Page 55 of Ringmaster (The Kingdom of Shadow & Bone #1)

Her eyes dart past me. “Azrael, I’ll always sacrifice myself for you. It’s what I was created to do, but I’ll always come back to you. I promise I’ll always choose to return you.”

I place a finger against her lips. “Don’t say those things. I can’t bear the thought of losing you again. I’ll never forgive myself for the first time—I doubt I could survive a second.”

She strokes her hand down my cheek. “You must forgive yourself. And you must survive. I promise you, Prince of Shadow and Bone, I will always come back to you.” Mercy pulls me in for a kiss.

Its softness lingers on my lips as she breaks away.

“There, sealed with a kiss, “ she says, reciting the same words I used on her.

“I love you, Mercy.”

“I love you too, Azrael.”

“How are you feeling? Are you well?” I ask her, suddenly remembering everything she’s been through.

She pauses, thinking my question over before answering. “I suppose I feel okay. Normal. Maybe like I have more power than before, and my body feels strange, but otherwise I’m fine.”

More power? Mercy is already filled with power.

If anyone was to give her any additional power, she might even be a match for me.

What did the Fates say? My equal—could that mean she’ll be just as powerful as I am?

I shake my head, sorting my thoughts. “Right. Well, that’s to be expected.

I suppose it makes sense for some things to feel different.

Technically, you’re shadow-touched now. You’ve walked alongside death, and returned to the mortal—I stop myself—returned to the human world.

” I’m not sure how much she knows, and the last thing I want to do is commit an offense that allows the Fates to destroy me.

She smiles. “I think there’s more to it than that.”

“I wish we had the time for me to explain, angel. But I must release my hold on time before the Fates show up to punish me. Are you ready for whatever we’re about to face when I do?” I ask her, willing to risk holding time longer if she needs me to.

“What exactly do you mean?” She asks as I help her stand, pulling her against me.

Needing to feel her in my arms after what felt like an eternity of emptiness.

Her softness folds against my hard lines and ridges, fitting against me like we were made for one another—because we were.

I breathe her in, savoring every part of this moment like it could once again be our last. The Fates are cruel.

Destiny is cruel. They would gladly take away what has only just been returned to me.

Anger explodes within me at the thought.

I kiss her several times—on the shoulder, up her neck, on the cheek, and then finally my lips take hers.

When I pull away, the ache in my chest rises, answering in response to the loss.

“There was a disturbance right as you were returning. I fear it’s the Ringmaster, come to face me now that I know who he truly is.”

Wide-eyed and serious, Mercy feels along her corset, pulling the daggers I gifted her from their sheaths. “I’m ready.”

I nod. With a snap of my fingers, time unfreezes and my shadows dissipate to reveal the scene awaiting us.

The Ringmaster stands on the other side of the tent with Mercy’s family. Their gasps fill the silent space as time settles. Malicor is with him, at his side like an obedient little stooge.

“What are you doing here?” I snarl, stepping protectively in front of Mercy as Sylis runs to my side, followed swiftly by Zora.

“I was coming to pay my respects to the deceased and see how you were doing,” he lies. “But I see that’s no longer necessary.”

“Then I’ll see you back at the house,” I reply sternly, a threat laced along the surface of my words.

“About that. I think we both know why it’s impossible,” he snarls, tapping his walking stick against the ground.

A crack forms between our side and his in the tent. Gradually it crumbles, growing in size as the earth begins to break apart and widen.

“Mother. No!” Mercy screams, bursting from behind me to leap across while it’s still a small enough cavern to clear.

But I don’t need to jump. I have fucking wings to carry me to the other side.

They burst from the shadows, stretching wide across my back, filled with fury, feather, and bone as my shadows leap at him, shielding Mercy protectively as she sprints to her mother.

For the second time tonight, I picture time obeying me, and it does, skidding to a complete halt, Only the Endless four are able to move.

This frees me up to focus on Malicor and the Ringmaster without needing to protect our family and friends who were gathered.

A protective shield separates us from them.

Mercy pushes against it, and I push back harder in warning—not to fight me.

She turns to leverage a glare, pressing a hand against it instead, mourning the space keeping her from reaching her mother.

The Ringmaster raises his walking stick again, but I’m stronger and faster.

Reaching deep into my powers, I lash out with a tendril of darkness, snapping the stick in half.

He’s cut off from his power amplifier. It doesn’t stop him from flicking his wrist to send a set of bleachers hurling right for my mate.

Chaos erupts. Once again, my shadows foil his attempt—blocking every move he makes.

We battle like this back and forth a few times before he summons a sword to his side.

Memories come back, washing over me as time slows long enough for me to process each one.

This sword was used to slay me, trapping me in a rebirth cycle.

My own blood—the ones who imprisoned me and stole my wife.

Such unforgivable acts. Time moves forward, and the Ringmaster turns his focus on me.

I launch into the air, offensively barreling right for him. With a sharp inhale, I summon Soul Slayer from its sheath. It appears in my hands midair, gripped tightly, the blade aimed for his heart.

The Ringmaster is ancient and powerful, filled with the souls I’ve been ignorantly supplying him. He dodges my attack, sending me flying off course with a flick of his wrist.

I narrowly avoid crashing into the canvas of the tent, veering at the last second.

Gritting my teeth, I regroup and draw more power from my core.

Shadows whip out, wrapping around him, crushing him in their grasp.

They swirl around like a twister, tightening and tightening as I bind him—sword drawn, ready to strike.

My wings beat furiously, carrying me through the air so he can meet his destruction.

He swipes at me with the deadly blade, the metal hissing as if whispering a promise of destruction.

He won’t be imprisoned in Hell. No—his actions have earned him annihilation, never to exist again.

Not until the Fates deem him worthy of another chance.

He screeches in terror, stabbing at me again. Once more I dodge his advance. His glamour slips, finally succumbing to the force of my shadows as more of his life drains away.

Malicor realizes his master’s life is in danger and charges for Mercy.

Rage erupts, rippling through the tent with a force strong enough to unravel the universe.

It’s too late to change course. My sword plunges into the Ringmaster just as I beat my wings hard to turn toward her.

I’m not fast enough. The tip of my blade pierces his shoulder, missing his heart by inches, but slicing deep enough to cripple him. One more blow, and he’s done for.

I’ll take care of him later. Mercy is my focus now. If Malicor harms her—my roar tears through the tent as my shadows release the Ringmaster and surge to protect her.