Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I’m vaguely aware of Carrick defending himself against Rune who is hurtling powerful streaks of energy at him. Carrick’s ax slices so fast through the air, it’s a blur as he deflects them all.
I reach the altar to find Zora gasping with wide eyes. “It’s back. It’s back.”
“What’s back?” I ask as my hands go to the shackles around one wrist. I feel the magic within them and it’s beyond strong. Ordinarily, I’d be able to crush such an obstacle, but they’re not budging.
“My power… it’s back,” Zora says, her voice stronger. “He was taking it… and now… it’s back.”
And just like that, the shackles disintegrate into silky charcoal sand.
I help Zora sit up, a hand to her back. While her skills removed her chains, she still seems frail. She rubs at her wrists. “You came for me.”
“We all did,” I say tersely, even as I’m overwhelmed with relief she’s okay.
“Maddox,” Carrick yells, and I spin toward him. He doesn’t say another word as he fiercely battles Rune, but the way his attention keeps cutting to the other side of the cave tells me his attention is split.
Rune hurls a ball of energy at Carrick and at the same time makes a slicing motion with his other hand. Carrick deflects the magic but in needing to look at Finley again—willing her to be okay—he doesn’t defend against the large gash that opens across his chest.
Not a killing blow, but it knocks my brother backward.
I spring into action, running toward them. I throw my own blast of power at Rune, just enough to distract. Carrick tosses me the ax as I pass him. It’s barely in my hand before he disappears, bending distance to the other side of the cave to Finley.
Teeth gleaming in a malicious smile, Rune motions with his hands for me to take him on. He’s confident in his power and abilities, although Carrick was holding his own. Granted, he was mostly defending, but I intend to go on the offensive and end his miserable life.
CHAPTER 20
Zora
Chaos is all around and I’m frozen in place as I take it all in. Moments ago, Rune began pulling my powers from me. Somehow Ariman reversed the venom, stoked my magic, and Rune started siphoning in a well-choreographed thievery. I was powerless to stop it.
And now… I’m free, and my closest friends in the world are here to save me.
My first concern is Finley, who took what would be a lethal hit from Rune if she were a mere human. I’m relieved to see Carrick helping her sit up. She looks shaky but is pushing him away, a gesture for him to rejoin the fight.
My oldest friend, Amell, battles Ariman. While the priest is one to always rely on his dark magics, Amell is going after him with a mace. I know his preference would be to pummel him to death, and if given the option, that’s what he’ll do.
And Maddox is engaging Rune… the most dangerous one here. I never thought he would come to rescue me after the way I cast him aside so cruelly. Different from Carrick, Maddox has conjured a golden shield made of pure magic—not metal—by which to refract spells Rune casts at him, all while inching closer to slice at him with the battle-ax. I recognize the weapons of the gods and have no clue how they came to have them, but I’m grateful.
But there’s something I know that none of them do, and it’s only because I felt it inside my body when Rune was on top of me.
The Blood Stone is far more powerful than they could imagine, having grown in intensity and breadth. They’ve not seen what Rune can do with it yet and I’m afraid of what’s yet to come.
I, however, am at full charge, whatever power Rune had pulled from me snapping back into my soul the minute Finley severed the connection. It’s no contest where my efforts will go, for Rune is the biggest danger.
I search around and locate Valshour wriggling across the stone floor toward where Amell and Ariman are fighting. There’s no doubt in my mind, it intends to defend the dark priest.
Focusing on the creature, I lift it in the air. Writhing violently from the unexpected confinement, it hisses so loud the sound rises above the magical blasts and weapons clanking. My gaze whips to Rune as I sling the reptile at him. My aim is on the mark, its jaws opened wide and prepared to sink into Rune’s face.
But the former god is too quick, able to keep his focus solely on Maddox but somehow hold up a hand to stop the snake in mid-flight. He makes a squeezing motion and the snake falls limp before dropping to the ground in a useless coil. The blue eyes go milky with death.