Page 141 of The Rebel and the Rose
Maker!it cried.
But Sera’s target was already made. By his own hand, he had cheated fate. Taken something from that storm that did not truly belong to him.
Unmake him, she cried to her magic and to Saint Oriel.
Pull out the thread.
Take out the pretender.
Power emanated from her like dragon fire, her body glowing like a lit flame as she landed on the prince. They fell to the ground together. Ignoring the rising shouts behind her, Sera pinned him there, pressing her hands into his face. He bucked and screamed, the scent of his burning flesh invading her nostrils.
Not enough.
Take his power.
Unmake him.
Plunging her fist into his mouth, she reached for that serpent’s tongue. She caught his scream in her fist and crushed it with her magic. It was wet and slimy in her grip, even as it sizzled.
Hands on her shoulders now.
Almost there.
More around her neck.
So much blood.
A blade at her throat.
Rip it out.
She was dragged away, into a swell of soldiers.
No.
No!
Convulsing from the pain of their encounter, Andreas rolled onto his side. Soldiers alighted on him like fretful butterflies, using their coats to mop up the blood pouring from his mouth, holding his head steady as he retched and vomited.
Wild-eyed and panting, it took Sera a moment to get her legs beneath her, to realize that Lark was the one restraining her.
‘Fool,’ he hissed in her ear. ‘Don’t you know a beast that can’t be trained will be put down.’
She slammed her head backwards, shoving that gaudy mask into his nose until it crunched. ‘Enjoy your leash, dog.’
‘At least I know how to keep my friends alive,’ he sneered, spinning her around.
Sera saw Val first. Bent double on the floor, she was keening like a wounded animal. Reaching towards a familiar slip of emerald satin.
It took Sera longer than it should have to follow that green ribbon. To bring herself to look at the body lying next to her own feet. The body she had abandoned when she threw herself at Andreas.
Bibi.
There was such a tearing in Sera’s chest. A deep, sucking sob burst from the puncture wound in her heart. She gasped for air but there was only pain.
Bibi wasdead.
The bead of Lightfire at her throat lay shattered on the floor beside her, her once vibrant blue eyes turned black from Shade. Curled up on either side of her, as if they were simply sleeping, were the young princes of Valterre.
