Chapter 38
Jessiah
Idoubled over and braced myself on my knees. Rummy’s shock wave of power echoed through my bones and it did not stop. She poured and poured that magic, and I discerned the scene around her like I was physically there myself.
She’s doing it. It’s really happening.
Still doubled over, I anchored myself to the earth beneath my feet. Rummy would need to strike hard and fast for this to work—Cornelius couldn’t see it coming.
Rummy wielded extra magic now, but so did Cornelius. We couldn’t possibly know exactly how much he absorbed over the months he’d been king. What we did know, however, was that it had been enough to cause an entire rebellion among the kingdom.
A rebellion desperate enough to attack the castle.
But if anyone was strong enough to put an end to his corruption, it was Rummy. He wanted Rummy’s magic for a reason—because it was strong. Powerful.
Because she was special.
The force of our bond was tight, but being so fresh, it pulled at every fiber of my being. Rummy would need it all, so I let her take it. I let her channel my strength. I let her pull from the core of my ancient angelic magic.
Go, Rummy. Kill him. Show no damn mercy.
It was working. Hope sparked in my chest—Rummy’s hope. Her emotions flooded me and forced me to dig deeper. Harder.
He didn’t see it coming. He really thought she was coming back to help him, and that gave her the chance to strike.
But all at once, it stopped.
The magic tingling my bones ceased.
The bond ran cold.
Rummy’s presence disappeared like a storm cloud in the night.
No.
My plan was to stay put. Was to wait here for Rummy to signal that everything was okay.
But my feet were moving before I could stop them.
My wings splayed outward and lifted me up.
Up.
Up.
Over that damn wall.
Guards yelled.
The king’s men moved in defense below me as I searched for that feeling of her essence.
I saw her a few seconds later and my heart stopped.
Rummy and Cornelius were in the garden just outside the castle.
But Rummy was on her knees before Cornelius.
And blood poured.
And poured.
And poured.