Page 76 of Destined Dawn
I stand in the dark suite, my heart pounding, that dark magic sizzling, struck by indecision. What do I do?
I think on Spencer’s words.
It’s actions that make us, not where we come from.
But what have my actions been? I’ve killed and maimed. I’m in love with men who kill for fun, who have each tortured and hurt me in their own ways. And my temper! I blasted Spencer and Summer with crimson magic. I’m lucky I didn’t kill them. And oh, there have been so so many times I’d liked to have killed Summer Clutton-Brock and every single member of her little gang. Does that make me a bad person? An evil one? It must do! Does the dark blood in my veins, the crimson magic in my body, make me that way? Is Pip, my ever faithful familiar, the only thing that’s prevented me from falling into the darkness completely? From tearing up the world? And now that magic is more powerful than ever, is there anything that can hold me back?
What if I am something more sinister, far darker than the Lord Protector himself?
The beast seems to think I am. Seems to think I have been in the past too.
But they said the Black Prince was a dark magical, didn’t they? An evil man? And yet he doesn’t seem that way. He seems charming, his kingdom prosperous, his subjects loyal and happy, celebrating the return of his daughter with him.
The pain in my stomach from the freshly formed bond is unbearable and I drop down on my knees and scrabble through our discarded belongings, searching for the triggerwot.
“Rhianna.” I look up and find Azlan lurking in the doorway. “I’ve been looking for– What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I snap, yanking at empty pockets. “I’m searching for triggerwot.”
Azlan glances towards the bedroom. “You sealed the bond with Spencer. I felt it. We all felt it.”
“Yes,” I mutter as the pain makes me hiss.
“Why aren’t you in there with him now? There’s no need for triggerwot if you–”
“It’s complicated.”
He strides towards me and crouches down, hooking a finger under my chin and lifting my face to his.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Or do I have to go beat it out of him?” His voice is full of menace.
“It’s nothing to do with Spencer. I wanted to seal the bond with him. I wanted to be with him.”
“So again, I repeat, why are you out here?”
“I have to get back to the feast,” I mutter half-heartedly.
“Fine,” he says, standing up, cracking his knuckles and marching towards the bedroom.
“Wait! No!”
He halts but doesn’t face me.
“Something’s changed.” The pain in my gut is fierce and I screw up my eyes and grind my teeth.
“Your powers have grown again,” he says. “It happens every time you seal the bond with one of us. It’s grown all our powers.”
“Yes, but this time it’s different.”
He comes back to crouch beside me and reaches for his cloak in the pile of clothes, plucking triggerwot straight from his pocket and handing it to me. I chew on the leaves and immediately the pain eases. I sigh and rock back onto my behind.
“Explain,” he says.
“The dark magic – the crimson magic – it’s stronger than before. Much stronger.” I watch his face with anxiety. Is this where Azlan, ever dependable and loyal, finally realizes just how fucked up I am and recoils in disgust?
His face doesn’t change.
“It’s not surprising, Rhianna. Sealing the bond has increased your powers – all your powers.”
