Page 84 of Secrets of Avalon

Desperation claws at my mind, hopelessness surging through my veins like a bitter poison. I can't control this. I can't stop it. Siva, help.

"Kill her!" A male voice shouts, the words cutting through the chaos like a blade.

No. I don't want to die. Please. I don't want to die. The plea echoes in my mind. My heart pounds in my chest, so hard its all the way up in my throat, and all the way down in my fingertips.

Suddenly, Kellan's hand grasps mine, his grip strong and sure. The link between us surges, a crackle of bone deep energy. With a powerful yank, he pulls me free of the rock, and the sudden absence of the drain on my magic leaves me reeling. I stumble, my knees buckling, and it's only Kellan's arm around my waist that keeps me from crumpling to the ground.

My magick, no longer being siphoned away by the rock, flares out in a burst of raw, unchecked power. It whips around me like a whirlwind, stirring up dust and debris, sending tapestries fluttering and candles sputtering. It pulses beneath my skin, a wild, untamed thing.

Kellan's guardians burst forth, their ethereal wings unfurling in a blaze of light. They form a shield around us, holding my magick in and keeping the magick being hurled at me from the crowd out. But I can still feel the impact of each spell, each curse, as they slam against Kellan’s shield, making it shudder and flicker.

They are trying to kill me... The realization hits me like a sucker-punch, and I can taste bile at the back of my throat. It’s happening again. They’ll burn me like my mother. I cling to Kellan, my fingers digging into his arms, my whole body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. I don’t want to die.

As the assault continues, the glowing outline of Excalibur fades away, the glowing lines dimming until they're gone. The fire on the wall also sputters and dies out, leaving behind a scorched black outline of the queen's cell door.

"Death to the traitor!" The cry goes up from the crowd, sending a fresh wave of terror coursing through me.

You’re safe, Domina. Kellan won’t let them through.

The assurance helps, but I need my mate. Hawke. Where’s Hawke!? I need Hawke. I reach out through our bond, desperately seeking his presence, his strength.

“Mine!” A terrifying roar cuts through the room and a glistening translucent bubble grows from the floor to the ceiling cutting off the crowd from me. Hawke’s arms circle my waist, pulling me tight to his body. “Mine.” He buries his face in my neck, licking across the mark he gave me only hours before. My body shudders and calms immediately, submitting to his claim in all things, magick included.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just touched the rock. And the queen, she’s still looking at me. Her eyes are white and scary. Her hands are on the wall.” The words pour from me like a spilled pitcher of milk. “Did you make the bubble? I missed you. I needed you and you came.”

“The bubble? The shield, yes.”

Shield. Okay, that makes more sense.

“I’ll always come for you, my sweet girl,” Hawke says, wiping away the tears on my cheeks. “Always.”

I rub my cheek into his hand.

Kellan’s giant ethereal green dragon wings are out spread along the inside the shield. His tattoos are thrashing, like the rest of them are just waiting to be called up. Siva is also writhing on my arm. They’re doing everything they can to help keep my power in check. Each individual connection is pulling me back in tandem. It’s enough. For now.

“We need to get her out of this castle. Right now,” Kellan growls. “I can push them to the side and hold them to give you a good head start, but you five need to take her and run. Get to Vandimoor and I will meet you there.”

“What the fuck do we even do?” Ares waves a hand at the fighting and screaming people on the other side of the shield. It’s quiet inside the shield. The chaos on the outside is muted for us. He rolls his neck and smashes a fist into his palm with a scary smack. “I’m down for smashing a few heads if necessary.”

No fighting. No. I’m barely holding it together right now.

I’ve got you, love. You’re not in this alone. Hawke’s thoughts whisper through my head reassuringly.

Kellan shakes his head. “Control yourself, Olympian. You can’t kill the royalty of all eight worlds and the high council members.”

“Fine,” Ares grumbles.

Fenrir doubles over and one moment he’s a man in pain and the next second his armor and clothes shred, leaving behind an enormous black wolf with teeth as long as my fingers and his back level with my shoulders.

Holy shit! He wasn’t kidding about being a wolf.

“We get her to Vandimoor like Kellan just said,” Hawke said, his voice sharp. “We have an army in the city to protect her. The only other people with soldiers on Avalon right now–”

“Sahsa and Jarlath won’t try to take your mate, Hawke. I give you my word,” Wraith says, rubbing his hands through his hair. “But fuck. This is bad.” He glares at the angry seething crowd on the other side of the shield. “Ares drink more of your ambrosia, your aura is making this worse.”

“Fuck you, dream-vampire.” Ares turns to Kellan. “Dragon, get us the hell out of here. Now,” Ares’ voice deepens and I shrink into Hawke’s chest.

“It’s all my fault,” I say, a soft whimper escaping my chest. “I’m so sorry.”