But he couldn't hold that control for long.
We'd barely crested the ravine when Slate's wings stuttered and we toppled to the ground, right at the edge. Slate used the last of his strength to push himself away from me, and I used his sacrifice to run. Gage landed before me, screeching at me urgently, and I scrambled on his back just as Gargo gained control of Slate's body. Gargo shouted after us but the sound was cut short by a Dragon tail in his belly. Whiskers—or tufts, rather, since they were attached at Verin's ankles—flowed like flames, taunting the Gargoyle God as the tail swirled away. Magic crackled off those orange tufts and just when Gargo gained his feet, that magic arched back like a whip and sent him down again.
Gargo started to get up, but Cerberus plowed into him then dashed away before Gargo could strike back. Our knights added their attacks to the mix, keeping Gargo pinned to the earth. Darcraxis used the opportunity to condense water around Gargo, trapping him in a bubble as he ran forward. Gargo fought the water's hold, twisting, turning, and bashing his wings but no matter how he moved, he couldn't evade the liquid. He'd been worn down at last.
And I had started to sing again.
Gargo's body began to shake just as Darc reached it. Darcraxis pulled the dagger from his belt and shoved it through the water, straight into Gargo's chest. A moment before it met with flesh, Gargo's hand grabbed Darc's wrist. The men fought for control while barely moving; only the tension in their muscles exposing the battle. The tip of the knife eased back then forward. All of us, including the Shining One knights, rushed forward to circle the Gods. My men, including Verin, gave their strength to Darcraxis as I continued to fight Gargo from the inside. I was the devil now, not him; I possessed him. With the pinnacle of my song, I broke Gargo's control and took back Slate's body. I forced him to go limp, and Darc shoved the blade straight into Slate's heart.
Chapter Fifty-One
The water bubble burst into tiny droplets and Slate crumpled to the earth with a limp thud. Darc followed him down, hand still on the knife. The blade sparked as he drew it from Slate's chest, and Slate gasped as if surfacing from a deep dive. Darc didn't help him. Instead, he rushed the blade over to Declan and Torin then laid it down between the Shining One kings. Torin set a bomb beside the dagger and carefully withdrew the sheet of steel to activate it. Declan instantly confined both items in a steel box, and all of us ran. Banning and Gage grabbed Slate under his arms to carry along with them. Our knights, who'd been told there would be a magical explosion—hopefully contained—formed ranks before us and cast a protective shield.
The bomb exploded, its deployment lifting the box from the ground to toss around like dice. A hollow boom echoed through the steel but the box held and nothing hit the magical barrier between us. At least, I assumed that's what happened, I only spared it a glance before I focused on Slate. The men had laid him down, and I knelt beside him. His body had shifted back to its normal self but his skin had gone an ashy gray better suited to his Gargoyle form. Although the blood that seeped from his chest wound had slowed to a trickle, his wound hadn't healed yet.
“Elaria,” Slate whispered as I pressed my hands over the blood. “You came back.”
“Of course, I came back,” my voice broke. “I'd never abandon you. I love you, Zone Lord, don't you dare die.”
Slate grinned. “I love you too, sweetheart. Tell my brothers—”
“No,” I cut him off. “No dying declarations. You've had Gargo inside you for months now; you're immortal. Heal yourself, damn you!”
Slate grimaced and winced as I put more pressure than I intended on his chest. “I don't feel so immortal. No more than usual.” He winked at me.
“Okay, that's it.” I prepared to sing.
“Don't waste our last moments singing, sweetheart,” Slate protested. “Kiss me.”
Tears started to overflow my eyes as I leaned down and kissed Slate. I could feel the other men closing in around me and, through the earth, the vibration of a large number of people approaching.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Binx snarled, nearly shouted. “Stop making out with my brother and heal him, woman! What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I pulled out of our kiss and smiled, my lips still brushing Slate's. “You heard the man.”
The soft lilting of Toni Braxton's “Un-Break My Heart” began to play, and I hummed my way into the lyrics. Slate's hand tightened on mine and our stares united just as strongly. Nothing could have separated us then. Not even a God. The magic rose, moving from my heart to fill my voice before it fell gently upon Slate like summer rain. I sat back and moved his head onto my lap, stroking his pale cheeks as I begged him, through the lyrics, not to hurt me; not to leave me. I poured my love and desperation into the music as my other men dropped to their knees behind me and laid their hands on me.
Their magic filled me and reinforced mine. Without my spellsong and their power, I don't think I could have even spoken, much less sing; I was weeping so violently. Slate's hand reached up and touched my face. I held
