Chapter 37
Zara
The acrid stench of burning flesh filled my lungs as I clutched my injured leg.
My body was now free from Morgana’s binding, and I fought to suppress a scream.
She had melted the damn charm, and it had burned through to the bone at my ankle.
Thankfully, the silver chain slipped off before it could sever my foot, and now lay glinting in the grass at my feet.
I glared skyward at the monstrous form taking shape in the air, watching as Morgana’s bones snapped and reformed. She transformed into a beast similar to Xavier, vanishing into the cloud she had compelled me to create.
That thing in my chest loosened its grip as a pained roar ripped through the air.
I held my breath, my eyes wide as I watched my mate fall from the sky, blood gushing from the claws Morgana had plunged into his stomach.
I screamed, my knees digging into the earth as I struggled to stand.
My injured ankle wouldn't let me put any weight on it, but I couldn’t help myself crawling in his direction, reaching out for him again through our bond.
My left arm throbbed, causing me to wince as I glanced down to find the vines pulsing and dancing on my skin as if in warning.
Fear ignited through me again, and I pounded on the barrier between us, demanding to be let in, but he still refused to open it. I couldn't breathe.
Xavier was back in his fae form, clutching his stomach as men and creatures tried to break down the shield that was now surrounding him. He was too injured to flee, and Morgana was taking her time, reveling in his agony as she continued her slow, deliberate approach.
“Help him! Do something!” I begged, turning toward my father, who was watching the scene with a pained expression on his face.
“You know I can't,” he whispered, and my brow furrowed as my attention shifted back to the battle, back to Xavier. Tears streamed down my face as I watched men and women fall, ogres and pixies dropping lifelessly to the ground.
So many unseeing eyes stared blankly into the sky.
I shook my head, a sob escaping me. How had I let this happen? Why?
Morgana's head snapped forward, her attention leaving Xavier and I followed her gaze.
“Lana!” I choked out, and my father snarled beside me. He strode forward, his back to me, but I saw his body tense, his fists clench at his sides as he stared across the field.
She was dead.
They had killed her, and although I desperately wanted to kill Jaxon for it… I understood. I had seen what they saw, and I knew what this meant. But it didn't lessen my pain. She didn't deserve to die, to be ripped away from her mate. None of this was fair.
Where was the balance?
Everyone was suffering and dying, except the one person who should be, and Morgana didn’t care. About me, about Lana, about anyone, and I refused to let Lana's life, her death, be for nothing.
Morgana was already in the air, roaring and charging toward Jaxon.
A cry pierced the air, and my eyes widened as I saw Aria on the back of Agatha slam into Morgana. What was she thinking?! Flames erupted, and I had to look away as a loud, anguished cry sounded. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to witness the griffin burning, Aria dying.
It was just more deaths, more pain that I had caused. Because I caused this… it was because of me Morgana was here… these deaths were on my soul just as much as hers.
A chuckle sounded behind me and my head whipped to the side.
Duke Wellington had appeared and he was watching what was happening with a disgusting smile on his meaty face. He glanced down at me in the dirt and his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. It reminded me of Atticus and the way he used to look at me. I shuddered.
Control, power. That was all these people cared about.
The duke adjusted his pants before turning and putting his back to me.
He was getting off on this. The bloodshed. He wasn't even fighting, just watching as his people got murdered, as innocent lives were lost.
I tried to stand but shouted as the pain in my ankle returned.
He was still walking away, getting away, just like he did with everything.
Just like how he got away with hurting all those children.
I wanted him dead, tortured, but I couldn't kill him.
Morgana had forbidden it, and that thing in my chest coiled tightly as if knowing my intention.
But I was already smiling manically, because I found a loophole.
“Geoffrey,” I snarled, making him stop. He looked over his shoulder at me, his smug smile faltering as he took in my wide manic grin. Shadows erupted around him, and his pupils blew wide as he tried to run. “I hope your death is violent.”
He vanished and my father grabbed onto my arm as I laughed.
“Zara! What did you do? Where is he?”
“Look for yourself,” I said and pointed toward the middle of the battle. My father released my arm and looked to where I was pointing. At the center of the battle, a bulbous fat man was running for his life.
I might not be able to kill him—but they could.
My father cursed but I could have sworn he was smiling.
