Page 7 of She Who Holds My Wrath

Elyistria speaks first, calm but razor-sharp. “We need answers. Now.”

“Well, you’ve looked and seen what’s inside,” I say, gesturing to the open pages. “That should tell you enough.”

“It tells us this book holds power we didn’t know existed,” Sariya snaps. “Power stronger than ours. Things that violate the natural laws of this universe.”

I wish I could tell them everything, but I can’t. Even if I wanted to, my brain can only remember so much itself. “We only have a few more hours left with the book, so we need to gather as much as we can from it.”

Elyistria stops her frantic pacing by the window and looks at me. “What do you mean, a few hours?”

“I need to return it before it’s noticed as missing.”

Both women go utterly still, and I can see them trying to figure me out. I should be terrified for my life right now. Although both women are ethereal and kind, caring leaders—they’re also two of the strongest beings in this universe, even without the full extent of the powers they were born with. And they’re currently looking at me like I’m a traitor. Like I’m a threat that needs to be dealt with.

“Return it to, who?” Elyistria asks, her voice colder than I’ve ever heard it.

I swallow hard, refusing to meet her blinding gaze. “I can’t tell you.”

Sariya’s heat flares visibly across her deep bronze skin. “Then how can we trust you?”

Before I can speak, a knock sounds at the door. I send a silent thanks to whatever gods are looking down on me for the small escape, despite the fact that nobody should know we’re in here. I take a step towards the door, but it slowly creaks open before I reach it, and she stumbles in. She looks frantic, almost afraid. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so… dishevelled, and the sight of it sends me into a frenzy.

“Velentha?” Sariya and Elyistria speak her name in unison, both stepping back in instinctive shock.

Golden heat erupts from Sariya’s palms, the sunshine fire blooming brightly above her upturned palms. Elyistria’s magic flares, white orbs lifting from her fingertips, ready to strike. Both women look like they’re ready to strike without thinking, and that thought alone makes me act without rational thought.

“WAIT!” I shout, diving in front of Velentha and throwing my hands up in submission. “Don’t—she’s not here to fight.”

“She’s one of them!” Elyistria snaps. “Why is one of the Six standing in Zeriavoss with your protection, Aran?”

Before I can respond, Velentha grabs me, her breath ragged. I glance down at her, taking in her features. Her eyes are wild with panic, her skin glistening with sweat. “They know,” she gasps.

My stomach drops. “What? No. You said fourteen hours.”

“I don’t know how… but they know it’s gone,” she stutters out.

I clench my fists. “Do they know I have it?”

She opens her mouth, but no words come out. I scan her face, my eyes frantically searching over her. She doubles over, a horrible wet sound choking her throat. Indigo blood spills from her lips, splattering the floor in vibrant blue drops that make my heart stutter in my chest. I catch her as she collapses, her body shaking violently in my arms.

“Velentha. My love⁠—”

I fall to my knees, bringing her with me as I cradle her close. Her skin is ice cold and clammy. Her breaths are coming in shallow pants. Too shallow. Panic claws up my spine, dread settling deep into my soul as it sinks in that my wife is laid in my arms, bleeding… dying.

“What in the gods’ name is going on?” Elyistria demands, rushing forward with Sariya close behind.

“She’s dying,” I choke. “Please—I’ll explain everything later, just help her!”

They hesitate and that sight alone makes a fresh wave of panic crash through me. I can see the fury warring with confusion in their eyes. Despite the fact Velentha is bleeding on the floor, they still haven’t lowered their magic. Their need to protect themselves is battling with their need to be decent beings. I see it. I see the way they don’t know if they should save themselves or her. Nothing in the world has ever compared to the feelings flooding throughout my body right now. Desperation sets in, and tears pool in my eyes at the thought of losing someone else. I barely survived Korithax. I won’t survive losing her. I can’t lose her. It’s not possible.

“Please,” I say again, begging now. “Please.”

A beat of silence passes between us, the tension in the room palpable as the fate of my wife lies in the hands of the two goddesses standing before me.

Elyistria nods once, her expression unreadable. “Get her off the floor.”

I gather Velentha’s limp body in my arms, her indigo blood smearing across my crisp white shirt.

“You need to open a portal to a guest chamber so we remain unseen,” Elyistria mutters.