Page 381 of Bitten By the Fae

“Okay.” She didn’t falter. She merely kept running, our hands still linked.

And we leapt into the core of the dark source’s power, the light blinding us both. Her palm disappeared from mine, but we woke up in the bed beside one another in the next breath. I inhaled sharply, looking at her and meeting her gaze.

Then the mattress shook beneath us as power ripped through the air.

Zakkai and Zeph were both on their feet, their wands in their hands as they fought an attack from outside.Fuck, I thought, trying to sit up and join them. But my body refused the movement. Aflora appeared to be having the same struggle beside me, both of us weakened by her first ascension trial.

You passed, I assured her.Six more to go.

She groaned in response. Then she closed her eyes and began murmuring enchantments that had my eyes widening. They were advanced incantations, ones I hadn’t taught her.

But a glance at Zakkai told me where she’d learned them—through their mating link. His silver-blue gaze fell to her, pride momentarily lightening his expression before he growled at the incoming attack from the outside.

The foundation rocked around us, knocking me into Aflora. Power blasted out of her, hitting the sides of the paradigm with a fortification charm that had my heart stopping in unadulterated awe.

Energy rippled down her arms, the dark source’s mark marring her pale skin with inky lines.

She finished the incantation on an exhale, and the world fell silent.

Zakkai and Zeph immediately fell to the bed, their exhaustion evident.

Then Zakkai bit into his wrist and held it to Aflora’s mouth. “Drink,” he demanded.

Zeph followed suit, putting his wrist to my lips. “You, too, little prince.”

I tried to snort at the nickname, but I could barely form the sound. So I latched onto his vein instead, sinking my incisors deep into his skin and taking my fill of his blood.

It only took a few pulls for life to thrive through my being, reinvigorating my reserves and drawing me firmly back into the present. The dreamlike filter over my eyes dissolved, allowing me to truly see the damage around the room.

Although, I wouldn’t exactly call it a room anymore.

Because there was no roof.

And the bed?

It was a mound of dirt overlaid with dead flower petals.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked as I released Zeph’s wrist.

“War,” Zakkai replied flatly. “A damn war.”

“Constantine attacked shortlyafter you fell unconscious,” I added. “Shade fucked off to who knows where, leaving Zakkai and me to uphold the paradigm alone for… I’m not actually sure how long.”

“Two hours and seventeen minutes,” Shade announced as he appeared. “I’ve been trying to get back inside, but Constantine had a mass of energy blocking all entries and exits.” He lookedat Aflora. “I have no idea how you did that, little rose, but it’s mighty impressive.”

I was torn between punching him in the face for leaving and agreeing with him.

Considering he returned, and it probably was Constantine’s fault that he hadn’t been able to enter, I opted for the latter. “Very impressive,” I echoed, brushing my knuckles across her cheek.

Then I frowned. “Now why can’t I hear you?” I couldn’t hear Kols, either.

“Constantine did something to our bonds,” she said, her attention going to Zakkai.

A question formed over her lips, but the Quandary Blood said, “Take what you need,” before she had a chance to voice it.

He leaned down to press his forehead to hers, their mouths grazing in a light kiss that had me narrowing my eyes.

Kolstov and Shadow I could accept.