Relinquish(106)

The air ripples before me as I lower my hands and I feel the haze lift. I tap my temple and grin as I bat aside his mental touch. “I feel you.”

“That’s impossible,” he growls, stepping closer. “No one can do that.”

“And yet… I can.” I stretch out my hand and push the boundary of my shield to encompass Bastien. He blinks, coming out of a daze. “You okay?”

“You know me now?”

“Yes.” I smile, wiggling my fingers. He lifts his gaze and notices the shimmer around him. “Huh. Why didn’t we think about that before?”

“Didn’t know I could do it. It’s a new trick.” I train my eyes over the shield, amazed. “I wouldn’t advise stepping out of my—” I cut off as Aloysius drives his shoulder into Bastien’s waist and sends them tumbling to the ground. Bastien hits hard, grunting as he beats against Aloysius’s grasp. I struggle to keep him within my shield, shifting it constantly as they wrestle upon the floor.

“You will not take her from me!” I see the glint of silver a split second before it carves through the air. Bastien cries out as the knife slashes across his arm, leaving his sleeve sliced and dangling from his arm.

His blood seems unnaturally bright as it splatters against the floor. Pain mars his features as he clasps his arm, twisting and turning to try to buck Aloysius off. My husband raises his hand for another swing, and I dive, raking my nails down the backs of his arms. He howls and releases his hold on the knife.

I spin and grab for the knife, but Aloysius snatches a handful of my hair and yanks. My scalp is in agony as I grapple to reach for the knife. My fingertips brush over the blood-slicked handle, but I can’t quite get it. “Bastien.”

He bucks hard and sends Aloysius sprawling to the floor. Several black strands remain between his fingers. I grab the knife and dash to Bastien’s side. He cradles his arms to his chest, his face pale. “You need to get out of here.”

“No.” he shakes his head. I can see his fierce determination. “I’m not leaving until—”

He slams his good hand into my shoulder, knocking me out of the way as Aloysius attacks. They roll end and over, landing punches. The sound of flesh pounding flesh and the shattering of bones makes me sick. I try to find a way to dive in to help, but they’re tangled together too tightly.

A burst of color reflects in the mirror as I whip around to see a giant fireball spiraling toward the palace. “Duck!”

Bastien and Aloysius don’t hear me. I throw out my hand and mentally shove them aside as flames erupt against the side of the building, spitting molten rock into the room. I cry out as one of the rock shards lands upon my leg, cauterizing my skin.

“Illyria!” Bastien drives his hand into Aloysius’s side and a terrible snapping sound fills my ears. My husband howls and rolls to his side. Bastien scrambles to his feet and throws himself to my side, stomping out the flames igniting on the carpet around me. “Oh, God, you’re burning.”

The scent of my flesh melting makes my head swim. I can feel his hands upon me as he digs the scalding rock out of my leg. Darkness edges my vision. The pain is localized but excruciating.

“We have to get you out of here!”

Another explosion rocks the palace. Over the cracking of stone and hiss of flames, I can hear shouting from below. “Eamon!”

Bastien rises to look out the window and nods. “They’re coming. We have to—” His eyes widen and his mouth gapes open.

“No!” I shriek as a blood-tipped spike shoves through his stomach from his back, nearly three inches in diameter, punching a hole through his intestines. Aloysius’s maniacal grin appears over his shoulder as he shoves Bastien aside.

Bastien shudders, blood bubbling from his lips. Pain pinches his features. His hands shake as he touches the spike protruding from his stomach. Gurgling moans rise from his throat as he locks his gaze on me, beginning to glaze over. “Illyria…” He stretches out his hand toward me.

I can hear the wet wheezing in his chest and feel numbness wash over me. Blood pools beneath him, thick and bright. I watch as it begins to seep toward me. When I look back at Bastien, his eyes are unfocused and his chest lies still.

“Bastien!” I start forward, but Aloysius steps between us, blocking my path. Tears burn in my eyes and I grit my teeth, fighting to comprehend that he is really gone. Rage burrows into my chest as invisible sparks vine around my hands. I glare at my husband. “You will pay for this.”





Twenty-Four



I rise slowly from the floor, ignoring the pain in my lower leg as I stand. The air sparks around me. The glass shards on the floor begin to clatter against the tile. The hair atop Aloysius’s head lifts, flapping in the rising winds.