Page 148 of Lethal Souls

Selah is off in the distance, but she isn’t alone. That flurry of gold is with her, and it’s striking her at every angle and drawing more of her blood.

I can’t make out what it is, but it’s relentless. Selah tries stopping it, but she’s not quick enough to catch it.

Then, the burst of gold reveals itself, and I can’t believe my eyes.

Willow.

My mate.

The love of my life.

She’s alive!

Willow floats behind Selah, wrapping an arm around her chest and pressing a burning gold dagger to her throat. My heart beats to life, and my stomach swirls as I fly in her direction.

She presses the dagger deeper into Selah’s throat, her brows dipped and her breaths thick and fast.

“You’re supposed to be dead!” Selah jerks in her arms, but she’s no match.

“Yeah, you tried,” Willow says, shrugging. “But like always, you failed, bitch.”

“Willow,” I breathe, staring into her eyes. They glow brightly, like gold rings reflecting in the sun.

“Hey, babe.” She smiles warmly. “I can’t believe I almost died.”

“Yeah,” I say. “And fuck, did I feel it.”

She presses the dagger even deeper to Selah’s throat. “What should we do with her?”

“I know exactly what to do.” Hassha’s voice rises before she does. With a scowl, she comes to Selah, grips one of her arms, and yanks it from her body. Her flesh rips and blood pours out as Selah screeches.

Hassha goes for the other arm, then she goes for her legs. Willow continues holding her upper body, waiting for Hassha to finish. I notice Hassha moving slower with each action, like she feels this too.

“Shit,” I muster.

“Do it,” Hassha commands, blood spilling from her mouth as she eyes me. “Now.”

“But it’ll kill you too, Hassha,” I counter.

“Just do it!” Hassha shouts.

I grip Selah’s head, swallowing thickly as I glance at Willow.

“Hassha,” Willow murmurs.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Hassha assures us as she floats farther away. “This must be done.”

Willow’s eyes flick my way, brimming with tears.

I lock eyes with Selah and press down harder on her head. She hisses and snarls at me as I match her stare, just as Hassha told me to do.

I draw out what’s left of her energy, listening to Yuri as he encourages me. I don’t stop, even as she shrieks and begs. Even as her limbless body thrashes. I feel her energy fueling me, igniting parts of me I didn’t even know could be touched.

I’m flooded with visions of her past with Kronos. The destruction they caused, the wars they were in. Her arguments with her sisters and Yuri.

Then I see her private moments with Kronos, curled around him, looking into his eyes, hoping for more to come between them. She was hopelessly and foolishly in love with him.

I feel the betrayal in her heart when she realized that his banishment was her siblings’ doing. I feel the hatred burning inside her as she drifted through Vakeeli, wanting more—wanting love—but unsure where to find it. I feel the loneliness that she concealed with all that anger and rage.