Chapter 52
Chapter Fifty-Two
Drakin Magic
HAEL
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I sprinted toward the door, cursing the Moons as I ran after Nollie. I tried to follow the tug I felt whenever she left, but it was weaving through the castle in a path I couldn’t follow.
I had no idea where Dahes went, and the thought of Nollie fighting him alone scared me to death.
I was downright terrified. It took everything in me to offer her the chance to kill him. Ever since I found out he was the one who hurt her, I wanted nothing more than to carve into him myself.
But I didn’t want to take it from her. I knew whatever he’d done to me in the little bit of time he’d captured me was nothing compared to what Nollie endured.
I just didn’t think she’d go after him alone.
The halls were starting to fill, but I barely noticed.
I had never been at the castle during the Solstice before—all drakins were ordered to stay in MonClem, and we preferred it that way.
We had our own celebration for the night, and any chance away from mandated court etiquette, nearly all riders preferred.
I knew Elion ordered everyone inside. He didn’t want to risk Wielders finding out about our powers—especially that the moons’ effects enhanced them tonight—but now I didn’t give a shit who saw me.
I had just rounded a corner when Cash and Laxin stepped into view.
“Going somewhere, Arrik?” Cash taunted.
I went to run past them. I didn’t have the time to worry about what they wanted, but the moment I moved, Cash teleported in my path, then used the momentum to shove me against the wall.
“Back off,” I seethed, pushing him off me.
Laxin’s gaze flicked to my hand, staring at the blood coating my fingers. “We heard a little rumor that Elion might be dead,” he drawled, flipping a dagger in his hand around so the blade twirled over his fingers.
I didn’t have time for this—
I moved past them again, this time prepared for Cash to teleport, only now he used his telekinesis. Doors ripped off every hinge in the hallway, blocking the only path through, the path I felt the tug leading me to Nollie.
Fuck. This.
Anger and frustration coursed through me, threatening to burst out. Nollie was going after Dahes, maybe she was already with him…
I slammed into the doors, but they didn’t budge. Then, pain seared through my shoulder as Laxin threw the dagger.
I turned around slowly, ignoring the white-hot agony coursing down my arm as my muscles shifted. Blood was dripping from my shoulder as the hilt met with flesh.
Laxin smirked, drawing another blade, only this time I was ready.
I didn’t plan on killing them tonight—despite being forced to be Elion’s executioner, I hated doing it. But right now, I had no problems sending both of them to Hell.
The world would be better without them in it anyway.
“You can’t leave now,” Cash smirked. “We’re just getting started.”
Laxin threw another blade, but I kept myself still, not flinching or looking away from it as the dagger shot through the air toward me.
I watched as Cash’s smirk fell, as Laxin staggered back a step. The blade bounced off my air shield, then clattered onto the floor before us.
“What the hell?” Cash started, but then I ripped my necklace off, letting my Token fill my veins. I pounded against the doors again, the wood bending like paper now without the Black Sands blocking my power.
I plucked a sharp piece of wood from the wreckage and turned to face them.
“Did I forget to mention that drakins have magic?” I smiled, then flipped the piece of wood in my hand just like Laxin had done with the dagger.
Cash’s gaze flicked to the dagger that had fallen on the floor.
The other blade was still in my shoulder.
I hadn’t removed it—yet. Cash used his telekinesis to bring the blade toward him, or he tried to.
I already had a shield around it. I stared directly at him as he watched the blade hover over the ground for a second before it fell back down.
His eyes widened, his blonde hair becoming soaked with sweat. He tried it again, but it still didn’t work.
Then, he tried to teleport himself, but I had another shield ready, trapping them in here with me.
“You don’t want to leave now,” I shot Cash’s words back at him. “We’re just getting started.”