Page 47 of Darkness Births the Stars #1
He didn’t chastise me for blatantly breaking the training rules, meeting my renewed attack with the same condescending amusement that had set me on edge since the moment we had started this fight.
I channeled more magic, sending it toward him in a blazing arc he couldn’t escape. See how he dealt with that.
He didn’t. He vanished an instant before it hit, the force so great the air shimmered in the aftermath, small patches of grass catching fire. I barely noticed Ashur and Namtaz dousing the fires with their Water magic, too occupied with the blade that touched my neck again, this time from behind .
“Dead again.” He had shifted. I had not even thought of doing that during a fight. “Curse it. You’re a goddess.” Belekoroz’s voice in my mind sounded nearly disappointed. “Use your magic to your advantage. Don’t be so fucking predictable.”
I whirled around, retaliating with a storm of blazing lights. This time, I got through his defenses. A tendril of magic grazed his cheek like an angry lover’s slap, cutting his skin, drops of bright red blood pearling down.
He ignored the shocked outcries of our brethren, his eyes never leaving mine. A provoking smile played on his lips as he wiped off the blood. “Such a sore loser, my queen?”
My powers roared in my ears, urging me to unleash them, to show him his place.
“I think this is quite enough.”
Aramaz. Worry sharpening his voice. Despite all his blindness, my betrothed was not completely oblivious.
“Stay out of it!” I didn’t even look at the king, my eyes fixed on his brother. “No magic,” I growled, not trusting my control, but unwilling to give up. My hands tightened around my staff in single-minded determination. I could take him on. I refused to accept anything else.
That vexing smile deepened, his eyes glinting. At least one of us was enjoying themselves immensely. “If you think that will help.”
It might have been the fact that I let my anger rule me, attacking with no finesse, forgetting all my training, just trying to wipe that condescending expression off his face.
Or maybe Belekoroz had held back and now lost his patience.
Whatever the reason, this round ended even quicker.
A powerful thrust of his sword sent me down, my staff flying from my grasp.
The impact of the ground beneath my knees hurt less than the blow to my pride .
“You’re dead again.” Of course, Belekoroz did nothing to lighten it, triumphant glee in his voice.
“I told you my brother is being too soft on you.” My hands buried into the dark earth in impotent rage at his taunting.
A suggestive laugh echoed through my mind.
“Though I must admit, seeing you on your knees in the mud brings back some wonderful memories.”
Something inside me cracked. My control was eviscerated to ashes as my powers rose to a violent storm, drowning the world in a red haze.
When I came to myself once more, I was straddling a tall, muscular body clad in armor. Belekoroz. I must have shifted, my magic slamming him into the ground. His head was thrown back, the dark waterfall of his hair splayed around him.
My hand was on his throat, my flesh shimmering and shifting as my grip on my corporeal form slipped.
He stared up at me, no apprehension on his face, his powers oddly dormant.
For a breathless moment, I saw myself reflected in his fathomless eyes—gleaming fangs, glowing silver eyes, flames writhing around me like fiery wings.
I heard Aramaz shout my name as if from a faraway distance, Tanez and Khiraz cry out in panic, Sha’am’s vicious curses.
Burning heat gathered between my fingers.
It would be so easy to call in the Flame and let it burn free, to incinerate Belekoroz’s very being until only ashes remained.
Destroy him, destroy everything, make it all end.
“Oh, yes. There you are, my queen.” His voice was the only thing that reached me. “More glorious than ever.”
Not a hint of fear in him. Only a reckless fire that matched my own, obsidian eyes wild, lips curling into that vexing smile.
For one insane moment, I was tempted, so tempted to damn it all to the Abyss and just do it—bridge the distance between us and catch those enticing lips in a possessive, biting kiss .
“Imagine their faces if you did.” Belekoroz’s mind-voice turned into a rough whisper, so at odds with the cold, arrogant expression he presented to the world. “Or if I took you in that mud right now and taught you some manners.”
Of all the things in the Allfather’s creation to say to me… Did he want to push me over the edge?
