Page 16

Siorai has answered my prayer, I think to myself as the soldier reaches for my arms once more.

The fool obviously doesn’t know when he should run, the otherworldly voice mocks.

A smirk dances across my lips.

“If you know what is good for you,” my voice croons, “you will unhand me.”

The buildings on the edge of town shine as light floods the space, but is not by firelight. Firelight is dim in comparison to this. No, it’s as if the sun itself is being held here. Every corner that’s touched by the darkness is illuminated, including the foolish soldier’s ashen face.

“Holy Celestae!” he exclaims, releasing me. He trips over his feet as he inches away from me, rubbing his eyes like he doesn’t quite believe what he’s seeing .

I glance down and I’m… glowing? Every inch of my body is wrapped in iridescent light.

It’s not the light that I’ve seen burn from a fire wielder.

No, this is something different entirely.

Fires created by wielders are usually soft glows, but this…

this light irradiates the faces of those that thought their sins could be hidden in the night.

It makes the darkness cower and bend to my will.

It coils through me, waiting for my command.

I lock eyes with the stumbling man.

“Boo,” I whisper.

Without hesitation, he takes off running into the night.

Be their reckoning, the powerful voice says, practically shouting now.

I stand slowly as I continue to feed off the energy of this light.

I look to where the soldier is pinning Cara to the wall.

His eyes are wild, looking almost as ashen as his friend.

I glance at Cara, who’s equally as stunned.

For this one moment, I don’t feel the need to cower or be demure.

I don’t care for the consequences of what will happen to me as long as I can get Cara home safely.

I’m not just the woman that enjoys quiet evenings or the pretty face to become someone’s prize.

No, at this moment, I’m so much more.

“Now, now,” I say, taunting the vile man. “I thought you enjoyed your women fighting back.”

I spread my arms open wide in challenge.

“If a fight is what you want, come and get it, angel ,” I sneer.

Rage and fear mangle his features as he charges toward me, leaving Cara to collapse against the wall.

His body is set ablaze as ringlets of fire twist around his arms. Even his eyes are consumed by his flames.

He’s only a few feet away when something primal in me snaps into place.

The earth beneath me trembles as I raise my hands a little higher and the rivulets of light intensify.

The soldier halts a few feet away. My eyes settle on him… waiting.

With a huff, he hurls a fireball at me, but I dodge it as I lunge for him, knocking him off balance.

The soldier gasps as the air from his lungs is expelled as he hits the ground.

I use the moment to kick him in the face to which he grunts in pain.

I lean over his prostrated body and whisper, “What’s the matter, angel ? Not as fun as you imagined?”

“While I’ve enjoyed our game, it’s time for it to end,” he spits.

“Maeva, watch out,” Cara screams, but I’m too late as the soldier’s flaming hands wrap around my arms.

I prepare to feel the burning overtake my body, but instead, I feel as though the surge strengthens me—feeds me. The flames dance along my skin as he continues his attempts to burn me to a crisp. Over and over, his hands intensify in both heat and flame, but none of it phases me.

Interesting .

One touch from a fire wielder’s magic of this magnitude should have left me as a pile of ash. Instead, here I am.

I tilt my head as I slowly remove his hands from me.

“Ouch,” I sneer. “I’m afraid your plan to kill me isn’t well thought out . ”

Fear melds across his stoic face.

“This is not possible,” he bellows. “You… you should be d-dead.”

I stand up, moving away from his body as he rises.

“Alas, dear soldier, I’m not,” I croon. “Now it’s time for you to pay your dues.”

An icy calm rushes over me as I extend my hand, allowing the light to wrap around the soldier. Within moments, he is levitating a few inches above the ground, grasping at his throat. As I curl my fingers tighter, so does my light that glimmers like stars. He claws the air, desperate to be released.

“You thought you’d get away with taking advantage of two innocent women, didn’t you?” I ask spitefully.

“N-No,” he coughs out.

I take two steps toward the warbling man. “Liar,” I hiss. “You thought that your sins wouldn’t be noticed, but I see them. ”

I look the man up and down, grimacing. “Every touch and sloppy kiss you forced on me is ingrained in my memory. Though, I’m sure you didn’t account for the fact that I might actually fight back.

You’re careless with your treatment of Malvorian women as if you can use and discard us.

Are we not also beloved creations of Siorai?

Men like you disgust me, and now you’ll pay,” I scoff.

The soldier’s eyes are filled with horror. His body trembles as he fights against my control. It’s no use. Somehow, I know that I outmatch him in every possible way. I can feel it as it radiates through my body and pulses in my veins.

“W-who are you?” he asks.

Finish him, the voice commands.

I smile sardonically at the brute. “Your retribution,” I whisper.

Then, I unleash the full force of the ability, allowing the iridescent light to erupt from me. His pain-ridden screams fill the streets as I watch the light ravage his body, flaking away to nothing but ash. His black steel uniform hits the ground with a resounding clank.

Slowly, I lower my hands .

It’s done.

He can’t touch or harm another woman in Aurelius ever again.

My pendant faintly glows around my neck as the light sinks back into my pores. The surge of power I felt only moments ago dissipates.

A soft laugh escapes me.

I can’t believe it.

I have an ability, and a glowing pendant.

I’m not forgotten or cursed.

“Maeva,” Cara’s shaky voice cries. “What did you do?”