Page 83 of Seduced By Darkness
I don’t have that time.
I carry Vi within the portal. “Follow me when you have the chance,” I tell my friends. Carrying one or two people with me will be a lesser drain on the Hallow. “Mariana?”
She hurries to my side.
I stare at the three queens. All my life I’ve hidden what I am. I’ve quashed my power down small inside me, forced it within a cage of my own will. But now it unfurls within my chest as if it can sense my fury and my need.
I need you, I whisper to the Darkness, for the first and only time.
Instantly, the world drains of color. The pinprick pain of claws sinks into my mind.I’m listening.
We cannot let them see what we are. We cannot betray ourselves,I warn it.But I need you to power this fucking thing.
There’s a moment where I look down at the woman in my arms and I’m not myself.
It’s like I look through another set of eyes—the eyes of something cold and hard and ancient.
She’s dying,it tells me.
She’s not dying. I will not let her.
You’re not the one who can hold Death at bay,it mocks.Unleash me and I can save her. There’s no need to power the portal.
No. I stand firm.I know you feel something for her too. I know you’re just as drawn to her light as I am. We cannot allow Adaia to snuff out Vi’s light. Work with me, this one time.
There’s a long moment of silence.
You can’t fend me off forever,it tells me, and then shadows begin to swirl around my feet.I will power the Hallow. But I will need blood.
“Cut my palm,” I tell Mariana.
She looks at me as if I’m out of my mind.
“Just do it.”
One neat little slice across my palm and then blood wells.
Blood is where the power lies,whispers the creature inside me.
“You’ll never get it to work,” Adaia mocks. “Perhaps one of my healers can assist you? Maybe there will be enough left of her if you let me help.”
I look at her and know that the Darkness is staring back at her. Adaia actually flinches. “Know this, Queen of Asturia…. I have played by your rules. I have abided by your terms. I have given my word and I will not break it. But if anything happens to my wife, then I will come for you. We will not face each other over the heads of our armies. I will come for you in the night. I will come for you in your dreams. I will come for you and I will tear you to bloody pieces and there is nothing you can do to stop me.”
A dangerous laugh escapes me as I squat down and slam my bloody handprint against the cold stone beneath my feet.
The Hallow ignites.
Several screams meet my ears as the queens stagger back. I stare at Adaia as Edain wrenches her out of the way of the swirl of magic.
“You will pay for this one day, Adaia,” I whisper, knowing that she can hear me. “I promise once. I promise twice. I promise thrice. I will be the end of you. Nothing will take Vi from my side. I give you this promise of Darkness. Keep it close to your heart. Because at the end of our thirteen years, nothing will stay my hand. You think me weak?”
I smile at her.
Darkly.
And then I unleash all that power into the world, feeling the portal suck us into oblivion. I do what no mere fae should ever be able to do.
I power the Hallow myself.
