Page 89 of Realm of Wind and Vines
I drag my gaze to the strange woman who I thought was my friend. Merciless death roars inside me.
“I don’t care. She needs to die.” I jerk my chin. “Get the plan in motion.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Standing in the messy living room of a house one street down from the square, I watch through the window as Alistair sneaks through the crowd on the other side and makes his way towards a wagon filled with hay. Lavendera has snapped out of her crazy state and is now making her way towards the street where Draven and I are hiding. The soldiers from the Silver Clan trail her from a distance.
Draven is standing behind me, watching our targets through the window as well. His chest is so close to my back that I swear I can feel the tension crackling like lightning in the air between us. He leans forward a little and tilts his head in order to keep Alistair in view when the fire wielder slips in behind a group before returning to the street in a place between Lavendera and her five guards.
When Draven twists his body like that, it makes his breath caress the side of my neck. Every time it happens, my spine tingles and my skin prickles. I squeeze my hand into a fist, trying to block out the sensation. Having his body this physically close when his heart is so far away is making me want to scream.
Out on the street, Alistair reaches the wagon filled with hayright after Lavendera has passed it. He pauses. With his face hidden underneath a hood, he watches Lavendera and counts down the distance. Once she has reached the spot we planned for, Alistair throws a fireball at the pile of hay.
“Death to the Icehearts!” he screams, and then bolts down the street.
The hay catches fire with a whoosh, sending a huge column of flames surging up into the air. Behind the wagon, the soldiers lurch into motion. Rushing forward, they dart around the burning wagon to locate the person responsible and protect Lavendera. But Alistair has already slipped inside a house across the street. He will jump out the window on the other side and then run back out through North Gate and out to the thorn forest where the others are waiting.
On the street, people scream as the massive pillar of flames stretches towards the blue summer sky.
I let out a huff of amusement. “Alistair still hasn’t learned the definition ofa small fire, I see.”
A laugh rips from Draven’s chest.
And there is a violent tug on the mate bond.
I whip around to stare at him in stunned surprise. He snaps his mouth shut and casts a panicked look down at his own chest. Conflicting emotions battle in his eyes like a churning storm.
“You felt that,” I say. It’s not a question. “That’s?—”
The door is kicked open.
I suck in a sharp breath between my teeth as I’m yanked back and whirled around. My heart skips a beat as I find myself pressed against Draven’s chest with his arm wrapped protectively around my back right before a sharp thud rings out above me. I snap my gaze up.
A sword has slammed into Draven’s shoulder, his armor stopping the blow. Time seems to slow to a crawl as I stare at the sharp blade that now rests on Draven’s shoulder, wielded by the soldier behind his back who had aimed the sword at my neck.Draven’s arm is still wrapped around my waist as he holds me tightly while shielding me with his own body.
My heart beats hard against my ribs as I stare up into Draven’s face.
Fear and desperation flit across his features for a second as he stares back at me with wide eyes.
Then the soldier yanks his blade up to strike again.
A blast of wind slams into the soldier. He flies backwards and crashes into the wall behind him so hard that the table beside him rattles on the uneven floorboards while another gust of wind slams the door shut.
Draven shoves me out of his arms and shoots me a disgusted look. “Told you that you would screw it up.”
Fury roars through me, so intense that my vision flashes red for a second. Fury at the world. Fury at the whole universe. At the cruel gods and goddesses who let me have a small taste of happiness and love before ripping it all away and turning it into a constant mental torture that is worse than anything I’ve ever experienced.
Shoving past Draven, I stalk up to the Silver Clan soldier and slam my boot into his jaw before he has a chance to regain his wits and struggle to his feet. His head snaps to the side from the hard kick. I call up my magic and slam a bone white wildfire of fear straight into his chest.
Pleasure immediately floods my body.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I drag in a small shuddering breath of relief as that sparkling warmth drowns out the agony in my heart.
I increase the fear in the soldier’s chest and relish in the feeling of pleasure that continues surging through my body. Beneath me on the floor, the soldier trembles and whimpers in fear.
A vicious smile curves my lips as I stare down at himcowering at my feet. This is where he belongs. This is where they all belong.
“Please, stop,” he gasps out, staring up at me with terrified eyes. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
