Page 86 of Secrets of Avalon
Nimue tilts her head, studying me. "They're bonded. Soulmates," she announces more loudly than necessary. Her eyes lock with mine, searching for confirmation. "Hawke gained his missing soul shard from you, didn't he?"
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. Protective anger surges through our bond from Hawke.
The crowd erupts once more, gasps and arguments filling the air. Shouts claim that soul bonding is impossible. That we lie. Some voices rise with excitement. Some believe and hope. My head spins in a dizzying whirlpool of noise and energy and emotions.
My breath quickens and my heart races as panic sets in. Too much. Too loud. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block it all out, but the voices echo inside my head.
A tingling sensation starts in my fingertips, spreading up my arms. My eyes snap open. I recognize the familiar surge of power. My magick, responding to my distress, pulses through my veins.
"No, no, no," I mutter, trying to rein it in. But the more I fight, the stronger it grows. The air around me crackles with energy. Siva. Siva help!
I’m here. She pushes with me agains the stress and the magick. You can handle this. No one is going to let anyone hurt you.
Daphne’s voice rises above the noise, her siren song growing louder, and gradually, the room settles again into an uneasy low boiling growl. And my magick thankfully settles with it.
Nimue’s voice cuts through the tangible anger. “I’ve been trying to tell all of you for centuries that Yggdrasil is sick. That locking the Earth door was a bad choice. Not having our soul mate magick is slowly killing us all. This is the beginning of rebuilding what has been broken.”
It’s so weird believing that anyone thinks I’m the key to fixing anything.
You were already my saving grace, why would you not believe you could help others? Your magick is unlike anything in this world, sweet girl.
The tiniest of smiles tugs at my mouth. I squeeze Hawke’s hand. I’ve only ever been dangerous. Caused pain to people who loved me. To people I love.
Things will be different from now on.
A man steps closer, his face twisted in defiance of the siren song’s grasp. "T-this is n-not your c-choice.” He take a shaky breath and growls. “The council decides matters of the universe."
Nimue’s face darkens and fangs drop menacingly in her mouth. She hisses at the councilman, her words dripping with venom. “You were never part of the plan, Damien Larkspur. You stole authority from the Knights. From Yggdrasil.”
Darkwood struggles to raise his voice, his words laced with contempt. "You've no authority here, Siren! Tell your bitch to stop singing so we can fix this mess you've created."
Kellan's growl rumbles through the room, his frustration almost a physical manifestation. "You can't fix this Nimue. It's too far gone. Let me get her out of here."
Nimue’s dark desperate gaze fixates on Kellan over my shoulder. “They need to listen. She can fix everything. She’s the key. Why can’t they see that?”
Because I hurt people. Because I’m dangerous.
If I could move, my darling, I’d thrash you for saying that.
I gulp for a breath and look back at my mate in shock. My body warms and I’m shocked at how much I just want to kiss him right now.
His lip quirks and his eyes blacken with hunger. You like that idea, sweet girl.
No.
Liar.
This is not an appropriate time to talk about spanking me. People want to kill me.
No one is killing you, sweet girl. Not without going through me first.
In a swift motion, Nimue whirls to face the crowd, unleashing an unearthly scream that sends every man in the room to his knees, including Hawke.
No. No. No.
The pain in Nimue’s voice is tangible, a raw plea for understanding. "You have to listen! Why won't you listen to me? We have to fix what we broke."
I won’t let her hurt Hawke. Not any more.