Page 62 of Blood of the Fallen
I saw her boots, taking languid steps in my direction, the long cloak lazily billowing behind her. Standing over me, Novus stepped on my wrist as blood continued to seep from the wound and splashed onto the dry earth. I tried to kick, but I couldn’t move my legs. One bead of blood. That was all I needed to drop into the coals, and I couldn’t do it—no matter that I was only a short distance away.
She regarded me with disdain. “This is where your little adventure ends, traitor.”
The magistrate lifted a hand, working a ball of fire in her hand. I closed my eyes, resigned. Maybe one day there would be someone strong enough to bring down the Academy and end the horrors they inflicted on the packs and covens.
But it wasn’t me.
A high pitch scream came at us. My eyes sprang open as Bethel wrapped her arms around Novus’s middle and knocked her to the ground. They rolled away in a tangle of arms and legs. I didn’t know if it was too late but, flicking my hand in the direction of the pit, I sent an arch of blood flying toward the coals. When they hissed, my eyes nearly rolled into the back of my head. I could feel my consciousness slipping away, but I held on.
Turning my head, I glanced in the opposite direction where Bethel and Novus still grappled. The latter came out on top and smacked a closed fist against Bethel’s jaw. Bethel cried out in pain, then went still.
“Fucking witch!” Novus cursed, pushing to her feet and extending an electrified hand toward Bethel’s chest.
“Coward,” I blurted out, my voice hoarse.
The magistrate’s head snapped in my direction, which was what I’d intended. I knew the insult would get to her. She had always disliked hearing that Magistrate Magnus was the bravest member of the Academy—not to mention there had been talk about her days as an apprentice and an unfortunate run-in with a vampire coven. Apparently, Novus had hidden while everyone else fought.
Forgetting Bethel and facing me, Novus approached.
Sensing the magistrate’s departure, Bethel opened one eye and peered at me. She’d been faking unconsciousness. I nearly gasped in relief but managed to only give a slight nod to let her know my blood was now with Kall’s, Maki’s, and Novuk’s, and she could do the spell.
I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath. I didn’t know if we were too late, but at least we’d tried. I tried. If I died today, I could only hope the Academy’s demise would come, eventually.
A hand squeezed my throat. My eyes sprang open. Magistrate Novus was kneeling beside me, her entire body buzzing with electric energy. The edges of her cloak glowed as she cocked her head, her gray eyes roving over my face. A tingling sensation wrapped around my neck. It spread to my jaw and chest, a gentle preamble to her full attack.
“I can’t hate you entirely, you know?” she said. “You did get rid of Magnus, so I have that to thank you for. I would let you live with the packs if you didn’t know so much. There would be no harm in letting you frolic around the forest with your tail between your legs. We’ve let the scattered wildlings do that for decades.”
My eyes widened.
Novus raised an eyebrow. “What did you think? That our lands were still infected because we couldn’t get rid of a few savages?” Shetsked. “Now, Jaz, you’re smarter than that. The wildlings are still here because they serve our purposes, because they support our way of life. They need… pruning every once in a while, but that’s all.”
My chin trembled with emotion as her words sunk in. “You will burn in hell,” I spat.
“I’ll meet you there,” she said in a sing-song voice as she squeezed my neck harder, leaned her weight into me, and glowed brighter.
Her killing blow was coming. My eyes darted to Bethel. She was staring up at the sky, her lips moving in a string of silent words. It was too late to complete the rite. Too late.
A choking sensation grew in my throat as Novus’s hand charged with the electric spell. Gathering what was left of my strength, I moved quickly. My hands wrapped around her arm, pointed claws unsheathing and sinking into her forearm.
She cried out in pain but didn’t let go. Instead, she clenched her teeth and released her spell, emptying the brunt of her power into me.
As the blast hit me, my body went rigid. Pain sizzled over my skin, muscles, and my very bones. I bit my tongue. Blood filled my mouth. I twitched and jerked, eyes rolling into the back of my head. It was the stake all over again. My entire world turned to pain until, at last, the twitching stopped, and I knew no more.
CHAPTER 25
Iwentunder,deepinto nothingness. The pain disappeared, and that was relief enough—even in the darkness. Death beckoned. It reached its black, gnarled fingers out to me.
There were things I’d wanted to do. There had been a full life ahead of me, things to discover. And now… there was nothing.
But many had gone before me, their futures cut short, too. It was my turn.
Resigned, I raised my hand and accepted the invitation. Bony fingers wrapped around mine, squeezing.
“Is this real?”I asked.
No answer.
“It’s all right. You can let go. Don’t fight it.”A voice that sounded much like my own said.
