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“You and your ancestors have tortured my mate for centuries.”

“I’m sorry!” The fear in his voice only angered me more.

“I’m not,” I answered. Then I put everything I had into my power and watched as the energy-flames that engulfed the Sprathian king grew higher. He screamed as his flesh began to disintegrate, bits and pieces searing off as if he were being cooked alive.

Although I wasn’t physically touching him, I felt him dying beneath my power. I felt his anguish, his agony. So I ended it quickly. Within seconds, Volund’s entire body incinerated into ash in front of me, cutting off his screams. He deserved a much slower, more painful death. But I wouldn’t stoop to his torturous level. Not ever.

“No!” The witch’s wails were long and drawn out. My attention turned to her. Sarai’s face was full of anguish for the loss of her beloved. Or, who she thought was the reincarnation of her beloved.

I wanted to kill her next, but I had used up most of my energy on Volund. Sarai was just as responsible for Elias’s pain and suffering as he was, and I would not feel guilty for her death any more than I did his.

She turned to me, a crazed look in her eyes. “The next time I see you, Princess Aurelia, you’redead.”

A deep growl bellowed from the giant wolf next to her. Elias turned towards her, teeth baring in a ferocious snarl. He should be the one to rid this world of her. He deserved that much.

Sarai gave me one last death-glare before sprinting towards the lake, Elias lunging after her. But just before he could clasp her in his mighty jaws, she dove headfirst into the water, her body disappearing entirely. Elias jumped in after her, but only landed in shallow water.

Shit. With her magic, she got away. Magically transported to gods knew where.

I took a step towards Elias, but was met with a wave of dizziness. I had used quite a bit of power that had been buried inside me for too long. And it was swiftly taking its toll on me.

I stumbled forward, and was met with a body of fur. I shuddered as the realization of what had just occurred hit me with full force. I just killed the King of Sprath with powers I had long forgotten. Powers that were hidden deep within me.

The fur I leaned against slowly transformed into human skin, and Elias pulled me into his arms.

“Aura,” he said, cupping my face between his hands and kissing my forehead. “Are you alright?” His eyes filled with worry as he held me.

“I think I’m okay,” I replied, not sure it was the truth.

“You’re a mythic.” He said it out loud like he was trying to convince himself.

I half-smiled, feeling faint and nauseous. “Yeah. Turns out I forgot.”

He let out a startled chuckle, but the sound of a faint cough caused a feeling of dread to wash over me. “Balor!” I yelled. I turned and ran to him, falling to my knees as I reached him. His breaths were extremely shallow, but he was still alive. Barely.

His eyes gently fluttered open as I took his blood-soaked hand in mine. “Hey, little fire girl,” he wheezed. This was something he used to call me when I was little, before I forgot who I was. I remembered it all now – the way my father and uncle used to play with me, teaching me not to be afraid of my own power.

“Uncle Balor,” I choked, tears streaming down my face. “No, no, no. Please, please. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”

“I’m so…sorry,” he said between shallow gasps of air. “I wish…I could…have told you.”

“Hush,” I said, pressing my free hand to his forehead. He felt cold. So cold.

“Please…forgive your father. He just wants…to protect you.”

“I know,” I sobbed. “I know.”

“I love you…little fire girl. Always.”

He took one more small gasp before his breathing stopped, and hiseyes glassed over.

“I love you too, Uncle Balor,” I cried.

Then I wept. I wept over his body until the sun lowered. Elias stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders, and patiently waited.

* * *

My mother was a powerful witch – daughter of a witch and a mythic. After the war in Zolmara, she fled to Rimor where, centuries later, she met and fell in love with my father, a human. She gave up her own immortality to spend the rest of her life with him.