41. Raelyna #2
I could only stare in horror—unable to speak as I looked over the destruction.
Solis had fallen.
“All the angels you killed—the ones you sacrificed for this supposed power—it was all for nothing.” I spoke the words in a bitter voice as I glared at Lucanus with hatred.
“You sacrificed an entire group of angels just to gain control . . . control you no longer have now that your Quarter has fallen.” I stared up at the King of Solis, watching with satisfaction as his jaw clenched.
I felt blood slowly trickling down from my temple, as I narrowed my eyes in victory at Luc. “You failed.”
Lucanus towered over me, his onyx wings flaring wide as his arm snatched out, wrapping around my neck in a vise-like grip.
“I didn’t fail.” He sneered the word.
“Look around you,” I retorted. “Your Quarter is in ruins. It has fallen. Your people are dying for their gods. For you.”
“This entire Quarter can burn for all I care. I have more than enough power flowing through me, I will simply start again . . . only this time, instead of settling for the title king, I will be known as a god.”
I laughed in his face. “You tried so hard—hiding the truth of our history, forcing our hand, making us believe exactly what you wanted us to believe so that you could control us. But in the end, the Remnant still saved those who knew the truth. In the end, I still uncovered the truth. I learned that the light can still shine in the darkness you’ve created.
It’s why you killed my father . . . it’s why you started stealing affinities from the Remnant.
You think you hold the power—that you think can come back from this, but the truth is, there is only one who can restore Aurelia to its former glory—the Eternal. ”
I opened my mouth to continue when I felt the immediate shift. The moment Lucanus’s arms tightened around me, my movements halting as a blade pressed dangerously close to my neck, and my eyes widened in fear.
Terror spiked through me, but I could do nothing to protect myself, with my hands still bound behind me. I felt absolute, sheer terror as Lucanus let out a dark laugh, his blade firm against my skin.
Every muscle in my body tensed as Lucanus pressed against the blade, and a wince of pain slipped my lips as the sharp edge of the blade nicked me. He spun in a rapid motion, his back against the ledge as he held me before him in protection—as leverage.
I learned why mere seconds later, as large, golden wings filled my vision. The wings expanded to their full width, taking up the entirety of the balcony as the angel landed before us.
Callum.
I stared at the male before me, taking him in from head to toe.
My starbound.
Callum Blackwood stood before us on the terrace, clothed in the black tactical gear I’d seen him wear as a spy, his shirt torn in various locations, his vest covered in dust and blood.
Every muscle in his body was taut as he landed before us, wings fanning out over his form, casting his face in shadows.
He towered over Lucanus, who still held me hostage.
A bargaining chip for his own life despite the supposed power he claimed to possess.
I watched as Callum’s eyes tracked over every inch of my skin, then shifted, tracking every movement, every subtle gesture made by the male holding me hostage.
“If you so much as take one step closer, I’ll slit her throat,” Lucanus commanded as he tightened his hold on me, and I cried out, his fingers digging into the bruises on my side.
Golden eyes fastened onto mine before sweeping across my body, taking in every bruise, every cut—everywhere Lucanus touched me. I watched his eyes flash in anger as he took inventory of every location of my body where I was cut, where my blood was visible.
For a long moment, Callum Blackwood said nothing. He stood there, his jaw tightening as his wings filled the space before us.
Then, he spoke.
“Your entire Quarter is crumbling around you.” Callum’s voice had a deadly tone as he spoke. “And yet, you think you’re in a position to make demands of me?”
Lucanus shifted, tugging me closer toward him as he spoke. “Just because your Guild has brought the walls down means nothing. I hold more power than you could dream of—”
“Affinities that you’ve stolen from those in your Quarter—those who placed their trust in you,” Callum interrupted, his jaw ticking in annoyance as he watched the male like a predator stalking their prey.
“You think I didn’t know you were attempting to steal power.
You think I wasn’t aware you were attempting to elevate yourself to a position of power above your citizens.
That I didn’t know you thought you could become a god? ” He spat the last words.
“I am a god!” Lucanus argued, spit flying from his lips as he spoke. “I fulfilled the prophecy long foretold; I have taken what was always meant to be mine.”
Blackwood scoffed. “You are nothing, least of all a god.”
“I have more power . . . more control than you will ever know.”
“Do you now?” Callum’s words were a daring threat as he stepped forward menacingly, shifting his body so that the light from the sun glinted off the markings on his forearm.
