19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Kya
T ime to see if you’re truly Worthy…
Daegel’s words repeated in my head over and over as he held out his hand toward me. I didn’t care if he saw me as Worthy or not. I knew my value, and a male’s opinion wouldn’t change that. I was Worthy. Of those closest to me, of the God that chose me, of the Nation I was deemed to protect, and of my mate.
“I am Worthy. I don’t need to prove that to you,” I said sternly. “And I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me where.”
“I dictate your entire life now. You’re either coming willingly or by force. It’s your choice.” He dropped his hand.
“The only thing you can dictate is whether I shove my foot up your ass or not.”
Talum’s lips pursed as he tried to restrain his laugh.
Daegel gave him a scornful glare before returning his gaze to me and sighed. “Do you always make things more complicated than they need to be?”
“Nope. This is just for you. Feel special?”
“I’m growing impatient. Let’s go.” He extended his hand toward me again.
I crossed my arms and planted my feet firmly on the ground.
Leysa looked at me with wide, worried eyes, begging for me to comply.
Daegel’s hand remained outstretched between us in an unquestionable demand to take it and go with him. To where, I had no idea, and I didn’t care. But what if it was back to Taeralia? Or anywhere I could feel Ryker again and talk to him? Daegel clearly had a way of passing between the realms, so it was possible.
Except, I couldn’t trust him.
“This is your last chance, Diamond,” he said through clenched teeth.
I remained still, locking eyes with him in a war of wills. I hoped he could see the ire burning inside them.
He dropped his hand again and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as if to calm himself. I kept my face hard, expressing a false confidence, and swallowed the nervousness creeping up my throat. With a curl of his lip, his eyes snapped open, and my stomach dropped.
“You had a choice. Remember that.” The lethality in his voice promised regret, and a cold chill ran up my spine.
Leysa gasped.
He came at me like a lightning strike, and I dove. I rolled over quickly, and he was already there, reaching for me when I kicked him in the face as hard as I could. His hand shot to his nose, and he stumbled back. I took the opportunity to scramble to my feet.
This is my only chance.
A small twinge of guilt hit me for leaving Leysa behind, but I knew I could help her more if I was able to get away, get this stupid collar off, then come back for her later. I shifted my wings, ripping them through my shirt. They snapped out, extending fully, and I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my lips. I ignored the gasps behind me. Two quick thrusts, and I was rising into the air, feeling my feet leave the ground as the wind grazed beneath my wings.
Faster than I could process, Daegel jumped and struck me across the head with a snarl, and the next thing I knew I hit the dirt with a sickening crack and searing pain. My eyes flashed with spots of black as I fought to stay conscious.
Daegel stood to his full height with a split lip. “Stodva,” he said with a casual wave of his hand.
I think I tried to swing at him, but I was disoriented, and unsure what was happening.
I blinked.
Except it wasn’t a blink. I had blacked out, and when my eyes opened he was dragging me back the way we came across the forest floor by the front of my collar. My heels bumped over the ground, my tender wings hung limply as they scraped against the rocks and dirt.
Shift them away. Shift them away!
My mind was screaming at my body to cooperate. I couldn’t shift them. I couldn’t move at all, aside from moving my eyes. But I could feel everything. I whimpered, the weight of my body on the fragile, broken wings was one of the worst sensations I had ever felt.
I noticed Leysa and Talum briskly following. Leysa’s face was pale, while Talum seemed completely unbothered. The smell of burning flesh kept me conscious for a few more moments, giving me the chance to note the feel of Daegel’s knuckles against my throat with the flesh of his hand smoking around the collar.
Darkness claimed me again.