, twisting and flipping like I was nothing but a doll. When I hit the ground this time, dizziness attempted to keep me down. The world around me spun, and I thought that maybe I was somehow still in the air twirling. But no, the ground was hard beneath me.
Digging my fingers into the grass and dirt, I willed myself to stand, to do anything but remain the victim. I got up, unsteady on my feet but more than ready to fight. Two centuries worth of rage was inside of me, and it was all I needed to lock my gaze on Mia and ready myself.
She stood in her nearly clean golden gown, her hair barely out of place and crown still secure on her head. Fists clenched at her sides, she glared my way and seemed to make a decision. Yes, I could practically smell her resolve, taste its tangy flavor on my tongue.
“You will either kill me or I will kill you, those are your options tonight, Mia,” I hissed. My magic hummed in my skin, begging for full freedom. The Manipulator wanted blood—Mia’s blood—and I would give her that.
Charging forward, I tried to stay focused on the queen rather than the pain or lightheadedness. Mia matched my battle cry, running at me as well.
I was ready to win or die, but either way, I was dragging her down with me. Just as we were about to collide, my magic darting free of its confines and Mia’s power commanding every bit of nature around us, walls of fire erupted on either side of me, surging past Mia before wrapping around and aiming right for her.
Black fire.
Mia ducked, but I was too slow, too awestruck by what this fire meant. It sailed towards me, parting at the last second. I turned around, catching sight of the most stunning icy blue eyes.
He walked towards me slowly, his black armor coated in blood and his dark hair perfectly mussed. His palms faced me, arms out and fire erupting from his hands like a volcano spewing lava. There was not a smile on his face, but even with his full lips pressed into a line, I could see the love in his stare.
Skin burning from the nearness of the flames and ears ringing from the screams around us, I could do nothing but go to him—slowly at first, and then as fast as I possibly could. I ran, those inky flames making a straight path to him.
The world seemed to slow, everything around us nearly freezing in place as I closed the remaining distance. No sound, taste, touch, smell, or thought could be found. Nothing but the sight of him there, waiting for me.
Fifty feet.
Twenty.
Ten.
Five.
I jumped, knowing with every fiber of my being that he would catch me. And he did.
One second my feet were on the ground, the next my legs were wrapping around his waist and my hands were gripping his jaw and my lips were against his. His strong arms tucked me close, as if he might never let me go again. There was such passion in just the way his hands gripped my torn dress and loose curls. Tongues colliding and tears mingling, I tasted him like I might never know anything so perfect. Cinnamon and smoke and sweet, warm sunshine invaded my every sense, my very being.
And then the world came back into focus. A furious, piercing scream shattered our peace like glass.
“Get. Off. My. Daughter!” Mia had never sounded so shrill, so completely and utterly sociopathic.
A wall of rock grew between us, wrenching me from Bellamy’s grasp and knocking my leg so hard I shouted in pain. Through my tangled hair, I watched Mia approach me with a crazed expression on her face. On her heels was Malcolm, not once looking back at his father who bled upon the ground. He gazed intently at me instead, his face contorted like the mere sight brought so much pain he could no longer bear it.
“Kill that fucking beast,” Mia ordered, pointing at Bellamy who was freeing his arm of rock that had formed around it.
“No!” I pleaded, pushing myself up and crying out when the pain in my leg intensified. “If you want him dead, you will have to kill me first.”
Head swimming from whatever poison still lingered in my blood, I shoved my magic out once more. This time, it hit Mia’s mind and stuck, piercing through the shadowy wall that Malcolm had constructed. She gasped, grabbing her chest and ogling me like I was her worst nightmare come to life.
I should have feared that panic. Should have seen it for what it was. Her limit.
She screeched, and then shards of what must have been rock came sailing for me. I bent forward, trying to protect myself without any real chance of success. Bellamy’s scent once more coated me, and I felt the moment we portaled. He breathed heavily against the top of my head, grabbing at me like I would disappear if he did not claw his way into my skin.
But I could not focus on him. Not entirely. Not when Xavier now kneeled where I had once been, mere feet away. Dozens of rock shards littered his skin, having pierced through his golden clothes. Blood seeped from the wounds like rivers, and I caught sight of Malcolm’s vindictive smile just before he grabbed Mia’s incensed and frozen form, the two disappearing in a burst of smoke-like shadows.