I clutched the damp grass at my feet, still wet from the rain, and watched Duke Wellington try to flee the battle I had just thrust him into. Ogres were closing in around him and he didn't get far before a fist slammed down, crushing the bulbous, heinous man like a grape.
My grin widened but I didn't have time to relish in his death as I was suddenly pulled to my feet.
“Get up.”
Morgana's sharp command pierced my ear and I suppressed a cry as I shifted all of my weight onto my good ankle. Panic overtook me as I scanned the battle again, noticing Xavier was no longer on the field. Where was he?! And why was she back? I searched again but I still couldn't find him, or Jaxon.
“What did you do to them?!” I said in a panic, and Morgana scowled.
“Open your connection,” she snarled, her yellow gaze piercing into mine.
“I can't,” I choked out, and she stepped closer until we were almost nose to nose.
I won't.
“Open. It.”
“No.”
Her will slammed into me, and it stole my breath as my back arched. Magic surged through my veins, and the thing in my chest writhed and thrashed while I struggled to break free of her control—to fight back.
Morgana laughed loudly. “You think you can overpower me?” Another wave crashed over me, causing my magic to surge through my blood.
“They really dug their claws into you deep, didn't they? Made you believe you could fight? Stand a chance? That you could actually defeat me?” She laughed again. “Don’t worry, dear, all of this will be a memory soon enough and I’ll make sure I bury it, like all the rest.”
Something struck the barrier in my bond, though not with the force it should have. Morgana hissed through her teeth, “Open your connection!”
My grip on my will was slipping, but I continued to fight, to push back.
A flash of silver had my back arching, as something sliced across it, making my magic slip even further. I blinked and realized I had fallen to the ground. My entire body burned as heat licked up the back of my neck. A searing pain erupting on my back.
“Morgana.” My father’s voice broke through my pain, and Morgana laughed sardonically at him.
“Going soft, Gormick?”
Her gaze remained fixed on me, an insatiable hunger for power etched onto her features, invading my mind. I could sense her thoughts and feelings, and they were utterly vile. I felt the urge to vomit, my throat constricting. Bile erupted from my mouth as my body convulsed, my eyes squeezing shut.
“Morgana!” My father cried again, but this time it was more of a warning. A sword striking another resonated through the air, and I cracked my eye open, my body going still as my gaze landed on a tall blonde male.
Jaxon spun around, a snarl ripping from his throat as he deflected Gormick's blow. Jaxon ducked, and a vine shot out, wrapping around my father's neck. He was pulled aside, and before he could strike back, a rock flew up and smashed into the side of his head, knocking him out.
What was he doing?! No, no, run!
I felt her amusement, her arrogance. She believed herself untouchable, and Morgana’s rage and indignation festered into something sinister as she turned to face him, a cruel smile gracing her lips.
“This ends now, Morgana,” Jaxon hissed, and Morgana replied with a cruel laugh.
“Oh, son, this is far from over.” She glanced down at his blood-stained shirt and smirked. “Your brother not joining us?” she crooned. “Pity. I do hope you have the right antidote for that poison. Nasty stuff.”
Jaxon’s lip twitched, and his gaze cut to mine, but I was trying to get up off the ground.
I was too weak, my back preventing me from moving, but it was healing.
Morgana’s will was still crushing down on me to open the connection to Xavier, and I whimpered as another dark, twisted wave of magic began to suffocate me.
Jaxon snarled, and then he was moving. A sword slashed toward Morgana's neck, but she merely stepped out of its way. She had no weapon, and Jaxon was moving too slow. Why was he moving so slow? I could feel Morgana’s amusement stirring through me again, and my gut sank, stomach knotting further.
Jaxon shadowed, a flash of silver arching through the air, but Morgana moved, a sword now in her hand as it met with Jaxon’s attack. She smiled, and Jaxon shadowed again behind her, vines lashing for her feet as the earth around her exploded upwards as if to swallow her whole.
Power blasted from Morgana, and the earth scattered outward, rocks and clumps of dirt flying dangerously through the air. Jaxon threw a shield around me, but he wasn’t fast enough as rocks slammed into him, throwing him back.
Morgana pounced, landing on top of him and punching him directly in the stomach.
Jaxon screamed, and I frowned as Morgana said, “Do you think I am a fool, Xavier?!”