Page 41

May

Can a dark blob of energy gloat? Because I’m totally getting gloating vibes off this asshole.

“You dare to defy me?” The god’s deep voice careens through my mind, crashing and bouncing and giving me a devil of a migraine with only one sentence.

I can’t help the mew of pain that escapes me, but there’s no way in hell I’m giving in to him. “You bet your sweet ass, I am!”

Naomi blinks out of sight. Where did she go?

Old May would have worried she left because she doesn’t believe in me. New May is ready to hope my friend’s up to something rad.

Proving me right, Naomi pops back into view with Selena. She pushes the healer in my direction, and as soon as Selena’s hand grips my arm, a wave of pain-free relief goes through me.

“You will leave,” the Dark God thunders, making my head ring again.

Everyone around me staggers or falls to their knees. Selena recovers enough to grip my calf, sending more healing magic racing through my body.

Fuck, this quest is going to hell in a handbasket, and if we don’t make it out of this, I’ll never be able to tease Aldronn with this saying, so that he can grump and complain about my colloquialisms.

A hiccupping noise escapes me, half sob, half laugh, as my eyes flick to him. I can’t bear the thought of losing him.

Worry carves lines into his face, and he catches my eye and calls out, “May, I l—”

“Don’t you fucking dare !” I cut him off, my own worry making my voice go shrill as I jab a finger at him. “Don’t you dare tell me you love me because you think we’re going to die. You save that shit until we’re good. You tell me after.”

“As you wish, my queen.”

“Enough!” the Dark God booms in my mind. “Leave here or perish, foolish mortals.”

I slap a hand to the goddess’s sphere. “Bitch, if you’re going to do something, get out here and do it already.”

Silence. Pure fucking silence. Right when I actually need her. Figures.

“You must free her,” Severin whispers in my mind.

“What do you think I’m trying to do?” I snap.

The dark fae climbs to his feet, his sword held at the ready. Lightning flickers from the god, and Severin jerks forward, running straight for me.

Aldronn leaps in between us, his sword blocking the strike Severin aimed at my heart, deflecting it easily. He lunges right as Severin’s mental voice says, “There’s a word you must speak.”

“Wait, Aldronn!” I scream. “He’s trying to tell me something!”

Aldronn yanks to an abrupt halt only possible because he’s so highly trained, his body responding with amazing speed.

“You must speak the word ‘release,’” Severin says.

I say, “Release” out loud, then repeat it mentally.

“Not in your language.” Severin sneers. “In the celestial tongue.”

“What are you doing, little puppet?” the Dark God booms. “Telling secrets to your new friend? It matters not.”

More of the dark blue lightning zaps Severin, and his body jolts. He turns haunted eyes upon me, his mental voice agonized. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what? You saved the mission! I can free the Moon Goddess now.” Luke will have the info I need.

The god’s bass voice resounds through my mind. Each word lands with the force of a sledgehammer pounding concrete, pain exploding behind my eyes. “Finish this!”

Severin winces, his limbs jerking like they’re not in his control. His sad, beautiful eyes meet mine, and there’s one last mental whisper of, “I’m so sorry.”

His body lunges.

Aldronn, still heeding my words not to hurt Severin, hesitates.

The dark fae does not, his sword piercing Aldronn’s chest.