Page 71 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

Fifty Three

IN COLD BLOOD

COMING OUT OF THE MIND SLAYER’S mental prison was aggravatingly disorienting.

The first thing that returned was Sol’s sense of touch.

She felt the cold, tiled ground beneath her, pressing on every aching part of her body.

Next was her sense of smell. She could scent the lilies and the soft afterthought of rosewood and sage.

The distinct odor of death was also thick in the air, prompting her eyes to pry open.

A headache bloomed at her temples.

“Easy, Sol,” a soft voice called.

Her vision danced and struggled to focus as she blinked and lifted her hand to her face.

“Sol.”

She groaned and looked toward the voice. “Cas?”

His face slowly came into focus, directly in front of her, leaning over her side while his violet Ward shimmered around them.

Sol settled her attention on him. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were pure starlight as they reflected the colors of his Ward. He laid a hand on her own, which she didn’t realize she cradled against her chest.

“Your wounds, are they deep?”

Sol blinked and looked down at her torso, suddenly aware of the sting. Blood pooled in her hands and stained her thin nightgown completely. That was enough to make her remember exactly where she was.

She could make out muffled noises beyond the Ward and could vaguely see the earth beneath them rumble with power.

The remnants of the Mind Slayer’s vision flooded into her mind.

For the second time in one night, she felt the anger kindle.

Had the vision with her mother been real?

Or was it another dream, induced by the month’s events?

Sol looked at him. “Lower the Ward.”

Cas lowered his hand and surveyed her. “What?”

“Lower the Ward.”

He remained silent for a moment. “What did it show you?”

Sol braced a hand on the floor below them, pouring her entire remaining energy reservoir into standing as the weight of the month’s events threatened to pull her down. Her knees wobbled, but she straightened fully.

Cas stood with her and held her arm “Sol—”

“Lower the Ward.” She held his gaze. “That’s an order.”

They stood face to face for what seemed like minutes as neither of them agreed to break their stare. Ultimately, Cas looked away.

“Don’t leave my side.”

The Ward melted from top to bottom.

The courtyard that had been a poised scene of serenity just hours before was now a chilling ruin.

The tree they had stood beneath to solidify the end of the Vows was completely uprooted, laying sideways as plumes of smoke rose from its roots.

The grass was scorched into ash, and the fountains that had once adorned the hedges spilled in broken streams. Nina had the creature locked on the ground, her arms wrapped around its torso as Sawyer lifted a thin blade engulfed in flames.

As she made to bring it down, the Jinn met Sol’s gaze and grinned.

“Stop,” Sol ordered, her voice stern and low.

Sawyer paused.

“Drop your weapon.” Sol walked toward them, heavily aware of Cas's unfaltering presence right beside her.

The Jinn’s grin widened.

Nina watched Sol cautiously, not flinching against the Mind Slayer’s thrashing. “Sol, what are you—”

“Sawyer, drop your weapon,” Sol said.

Her cousin’s blade extinguished as she lowered it to her side, still not removing herself from where she stood. She also watched Sol with a perplexed expression but said nothing as Sol walked up to the creature.

Sol looked down at it. “Who is Lorkin?” Her pulse raced beneath the gashes on her chest, her birthmark stinging like hot oil on her back. Still, it wasn’t as painful as the emotional anguish fighting to control her.

If only she wouldn’t have left.

If only she wouldn’t have fled.

The Mind Slayer kept its protruding, onyx eyes on her as they leveled. They flashed white as Sol glared. “Answer me.”

“The memory hit quite a sore spot, I see.”

Sawyer leaned closer, embers crackling around her wrists. “The

Princess asked you a question.”

Impatience hazed her vision. “I’m growing tired of this.”

The sounds of chaos continued all around them, as well as the scraping of metal as what Sol guessed were guards rushed their way. She remained focused on the Mind Slayer as it repeated, “I will never reveal my master’s location.”

“Then you’re no use to me.”

There was an overwhelming thirst for vengeance as she stretched her arm to Sawyer. “Your sword.” Wordlessly, her cousin obliged.

Cas tightened his grip around her bicep. “Sol—”

“Although I didn’t have a chance to taste her myself,” the Mind Slayer taunted as it leaned closer, its rancid breath inches away from her face. The blade trembled in her grasp. “I heard your mother’s blood was some of the most delicious Lorkin ever tasted.”

Sol let out a roar of fury as she stood and used her entire weight to impale the creature in its skull.

As the sound of death crackled, Sol saw her mother, fighting to buy her time that night seven years ago.

As she brought the sword back up and tears flowed down her face, she saw her mother’s pain as the thing named Lorkin suspended her in the air.

As she brought the sword down again and again until the creature’s head rolled to the ground beside her. She saw her mother’s beating heart devoured by a creature who had wanted her instead.

“Sol, it’s dead.”

She shouldn’t have run. She shouldn’t have bothered to knock and just torn the door down instead.

Sol trembled as hands wrapped around her own, suspending the blade above the creature’s tattered body. She could no longer see through the tears but vaguely felt the hands remove the blade from her grasp.

“It’s okay.” Hands remained around her own as a different set of arms gently encircled her waist and pulled her down to sit on the ground. “You’re okay, Sol.”

She sobbed harder. She was engulfed in a strong, careful hug from behind as she slumped back against Cas’s chest. Though his heart was as erratic as her own, his steady breathing began to lull her, and willed her to match it. She leaned her head to rest on him as she continued to silently cry.

Cas laid his head on her own. “It’s okay, Sol,” he said softly. “You’re safe.”