Page 39 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“You and I need to have a littlechat, Human.”

Chapter 14

Max

Collapsing onto the floor, blood dripping from my eyes and nose, I wipe with trembling hands as my stomach rolls.

So much death.The fields were covered, destruction open and all-consuming.

My body shakes as I exhale, pushing the need to vomit away, locking my magic down. Giving into it for so long doesn’t happen. I spend every day hiding it, ignoring the call, forcing the drums of hearts to leave my ears.

This, though, was opposite. My magic was ravaging, seeking out enemies and crushing their hearts without mercy. I could barely breathe, let alone think, as it flowed through me.

Nessa told me to be frightened of it.She was right.

Standing on wobbling legs, knees knocking from fear and exhaustion, I grab the wall for support, turning to see the Dark Fae guards at a corner. Studying them, I pause, confused as the sounds of battle ring through in the air. I don’t know why they’re there, but I’m thankful for the extra level of protection.

Slammingagainst my bedroom door, bile rises up my throat. The carnage, the wails of guards dying weighs on my mind, magic hissing at being caged. I feel awful, full of this hunger to take and the fear that I shouldn’t have allowed my magic freedom.

It was sheer luck I was able to pull it back once Tay reached the healer’s tent.

My magic responds too easily to threats, needing to kill all perceived enemies. It’s horrible and terrifying. But even as my body sways, I good with something so fearsome.

Can my magic be so terrible if it can be used for good?

Grabbing the handle, a drum beats into the base of my skull and I react, body dropping as a sword hacks into the wooden door above my head.

Heart pounding, my throat dries as I stare at the blade. Myneckwas right there.

A man leans over my frame as I hunker low, eyes blurry from tiredness, body drained. I’ve never let my magic take this much— I’m practically dead on my feet.

The raider’s eyes crinkle, a malicious smile under his mask as he scans my body. Blood paints my face, hands, smeared on to my clothing. And that smile grows larger.

He thinks I’ve been injured, which makes me an easy target for him to dispatch. Rage burns in my belly at the insinuation. For the second time, a male has thought to take from me, to think meweak.

The Dark Fae’s words float to me.I am not a defenseless kitten.

Gripping that rage, I let it empower me as I lower my eyes to the man’s chest. He pulls the blade from the door, rising to to swing again but my hands respond, hovering above my face.

Finding his heart, my mind’s eyes sees it thrashing, pumping with excitement for a kill. I snarl— that won’t be me. I refuse to be a victim.

Grasping hard onto my magic, I pull on those invisible threads of life, and call his blood to my command.

It’s difficult—slow. He swings and I duck, shoulder slamming into the floor, unable to brace from impact. I’m too tired—too exhausted, but I have to keep fighting. I cannot die here, like this.

Trying again, I seize his blood just as the sword lowers to my face. His body jerks, halts, eyes wide.

My body aches at the exertion but I hold firm, fingers twisting as digits darken. Pushing him back, his legs move, a puppet on strings and I rise.

The blood thrashes in my ears as my magic preens, happy to be used. It’s limitless but my body cannot handle much more. It’ll kill me if I let it.

Inhaling, I tighten my hands, cupping them together as if close a ball and within my mind, I see the raider’s heart shudder. Under the pressure, it pops, deflates, exploding inside his chest.

I release my magic right away and he falls, a forgotten corpse, hitting the hall floor and my stomach turns.

Not waiting to see if the Dark Fae heard the fight, I run into my room and slam the door behind me, red blood smearing the edges.

My stomach lurches and I barely make it to the washroom, vomiting as my mind spins.