Page 146 of Lethal Souls
“I love you, Korah, Regal of land, water, and vegetation. Regal of beauty with the most tender of hearts. You are worth more than you know.”
Korah smiles. “You’ll see my beauty again.”
She closes her eyes, and Hassha releases her to back away with silver tears lining her cheeks.
Korah lifts her hands above her chest, screaming with her last breaths until an orb of purple light appears between them.
Her chest bucks, and she screams louder as all the energy remaining is drawn out, pouring into the orb. Her body grays as the power drains, and Hassha steps back again, weeping as her sister disappears and that light produces a seed.
A seed just like Yuri’s.
She doesn’t bother reaching for it, though. She knows exactly where it’ll go. It drifts across the field toward Blackwater Manor, and when it disappears inside the castle, she flies back up to finish this war with Selah once and for all.
The seed glows in the dark confines of the castle, carrying down the stairs, passing the cellar and weaving between iron railing until it reaches the open door of the bunker.
The women inside cry hysterically as they surround Willow Austin. Juniper and Maeve kneel over their beloved, their faces buried in her chest, their hearts heavy, and their guilt suffocating all other senses.
But the seed doesn’t stop. As the two women weep, the tribe gasps, watching as the light hovers above them.
Juniper stops sniffling, taking note of the change in atmosphere, and when she looks up, she gasps too.
“Mum,” she whispers, tapping Maeve’s arm.
Maeve picks up her head to eye Juniper until she realizes the bunker is bathed in lavender light.
Before either can speak, the seed descends, slipping between Willow’s parted lips. They stare down at her body, watching that same light switch to gold.
It courses through Willow, radiating every vein and sparking her fingertips. Her hair that was once dark brown transitions to a snowy white from root to tip.
Her arms become more defined, the melanin in her skin brilliant, radiant. The gaping wound in her chest is next. Her skin stitches together like needle and thread.
Juniper stares wide-eyed while Maeve presses a hand to her mouth in disbelief.
Willow’s body pulses with gold energy as her body repairs itself, appearing much stronger than it had been before.
And when Willow’s eyes fly open to reveal striking gold halos, she inhales sharply, coming to life again.
NINETY
CAZ
I feel Selah growing weaker. I see the panic in her eyes as I swing my sword, as I punch, kick, and wrap her in flames.
I catch one of her arms and twist it hard enough to crack it.
She howls, but it’s cut short when I grip her by the throat, ready to end this once and for all.
“Even if you do this, you’ll have nothing,” she croaks, her voice vibrating beneath my palm. “Life won’t be the same for you without a mate. In fact, you’ll never mate like that again.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I grip tighter, and her pale face reddens, the fire fading from her eyes.
“I…was wrong…about you...” she rattles on. “All this…time…I thought you were…w-weak. But Yuri…” She tries to swallow. I don’t let her. “Yuri…is there. I feel him.”
I press a hand to her head, allowing my palm to produce heat.
“You…let me live…and I’ll bring…her…back.”
At that, I falter, and the fire in her eyes disappears completely. She reveals her true self, attempting to appear softer.