Probably. I had to be more careful. While he had agreed to keep our entanglement secret, I had a lot more to lose than him. Rebellion was in his blood. And what was this madness between us if not the ultimate act of defiance against the Allfather’s wishes?
Desire and fury still roiling in my veins, I fought for control as I clambered off him and stood. My face was an emotionless mask as I extended a hand to help him up.
Aramaz stepped next to me, his worry palpable. I avoided his gaze. Thankfully, he didn’t touch his mind to mine. I doubted I would have been able to hide my agitation. Belekoroz and I had given our fellow Aurea quite the spectacle. There would be talk.
Belekoroz took my hand, but his gaze remained on the king as he let me pull him up, an insolent edge to his smile. “Your betrothed is a feisty one, brother,” he said with a laugh, as if this was all tremendously amusing. To him, it probably was. “Are you sure you can keep her under control?”
The glint in his eyes reminded me that his jealousy of Aramaz was a large part of the motivation for his every action.
His moods were as tempestuous and ever-changing as Ashur’s seas, his passions ignited as easily as his wrath.
I wouldn’t put it past him to throw our relationship in his brother’s face in a moment of rage.
I was straddling a fine line, in constant danger of falling.
The thought should have been terrifying, not exhilarating. Lyr help me.
Before anyone could break the tense silence that had descended on the training field, a shrill chime pierced the air.
It was the magical alarm we had set up to warn us of a new attack.
Aramaz froze, his face a mask of concentration as he reached out with his magic to ascertain the location of the threat.
After a few moments, the king nodded. “There’s another attack on Hisarelain, one of the southern villages.
Fortunately, Tayshren was nearby with a patrol of Anima when the alarm sounded.
They’re already on their way.” A dark look crossed Aramaz’s strong features.
“There are more Kritak than ever before. A rupture in the Veil has opened right next to the village. We need to assist them immediately.”
Noticing Belekoroz’s reluctance, I contemplated saying something, but Sha’am beat me to it.
His mighty golden axe clasped in his broad hands, he grinned provocatively at the Aurea of Darkness.
“How lucky, Belekoroz. You can join us today in defending our lands. Some of us wondered if you were too afraid of a few spiders to do your part.”
Belekoroz’s answering smile was more a baring of his teeth. “Don’t worry, Sha’am. I will defend you against those terrifying creatures if you can’t handle them yourself.”
“Are you alright?” Tanez asked, moving to my side. Her green eyes were inquisitive as her mind touched mine with the invigorating freshness of an early spring day.
“Yes. We will talk later,” I answered. A tendril of Air brought my staff back into my hands. I didn’t know how to dispel her suspicions, but the king’s order to take spirit form spared me from making an excuse.
One by one, we summoned our magic and let go of our corporeal forms, dissolving into glittering lights.
As beings of power, we could take our clothes and weapons with us, incorporating their essence into our magical signature.
However, this required concentration. The more powerful an object, the harder it was to carry in spirit form.
Still, the drain on our power and focus was far less than remaking it completely anew.
We raced toward the Elvish village in a swirling cloud of magic, even M’tar joining us, having left his work in the forge.
Chaos greeted us upon arrival. Buildings were ablaze, dark smoke filled the air, and the ground teemed with Kritak.
A group of Anima held the line, protecting the retreating Elvish families.
A relieved cry went up as we descended between them and the enemy, reverent prayers echoing around us.
We wasted no time, tearing into the Kritak without mercy.
Sha’am and Zamani led the charge from the center, joined by their second-in-command Dhustan in his giant bear form.
He had been one of the Anima defending the village.
They cut a path through the creatures, their shrill shrieks piercing our ears.
M’tar and Tanez brought up the rear, dealing with any surviving foes.
Seeing that the Aurea of Air and Water moved to the left, Aramaz nodded at me and Belekoroz, motioning for us to join him in pressing in on the Kritak from the right.
Lightning struck as the king called upon his magic, reducing half a dozen creatures to ashes.
Unlike me, Air was the aspect of Order Aramaz preferred most next to his own Light, his power manifesting in blinding strikes of pure energy.