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 very eyes,” she continued.
The energy exploded from his chest, suctioning the air in tight around him and then expanding, the remaining windows shattering behind him from the force. The army was flattened from the impact, shards of ice and glass cutting into their hide. Bresslin was bowed, a shield of ice flaring up around her. Walking down the stairs, 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 were aimed at his heart. She roared to the army around her churning restlessly, “NOW!”
Not one moved.
The magic within him hummed and thrashed until the energy was too much, his body withering and overpowered.
Letting go, 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, and Gortach slithered in the shadows, a slim shadow being dragged behind it.
The fire hissed as the water evaporated. Gortach was pushed from his mind, and all he could think about was the scene in the dining hall, remembering what he had started.
And what his mother finished.
It was like wings took flight as his soul filled every single one of the dabarnes, his command cold, smooth, and unbreakable. He breathed, walking around the flames as they towered toward the sky. In the middle of the courtyard, Bresslin now fought for her life, the dabarnes attacking her ruthlessly under Adair’s command. Steel flashed as Bresslin wielded the Curse with lethal precision, but it would never be enough.
Adair dove into that pool of magic, and then he was flying. The black smoke swirled around him, choking his senses, until he materialized at the end of the forest, his eyes scrounging the tree line.
Where is she; where is she; where is she?
“Adair.”
Just the sound of his voice sent him spinning, as Adair slowly turned, exhaling 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?” Marquis asked him.
He slowly rolled his neck, the bones cracking, and he purred, “Marquis.”
Run, Marquis, run, Adair thought.
Dropping his palms, the emerald fire pooled in Adair’s palms, the flames reflecting in Marquis’s gaze. He coolly regarded the prince. “I hope you have been enjoying the change of pace. Now, you have two choices: join me or die.”
Marquis’s face paled, but defiance sparked in his eyes. “If you want me, come and get me.”
No. The thought resonated deep in Adair’s core, a part of him wishing his friend was already sailing across the Black Sea—far away from him.
The fire flew from his palms with great force, but the prince rolled out of the way, his hair singeing.
As they circled each other, Marquis said, “This is not you, Adair. You can stop this. We don’t want to live through a war in our lifetime.”
Fire flew from his palms. “It’s already begun.” Raising his eyebrows, Adair flicked his wrists, the flame overtaking Marquis’s now feeble attempt to overthrow him.
Closing the space between them, Adair ducked as a wave of water crashed down on his head. Charging forward, his fist connected with Marquis’s jaw, and then gut. Marquis doubled over, wheezing. Adair laughed darkly.
“Your abilities are useless, Marquis. The fact you can neutralize power doesn’t matter anymore. You are not a shield against me, and you are sure as hell not special.” He grinned. “Kiero has never seen a force like me before. This is your last chance, Marquis. I would rather not kill you. Bow to me, be my second, and we can take this world together.”
Pain briefly flared in Marquis’s eyes. With shaking hands, he snapped, “I could never stand with you and accept the war you are bringing down on us all. This isn’t your future Adair. Please stop.”
Adair’s bloodlust thrummed in his veins as he shook his head. “That was the wrong answer, I’m afraid.”
Water roared from the prince’s palms, and Adair plunged into the new power coursing in his body. He could feel the endlessness of the magic. No more limitations held him back. His heart begged for mayhem, and he would make sure to satiate his soul with it.
Pushing forward, Marquis’s wrists snapped, broken. His scream was guttural and animalistic as the blood bubbled from his lips. Dropping to his knees, Marquis panted, “They took her you know. Emory. They’re all dead. I tried to protect her. I tried to get her out.” He shook. “My dad and I survived. We got out through the tunnels, but Emory tried to follow us before Bresslin’s army captured her.” A pause. “Are you ready to have Emory’s blood staining your hands, Adair? Will you look back on this day and be proud of the man you are becoming?”
Adair shuddered, the fire moving up his arms as he licked his cracked lips. Groaning, he pushed back against the darkness, and for a second, he broke through the cages as he roared to the surface, breaking through.
Clutching his head, he stumbled 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 Adair back down, down, down.
“You should not fight what you are, Adair.”
He was rocking back and forth on his heels, tears slipping down his cheeks, the reality of his situation slamming into him. The
