Page 47 of Monster’s Magic
“Flick your hand to the wall,” he motions the movement, then smear it somewhere.”
I don’t want to tell him that’s a good idea, but… it’s a good idea. I do what he suggests and the room looks like it’s right out of a horror scene.
The blood starts to clot and I hand the knife back to him.
“Let me heal you, and don’t back away this time. Let me do this,” he insists.
I sigh. “Fine.”
He holds my one hand between both of his and warmth engulfs my palm. It feels amazing. I’d love to feel this all over my body.
Damn it, stop it.
I snatch my hand away once the pain has completely stopped. Examining it, I discover it’s as if the cut was never there. “Thank you,” I mumble. Not looking his way, I start toward the exit when he grabs my arm. I look at his hand, then to him. “Let me go,” I demand.
“Will you please put your trust in me one last time,” he asks.
Right, because that’s worked out so well for me already.
“Do I have a choice,” I ask.
“If you wish to survive this night, no,” he answers.
I pull my arm away from his grasp. “Fine. You have thirty seconds then I’m out of here. Begin.”
CHAPTER17
I standin the dimly lit chamber, my heart pounding in my chest as I face the one who once held my heart—Shayde, the part dark elf, part phoenix who deceived me. He admitted to having his reasons, but it didn’t make it right, nor did it settle any of the reservations I still had about him or what he did.
He aided in the assassination attempt on my parent’s life, and mine, succeeding only on my parents. In doing so, landed me in Blackthorn Academy. Whether he was involved or not, today is inevitable; one way or the other, I would have ended up in the very position we are at this moment.
His flaming crimson eyes flicker with a mixture of regret and urgency. It’s still hard to process the extent of his betrayal, but when he admitted to doing it to protect his family, it did melt the ice around my heart just a little. The weight of the impending war presses upon my shoulders, threatening to consume me. And yet, here he stands, offering me a chance to survive.
“Teagan,” he implores, his voice laden with desperation. “You have to listen to me. I never wanted it to come to this. I never intended to hurt you.”
I tighten and loosen my fists and my hands tremble. I take a deep breath to try and steady my voice. “I understand that, but it doesn’t fix what happened. It doesn’t bring my family back.”
Shayde’s gaze falters, and for a moment, I see a flicker of guilt cross his face. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Teagan,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. “I was cornered, threatened. They promised me they would spare you if I helped them. They want your position, your bloodline eradicated. It’s the only way they can secure their control.”
My mind has been racing since discovering my bloodline is royal in the necromantic community. The bitterness of betrayal mingles with the urgency of the impending battle. I struggle to maintain composure, to resist the pull of his words, the remnants of what we once shared. But deep down, I know that I can’t afford to let sentiment cloud my judgment.
“No, Shayde,” I say, my voice laced with determination. “You’ve done enough. You chose their side, and now you must face the consequences of your actions.”
His eyes widen, a mixture of disbelief and regret washing over him. “Teagan, please,” he pleads, stepping closer. “Let me make it right. Let me help you raise your army one final time. I want to be there to support you, to fight alongside you.”
A bitter smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “You want to help me now? After everything? The time for your assistance has long passed, Shayde. I trusted you, loved you, and you shattered all of that. I won’t let you deceive me again.”
I turn away from him, my gaze falling to the floor. I hold back the tears that threaten to fall and it takes every ounce of my energy and heart to not turn back around to face him. “The only way I’ll survive this is by my own strength,” I declare, my voice ringing with resolve. “I will raise my army on my own, rally the spirits of the dead, and face my enemies head-on.”
Without another word, I walk away, leaving Shayde standing in the chamber, his presence fading into the shadows. The weight of his betrayal still lingers, but I refuse to let it consume me. My focus shifts to the battle ahead, the clash of magic and steel that awaits me.
In the darkness of the night, I raise my army of the dead, their spectral forms materializing around me. The air crackles with power as I summon the spirits, their loyalty as unwavering as the resolve in my heart. The echoes of battle reach my ears, a distant cacophony growing closer with each passing moment.
Leading my ghostly army, I emerge from the darkness, stepping into the fray of the war that has come to claim me. The night sky is ablaze with spells and the clash of weapons, the scent of blood and sorcery filling the air. My enemies, once allies turned adversaries, gather their forces with determination to extinguish the last flicker of resistance.
But I am not alone.
As I stride forward, commanding the ethereal warriors at my side, I can sense Shayde’s gaze upon me, his presence lingering at the edge of my awareness. He had begged for forgiveness, pleaded to be by my side. But the wounds he inflicted run too deep, and the trust he sacrificed cannot be mended.