Chapter 34
Zara
What did he just do?
I desperately tried to take hold of his magic, to unleash the charm myself, but the barrier between us slammed shut again. I appeared in the courtyard of Territan Castle, my hands still outstretched from kissing Xavier.
Suddenly, a hand struck me across the face, sending me flying sideways. My body collided with the ground, and I rolled back onto my feet.
Morgana stood a few feet away, her piercing yellow gaze landing on me.
“How kind of you to join us.”
I gasped as another blow from behind sent me lurching forward, my vision darkening slightly as a lump began to form on the back of my skull.
Another punch landed on my cheek, and I stumbled backward, my foot catching on a rock.
As I tried to regain my balance, something else slammed into my chest. I was thrown backward, my back hitting the earth as a sob escaped me.
I couldn't breathe, and my mouth opened on a gasp as I tried to speak.
A shadow cast over me, and I winced. “No—” I couldn’t finish my sentence, and I winced again as Morgana’s yellow gaze snagged mine.
“No?” she snarled. “You disappear, and your first words to me are no?”
My vision focused just as the heel of her boot crashed into my nose. A wicked crunch sounded, and blood poured down my face, into my open mouth. I choked on it, trying to focus through the pain.
“You get yourself trapped once again, and don’t even try to escape.” Her boot slammed into my face again and agony tore through my muscles. “Had yourself a little vacation did you?”
I couldn’t help the cry that escaped my lips as I rolled onto my side, clutching at my chest. Morgana’s boot slammed into my back and pain splintered along my spine. I held up my hands, whimpering as I tried to speak again.
“N—no—ma—gic,” I spluttered, coughing as blood spewed from my mouth.
“You are pathetic,” she snarled, and movement had me frantically saying it again.
“I don’t have magic! The charm!”
Morgana paused, or I thought she had, until cruel laughter bubbled from her throat, the sound echoing around me. Others that I hadn't known were there, joining in. I wiped the blood from my eyes and found her sneering face.
“I’m well aware,” she spat. Her boot rose again, and this time she broke a rib. The crack sounded in my ears as I held in another sob. “Lucky for you, just like that mother of yours, spreading your legs is the one good thing you have done.”
My brow furrowed but anger boiled in my veins at her bringing up my mother. How dare she.
“Thanks to your recent activities with my son, the bond between you is stronger than ever. I had been afraid it wasn’t solidified enough, but Atticus proved you haven’t been as useless as I thought.”
My eyes widened in surprise. I thought Atticus had sought me on his own. “You sent him after me?” I couldn’t stop the shock rippling across my features. The sharp inhale as my gaze slammed into hers.
“Of course.”
“Atticus was your best warrior, why did you—?” My vision darkened, but I fought to stay conscious.
“Atticus was proving to be a liability,” she bit out, a sneer on her lips. My ears rang and my eyes squeezed shut. I heard Morgana’s muffled voice, “Get her a healing tonic. We are late.”
I forced my eyes open again and found that Morgana was now crouched in front of me.
Her cruel, icy gaze was pinned on me, a look of disgust peppering her features.
“You are lucky I still need you.” Her hand reached out, her palm stroking down the side of my bloody face.
I flinched away from her cool touch, and she laughed maniacally as she licked the blood off her fingers.
She leaned in so close I could feel her breath as she whispered, “Remember, dear, your fate is in my hands.
There's no escaping it.” She smiled, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling as I tried to shake my head.
“I'll erase every memory you two have of each other, and when I have what I need, I'll give them back, but only so you can watch him die.”
A chill ran down my spine, and my chest felt like it was cleaving open.
“No,” I breathed and I reached for Xavier, pounding against the barrier through our bond. That thing in my chest tightened, and Morgana stood, laughing as if she could sense what I was doing, and maybe she could.
Xavier didn’t respond, that door between us sealed so tightly I didn’t think he could even sense I was on the other side begging to be let in.
A hand plunged into my hair, yanking my head back while another pried my mouth open.
I screamed, a sharp pain shooting through my nose, my head, my ribs as warm liquid spilled down my throat.
It tasted sweet, like honey and lavender, with an earthy, pungent aftertaste.
Agony erupted across my face as someone reset my nose, fresh blood gushing down my face once more.
Someone helped me up and then guided me to my feet.
Blinking through the blood in my eyes, I saw Freya looking at me.
Her expression was serious, the charms in her hair tinkling as she gently pulled my arm, urging me to walk.
Freya tossed me a rag, which I promptly drenched with my own blood. She rolled her eyes and, with a disapproving look, ordered someone else to fetch more. I scowled back, shoving the wet cloth into my pocket, and my fingers brushed against something small and smooth.
I might have mistaken it for a rock or pebble, but the raw power that jolted through me had my pulse racing. That thing in my chest purring. I swallowed hard, nearly tripping over my feet as I realized what I held in my pocket.
Morgana looked over her shoulder at me curiously and I quickly withdrew my hand, the swelling sensation in my chest extinguishing as my skin lost contact with the pendant… with the souls Morgana desperately searched day and night for.
Morgana faced forward again, and I nearly sobbed with relief.
Freya shoved more rags into my chest, and I shakily ran them over my face as I tried to figure out what the fuck Xavier was thinking.