His mother moved through the ranks with a lethal ease, her voice breaking over her ranks with cool indifference. “Adair.”
In the confines of his mind, he pounded against the bars, shattering apart, screaming. Why did you do this? The air stirred around him, and the ice started to melt underneath his feet.
Bresslin snarled. “I will admit, I’m surprised you’re still alive.”
You don’t mean that, you don’t mean that, you don’t mean that. Ice tore through his veins, and he could taste the power lingering beneath his skin, savoring it on his tongue.
“Your father and I had every detail planned meticulously, for years.”
Mom, please, no. Don’t do this. Not you. Not everyone.
“You are weak, have always been ruled by your heart, and couldn’t see what we were doing before your eyes.”
Energy exploded from his chest, suctioning the air in tight around him, and then expanded, the remaining windows shattering behind him from the force. The army was flattened from the impact, shards of ice and glass cutting into their hides. Bresslin was bowed, a shield of ice flaring up around her. Walking down the stairs slowly, the wind picked up, and he shivered in pleasure.
“Enough!” She growled, ice cracking, jagged shards breaking apart, becoming long spears churning slowly in the air. All of them aimed at his heart. She roared to the army around her churning restlessly. “Now!”
Not one moved.
Adair flashed his teeth, and the magic within him hummed and thrashed until the energy was too much, his body withering and overpowered. He let go and the world erupted into flames. Brilliant, emerald fire roared around them, enclosing the army and his mother in the flames and bending to his will. He paused at the edge of the ring, his heart pounding against his ribcage. He saw his mother yell, the words lost to him as the spears of ice sliced through the air. A flicker of movement at the end of the courtyard caught his attention as the Gortach slithered in the shadows, a slim shadow dragged behind it. The fire hissed as the water evaporated. The Gortach was pushed from his mind, and all he could think about was the scene in the dining hall, taking in what he had started. And what his mother had finished.
It was like wings taking flight as his soul filled one of the dabarnes, his command cold, smooth, and unbreakable. He breathed, walking around the flames as they towered toward the sky, the ringing of metal against claw and bone sounding as Bresslin fought for her life. Adair dove into that pool of magic and then he was flying. Black smoke swirled around him, choking his senses, until he materialized at the end of the forest, his eyes scourging the tree line. Where is she, where is she, where is she.
“Adair.” Just the sound of his voice sent him reeling as he exhaled hard. Marquis was covered in blood, his jacket and shirt ripped, his chest heaving. His hands shook, the bloodied sword trembling in his grip. “What have you done?”
He slowly rolled his neck, the bones cracking and he purred, “Marquis.” Run, Marquis, run. Dropping his palms, the emerald fire within them reflecting in Marquis’s sea glass eyes. “I hope you have been enjoying the change of pace. Now, you have two choices. Join me or die.”
Marquis’s face paled, and recognition sparked in his eyes as he growled. “If you want me, come and get me.” No. The fire flew from his palms with such force, the prince rolled out of the way, his hair singing. He spat as they circled each other. “This is not you, Adair. You can stop this. We don’t want to live through a war in our lifetime.”
He laughed darkly as fire flew from his palms. “It’s already begun.”
The prince growled and ran forward as flame met water. Marquis’s ability roared to meet his, trying to neutralize the flames. He ducked, charging forward. His fist connected with his jaw and gut. Marquis doubled over wheezing.
Adair laughed darkly. “Those were old tricks, Marquis. A different time is dawning. I don’t want to kill you. You must bow to me.” Water roared from the prince’s palms. Adair flicked his ability and Marquis’s wrists snapped. His scream was guttural and animalistic as blood bubbled from his lips.
Dropping to his knees, he panted. “They took her you know. Emory. They’re all dead. I tried to protect her. I tried to get her out. My dad and I survived, but she would rather die than have blood on her hands. We got out through the tunnels, but she was too late. Can you say the same? That you will look back on your life and know that you are worth the man you have become?”
Adair shuddered, fire crawling up his arms as he licked his cracked lips. Groaning, he pushed back against the darkness, and for a second he broke through the cage as his true self roared to the surface. Clutching his head, he spat, stumbling back. “Get out of here now.”
Marquis faltered, trying to get up supporting his wrists. “What?”
“Marquis, run!” Those inky claws hissed and snapped, dragging him back down, down, down.
You should not fight what you are, Adair. He rocked back and forth on his heels, tears slipping down his cheeks, the reality of his situation slamming into him. The world tilted on its axis and all he could smell was blood
