Page 135 of Damned and Broken Gods
A shadow rushes by the pillar.
Leela!
Araz, she will not survive much longer. Answer me now. Do I have your consent?
He could be lying. Planning to claim my body and leave Leela to die. But he’s my only hope of saving the woman I love. Of saving a queen and a future that might bring peace.
Leela screams, a high-pitched sound of agony, and my will cracks because war be damned, it was her, it was always fucking her. “Your word that no matter what we become, no matter how little of me remains, you will protect her. Always.”
You have my word.
I close my eyes and summon her face, her smile, her laughter ringing in my ears, her touch on my skin. I want to remember it as I fade. I want to take it with me when I go. Leela…My Leela.
Araz…
“Yes, you have my consent.”
A sigh ripples through my mind, and claws sink into my thoughts, fracturing them.
Chapter 51
Is This The Last Goodbye?
LEELA
Ihit the ground and rolled in time to avoid the serpent’s strike, but when I tried to stand, my leg gave way, skin burning where its fang had scraped me. Was there venom in my blood now?
A gust of wind hit me in the face as the serpent exhaled then inhaled, preparing to lunge again. This time I swerved and ran toward it, getting under it, axes out, ready to swipe and slice. Its underbelly was the soft spot, where the metal plates didn’t quite meet. Where it was more flesh than machine.
It screamed and twisted as my blades cut through it, and I managed to get out from under it a mere second before it dropped its body to the ground, crushing the earth in the spot I’d just stood.
My leg buckled, slowing me down, but I pushed on, willing it to hold, to not give out on me, but fuck, why wasn’t I clotting?
It had to be some kind of venom or toxin.
I couldn’t do this for much longer.
My lungs burned, my muscles ached, and I knew with a gut-wrenching certainty that this wasn’t part of the test.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
This was the Authority wanting me dead.
“You bastards!” My scream rose above the rumble of earth.
There was movement to my left, and before I could check it out, something slammed into my legs, knocking them out from under me. I flew forward, hitting the ground hard enough to jar bones. Blood flooded my mouth, and pain radiated across my jaw.
I rolled on instinct, desperate to put distance between me and the beast, but a barrier coiled around me—metal glinting, steel plates whispering over each other. I sat up, palms braced at my sides as the serpent wound me in its snare.
Where the fuck were my axes?
The serpent reared up, glowing red eyes fixed on me, secure now that it had me trapped. It studied me, wavering, crimson eyes flaring bright then dimming.
Hope flickered in my chest. Maybe it didn’t want to kill me. Maybe it had changed its mind.
It let out a hiss and struck.
My heart shot into my throat, bowels going liquid as the serpent’s maw rushed toward me, ivory fangs gleaming in a mouth that was part metal, part pulsing organic material.
