“I’m immortal now,” Sadal says gloatingly.
“We’ll see about that,” I snarl, lunging at him.
We clash, my steel against his flames. Heat singes my brows and face. He swings at me, aiming for my jaw but I duck. I swipe at him, sword singing through the air. Sadal hisses as the steel slices into his calf and blood soaks through his trousers. “You’re out of practice,” I say, grinning wickedly.
Sadal scowls at me, glowering. “When I’m through with you, you’ll wish the Shades had gotten you first.”
Sadal pushes his flames toward me, forcing me to drop to the dirt to avoid the heavy wave of fire. Erzur leaps into action, swinging her blade at Sadal with a roar. He directs his flames towards her, but she drives through them. As her blade closes the distance between them, Sadal extinguishes his flames and conjures a sword. He darts out of the way, narrowly avoiding her sword. Erzur and I circle him, but I know not to underestimate the Dark God. He almost killed me once. He could do it again. Sadal's black eyes glimmer and he lunges at me, making a play. Our swords clash and he knocks mine aside easily, testing me. I adjust my grip, trying not to let my eagerness to kill him get the best of my instincts.
“Why the sudden hesitation, Altair?” Sadal asks, quirking a brow.
I ignore him with a scowl. Erzur swings into action behind him, driving her sword towards his back. I lunge at the same time, blade swiping towards him. Sadal grimaces and jumps to the side, managing to dodge Erzur’s swing. He isn’t so lucky with mine, and I see blood stain the sleeve of his shirt. He hisses, narrowing his eyes at me furiously. I grin, spinning my sword so his blood catches the light.
Suddenly, a ball of hot, white light explodes beside Sadal. He yelps, turning away from it as the heat singes him and hot, fried earth splatters across his back. I turn, eyes wide with surprise, and see Verity glowering at Sadal. Her hands are glowing, smoke curling up from her palms. Verity stalks towards Sadal as he gapes up at her. She lifts her palms and another ball of light streaks through the air. Sadal leaps to the side and hurtles a cloud of darkness towards her.
“Verity!” I shout, starting towards her.
She clenches her eyes shut and lifts her palms as if to shield herself. More light erupts from her palms, colliding with Sadal’s darkness. The two forces erupt, sparks flying as they clash and roil in the air. Sadal grits his teeth snarling, and attacks again. My heart is in my throat as the two hurtle magic at each other with deadly ease.
“You know, I think you may be the worst bride I ever had,” Sadal says bitingly as he dances away from her assault.
She scowls, firing magical attack after attack at him with a fury I’ve never seen in her. “I almost felt sorry for you, Sadal. You once told me the Shades were the single truly evil thing in the Ether, but you’re wrong. It was you all along.”
Sadal smiles. “How touching.”
I see Verity wavering, her power draining. Erzur and I exchange a glance. We can’t let Verity continue, even though her power is a match for his. We need her strong enough to close the prison again and to survive the onslaught of the Shades. In unison, we run towards Sadal, swords raised. I bring my sword down over his head as he hurtles more darkness towards Verity. With a snarl, he whirls on me, smothering me with the shadows. They burrow down my throat and into my eyes. I scream, writhing, as the darkness seeps into every part of me and forces itself onto my consciousness. Pain lances through me as if I'm being torn into a million tiny pieces.
Verity screams, a rage-filled cry, and suddenly the night erupts with light. The shadows dissolve, forced away by her light, and I drop to the ground with a groan. Coughing, I spit blood onto the caked earth. Sadal lifts a hand against her light, blinded. Erzur is on him in an instant, her blades swiping over him with ease. He hisses, darting away, but not before she’s wounded him on the arms and thighs.
“Sadal!” Freia calls sharply.
He glances at her, and I take the opportunity to drive my sword into his gut. He catches the move and spins. My sword impales nothing but air. "I'm busy!" He snaps at the Goddess.
“Well you’re out of time, you fool,” she hisses. A cruel grin stretches across her lips and I know she’s anticipating Sadal’s death like Verity would anticipate a new book; with glee.
A shriek of bloodlust rings through the air, freezing us in place. We turn in unison towards the darkness in time to see Thal hurtle through the perimeter. Sweat sheens on his brow, and he drops, skidding across the ground towards his sword and armor. He snatches his sword, leaping to his feet. He barely glances at us, brows furrowed with confusion, but then the night is filled with howls. A black shadow leaps between the torches, careening towards us with wild abandon. Yellow eyes land on me and the hair on my neck stands on end. I stand, sword in hand, between two enemies.
We’re fucked.
Chapter 18
Verity
My heart is beating too fast, spurred along by the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Sadal’s shadows are whirling around us, blocking out the glow of the torches from time to