Off the symbol for a vitas, visible in golden ink.
I felt Lucanus shift behind me, the blade cutting into my neck the slightest bit, and an involuntary wince slipped my lips. A wince that had Callum’s eyes fastening on my neck, before murder filled his gaze.
“I’m guessing you didn’t know a vitas existed inside the Guild, did you, Lucanus?” Callum’s voice was a sneer as he inched closer, his hand on his weapon.
“That’s not possible . . .” Lucanus’s voice was hard as he stared at Callum from behind me.
“On that, I think I’d disagree,” Callum stated, raising his hand slightly. I heard Luc gasp from behind me and knew in that moment that Callum was letting his affinity out. Luc staggered slightly behind me.
“What are you doing?” he bit out through shaky breaths, his hold loosening on my arms.
“What I should have done the moment I infiltrated your court.” Callum’s voice was cold as he took another step forward, his hand closing as he stepped closer.
“You—” Lucanus began. “You can’t k-kill me. I am a—” He didn’t get to finish.
“You are nothing,” Callum spat. “You threatened the lives of hundreds of angels. You corrupted your own citizens—created a false religion with the sole purpose of gaining more power.”
Lucanus staggered back slightly, the blade he’d held by my neck falling slightly. Enough that I could nearly break free. I just needed a little more . . . I just needed—
I heard Lucanus gasp for breath behind me, his hand moving to clutch his heart.
“Callum, don’t!” I screamed as a realization rushed through me in full force. Amber eyes flicked toward me in confusion. “Don’t use your affinity on him. His life . . . it isn’t worth sacrificing yours.”
I watched as Callum’s eyes flashed once more, his eyes narrowing on the male before me as Lucanus let out another strangled breath. And then Callum nodded, ever so discernibly, and I prayed to the Eternal that I pulled this off.
I kicked backward, my foot connecting with Luc’s knee. I heard his bellow of pain from behind me as I threw myself to the side of the balcony, ensuring I was out of his immediate reach.
A gunshot sounded as I landed on the other side of the balcony, a roar of pain sounding as I collided with the marbled floor, landing painfully on a broken rock slab that had me letting out a scream of pain.
I twisted, rolling to the side to ensure I remained clear of the two males, when I found that the links between the cuffs had snapped, freeing my arms.
Another gunshot rang through the air, then another. My eyes darted up as I spotted Lucanus leaning against the far wall of the balcony, gun in hand. I spotted blood dripping in a puddle by Callum’s feet.
“No.” The word was a whisper as Lucanus lifted his hand. I could only watch from the side as he staggered forward, an illustratio shield forming around him as he called on his water affinity, wielding it in Callum’s direction.
Water rushed forward with vengeance, and a scream of fear slipped from my lips.
But Callum countered the action, fire bursting forth from him as it danced with the water, the two fighting wickedly against each other.
I watched as a knife flew through the air, tip over handle, as it cut toward Lucanus.
The King of Solis didn’t move from its path, the blade directly hitting his illustratio shield. Expect this blade . . . it began to crack the shield. Anger flashed in Lucanus’s eyes as Callum raised his pistol, firing a round of bullets, flying with rapid precision into the same spot on his shield.
Lucanus raised his own hand, and the balcony began to tremble as he moved the earth. I felt the marble stones fracture in multiple places and prayed to Aeternus that the balcony would hold.
“This game has played out for far too long, Lucanus. And now, I think it’s time I finish it.” I caught the subtle movements of Callum’s hand, his eyes hardening as he focused in on the male with deadly intent.
“Did you not hear me?” he bit out cruelly. “You’re no match for me. I am a god—”
Callum laughed as he threw another round of his fire affinity toward the male. This time, I watched as his affinity circled the shield, using Lucanus’s water affinity against himself as his flames overtook it, swallowing them whole.
I stared, pushing to my feet with a struggle as I slunk back into the shadows, careful my movements didn’t draw Lucanus’s attention as I moved.
Lucanus charged toward Callum, his fists raised as he threw punch after punch, the spy only ducking as he dodged blow after blow, before landing a series of punches of his own.
Callum’s fist collided with Lucanus’s side, then his jaw, before a third blow landed across his nose, shattering the cartilage.
Lucanus spat blood, his illustratio shield wavering as another round of shots shattered the shield entirely.