Page 63 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

Forty Six

THE MAGIC OF LETTING GO

SOL RAN. She didn’t stop to decipher what he meant.

She just ran.

Wisps of lightning chased after her as she sprinted toward the other end of the arena. The ground was uneven and broken, forcing her to jump over holes while trying to not disintegrate into the air with regret.

With regret, disappointment, anger.

Sadness.

He swore he would die before placing her in danger, and she had so stupidly believed him. She shouldn’t have let her naivety get the best of her. Shouldn’t have let her feelings for a boy sway her logic, a boy she didn’t even know well.

Sol halted.

But she did know him.

For the overall good, huh?

She turned toward him. And as she did, the anger took hold like wildfire on the driest summer afternoon, bold and scorching, as it spread across her chest.

Cas wasn’t running toward her, merely walking with his Wards engulfing his wrists.

His eyes were pure violet.

“You’re a hypocrite,” Sol seethed. “You preach discipline in decisions, but you turn against me the second your emotional attachments are tugged.”

He stopped a few paces from her. “I will never get this mercy again.”

“I will give you this and more when I take the throne!” Her anger melted into despair with each passing second Cas didn’t look at her directly, with every foreign expression and movement he made. “Cas, please.”

It was like a dance. He lunged, but Sol evaded.

She ran, and he followed. She didn’t know how long they did this, only that it was long enough to leave her entire body shaking.

Although she was on the defensive, never once did he truly wield his Wards at her, only enough to keep her swaying from corner to corner.

She had no weapons, only wavering willpower—the dance became exhausting.

“Just kill me if you’re going to,” she yelled at him. “You’re holding back.”

He propelled forward with a boom of his lightning, this time catching Sol off guard as he tackled her to the ground. Air left her lungs as her back collided with the mud.

Cas pinned her in place, his thighs and knees squeezing her own as he leaned close. “I may be holding back, but you’re not even trying.”

Sol strained to pull air into her lungs. “I told you I wouldn't fight you–and unlike you, I don’t break my promises.”

He tapped her necklace subtly. “I won’t give you this opportunity again.”

She glared at him. “What are you—”

“If we stay like this longer, it will be suspicious.” His eyes were back to silver, soft and familiar. “Take the kill.”

Sol gritted her teeth and shut her eyes. “Never.”

She turned her head to the King, her anger flaring at the wicked smirk on his face.

“I call Rule and Law 5.4!” she yelled as loud as she could, dirt and wind swirling over her face.

The King’s smile instantly fell. His eyes hardened.

Sol looked back at Cas, who still hovered above her. He furrowed his brows at her in confusion. “What—”

“I’m sorry,” she said breathlessly, pressing her scarred palm to his chest. With her other hand, she pulled him down, pressing them together. Then, like an inhale, the space around them swelled.

Stilled.

And like an exhale, the magic burst.

It propelled from within her palm, unfolding and spreading with a force that pushed Sol back onto the ground.

She expected it to hurt or enhance her already aching body.

But it was the opposite.

For the first time in a long time, her thoughts calmed. Silenced.

The magic fizzled through her, whispering to every ache and wound to calm, engulfing her in the gentlest embrace.

All pain vanished, replaced with tender waves. She could have stayed there forever. On the ground, looking up at the radiant sun.

And she did.