Page 195 of Curse of Darkness
“I can stop this. I can stop him.”
Desperation darkens his eyes as he shakes his head.No. Please no,that shake says.
The Mother of Night’s last words echo through my veins. “The crown has no power over you. Not if you don’t let it. But you will need it if you hope to defeat him. No more fear, Vi. The crown cannot force you to become something you’re not—it needs a seed of ambition, rage, or viciousness to nurture. And you have none of that. Gird yourself with your kindness and shield your heart with your empathy, and there will be nothing with which it may fuel itself with. You proved yourself true when you faced your mother. If there was even a hint of what the crown needs to twist you, then you would have killed her. Rise up, Vi. Rise up and become what you were always meant to become.”
And I make my decision.
“Let go, Thiago.”
His startled gaze shoots toward me, then a flicker of absolute fury crosses his brow. “We promised we’d do this together. Forever. You and me.”
“You’re the only one who can stop him right now. You’re the only one who can save them.”
“Vi!” He swivels his other arm over the edge, grabbing for my slippery hand. “Climb up! Use your legs. Climb up!”
“Thiago.” My boots find purchase on the rocky edge of the crevice. “I love you. I want you to know that. I will always love you.” I squeeze his hand hard, trying to force him to understand. The power of the Hallow swims through me as I gather all those threads—all those leylines—and pluck at their strings. Light begins to shine through me. “I need you to hold him off. Give me time to rise.”
“Rise?” His confused gaze searches mine.
“Rise,” I confirm, the Hallow’s power throbbing through me. Gravel skitters over the edge of the crevice. The world behind him vanishes as my skin lights up like a supernova. All I can see are his green eyes and dark brows. “I’m coming back for you, Thiago. I promise. But you need to let me go so I can go save the world.”
And then I shove against his hold, my sweat-slick skin slipping through his grasp.
Arching back into space, I reach along the leyline, feeling the Hallow in Ceres answer my call.
“Come to me,” I whisper, summoning the Crown of Shadows.
Heat blisters my skin.
Light blinds my eyes.
Raw power swims through my veins.
I slam into that well of power, feeling it sear right through me, even as my hands curl around the crown that suddenly appears. It blazes with heat, crumbling to ash in my fingers. All of that hatred, gone. All of the vicious relentless drive to destroy…. Nothing but ruin. A powerful offering for the Hallow.
A sacrifice.
It’s the last thing I know before the power burns through me.
42
THIAGO
“Vi!” I scream as she plunges into that golden aurora of pure power.
Her body slams into it, then vanishes.
Silence.
An eerie fucking throb echoes, as if time and space slows down, every single rasp of my breath through my lungs feeling like I’m choking on gravel.
The light pulses, and then it explodes outwards.
I roll away just in time.
It gushes through the crevice, soaring into the sky as if the Hallow vomits raw and bloody power.
The Horned One turns, and for a split second I see fear on his face.
