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“What?”
“You want to help? Help. Kill them. Right now. Start with Ethan. Make sure Drake sees and then kill every member of his coven. Save him for last, so he knows how it feels to lose everyone.”
“Dianna.”
“Do it.” She lifted her hand toward them, waving it. “You want to help? Help me.”
I didn’t speak.
“That’s what I thought.” She took a step forward, her voice barely a whisper. “Because when it comes down to it, there will always be a line, just like you said. You on one side, me on the other.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“Doesn’t it? Doesn’t this remind you of the first time we met? When I snuck into the guild. Did you know I wasn’t even supposed to be at that meeting? I was supposed to look for the book with Alistair and Tobias while you all attended downstairs. But I couldn’t help it. I wanted to protect her so badly that I strapped a dagger to my thigh and went in. As soon as I stepped foot in that building, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t even have to look for you. I could feel you through the walls.”
She closed her eyes, swaying slightly on her feet as if tasting the air between us. I clenched my hands, trying to stop their trembling as her eyes snapped open, their depths a swirling blood-red mass that centered my very world.
“You are pure, blinding energy. You make my entire being tingle. Do you feel it too? Do you feel me?”
I cocked my head, staring at her. Come to think of it, I didn’t, and she knew it. The pull I felt toward her led into the forest.
“You’re distracting me.”
Her lips spread into a slow smile. “You know me so well.”
The trees behind her shook, and her form in front of me vanished in a swirl of green magic. A mighty scaled head rose above the trees, several horns jutting back, protecting the massive skull. Its jaws gaped wide, an orange glow blooming deep in its throat. I had a second to react, a second to decide who to save, and a second to succeed. A roar of flame shot from its mouth, decimating everything in its path.
I grabbed Logan and portalled, reappearing several miles deeper in the forest. The explosion erupted behind us. Heat licked at my skin, flames engulfing the jacket I wore. I stood and tossed it off. The mansion burned, a smoke plume reaching for the sky. The deep glow of flames peeked through the canopy of trees. Coughing sounded from the other celestials. I had used just a portion of the incantation my father had taught me eons ago to force them away from the mansion.
“Get the others out of here,” I ordered.
I started back toward the burning mansion. The forest around it screamed as the trees broke and burned.
“You’re insane.” Logan grabbed my arm. “I can’t leave you.”
“I will be fine, Logan.”
“You saw her? Do you feel that heat? It’s hotter than before. She’s stronger, Samkiel, and I can’t lose you, too.” I knew he was coming from a place of fear and lack of sleep, the logical part of his brain in survival mode.
“Have you forgotten that I am truly immortal and also fireproof? Her flames do not harm me. You are in danger, not me.”
Logan looked at me and then glanced at the mansion, a glint sparking in his eyes. “Do you remember Shangulion?”
My brows furrowed before realization clicked in. “Yes.”
“I have a plan.”
Six
Dianna
Another kick to the gut had Drake coughing. Flames licked the walls, climbing higher as they ate every curtain, framed picture, and painting. Rubble fell as another part of the mansion crumbled into ruin.
“You know,” I groaned, tipping my head back and lifting my arms, “I have to be honest with myself here. I really am a selfish fucking bitch.”
Another kick and his body lurched up before slamming back to the ground.
“I hate when people touch what’s mine.”
