Page 154 of Treasured

It was no use.

I had him, and nothing he could do would save him from my wrath. He would pay the ultimate price for what he’d done. The ruby pulsed in time with my heart, urging me forward. Death was its song, its call, its only reason for existing. In that way, the jewel and I were one.

I raised a hand, the shadows around Sebastian coiling tighter, tighter, tighter. I infused my shadows with the last vestiges of the ruby’s power.

Sebastian gasped for air. A sickening crunch echoed through the snowy night. His body contorted in pain. It wasn’t enough, though. None of it would be enough until they were both dead.

But this was too fast. Too easy.

I hadn’t even tasted the Fledgling yet. After all they’d put me through, I would be damned if I killed them too quickly.

Snarling, I twisted my hand. The shadows slammed Sebastian into the nearest tomb. The stone cracked on impact, a fissure running up the length of the coffin, but neither he nor the stone moved.

I left my shadows around him, and then, I turned my attention to the Fledgling.

Her eyes blinked open. Fear flashed across her countenance, and she trembled.

“Hello, Princess,” I crooned, a smile stretching across my face. “I’m going to make you wish you were dead.”

A Symphony of Cruelty and Malice

LUNA

A few minutes ago

“Wake up, Luna,” a voice whispered in my ear.

My entire body hurt, from my pounding head to my aching toes. Waking up was the last thing I wanted to do. I was so tired. Why couldn’t I sleep?

“Wake up,” the voice urged again. It was persistent. Louder.

With a groan, I pried my eyes open.

Instantly, regret flooded me. Brilliant sunlight burned my retinas, and I grimaced. Why was I having a vision? Wasn’t there something important happening right now? I thought there was, but my mind was a smoky haze. I could not think of the reason I should not be here.

“Isvana?” I called for the goddess. “What’s going on? Why did you wake me?”

She appeared in my field of vision. The raven was perched on her shoulder. She wore a gown of flowing moonlight that draped over her curves. She was so beautiful, it almost hurt to look at her.

Isvana’s brows creased, and she frowned as she kneeled beside me. “You can’t sleep right now, Sunwalker. You must wake up.”

I shook my head, the movement only amplifying my headache. “I can’t. Everything hurts.”

Isvana took my hand in hers. Her skin was smooth, and she smelled like the crisp night air. “You must rise, Luna.” She squeezed my hand. “This is the only chance you will have.”

My mind was muddled, and her words weren’t making much sense. “What do you mean, it’s the only chance?”

“Wake,” the goddess breathed. Her lips brushed over my forehead, and then a tingling sensation ran through my entire body. “Be strong, daughter of the moon. Claim what is yours.”

* * *

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t think.

Even the shadows were quiet. I couldn’t feel Sebastian.