Page 104 of Sunsplitter

She closed her eyes and visualized: dirt, gravel, wheat, the old boards of the farmhouse painted in fading blue.

She’d never done it like this before. Had never tried Voidwalking to a place she didn’t know like the back of her soul. But the principle was the same.

She had to visualize in perfect detail.

Sun-baked dirt. Gravel in grays and tan. Wheat itching her nose, the old chaff strewn across the yard, faded gold compared to splashes of aedari blood.

Dirt, gravel, wheat.

Dirt, gravel, wheat.

Dirt. Gravel. Wh—

The air flew from her chest as she plunged.

Fi lurched out the other side, back into Summer sunlight. Back to Avroz—staring at the place she’d just been. The stunned look on his face was delicious.

Just a human, was she? Just a pet to warm Antal’s bed?

Fi Shaped her sword and swung. Avroz dodged as fast as expected, for an immortal Sunsplitter. Claws swiped for her side.

She pushed into the Void again. It was easier this time. Dirt. Gravel. Wheat. Fi knew she could do it now, welcomed the plunge into the Void then back to reality.

She emerged into a tackle. Avroz fought for balance, but Fi had been practicing how to tumble daeyari for a year. She knew the slight difference in their center of gravity, thanks to those raised heels. He hit the ground. She grabbed one antler, holding fangs at bay, pinning his head against the dirt.

He fell still when her energy sword pressed his throat.

It was haunting, how similarly Antal and Avroz wore that bewildered look, one version that warmed her heart, the other decidedly more murderous. Fi knelt atop her conquered prey with a bloom of victorious adrenaline—

That was onlyslightlymarred by the excruciating pain spearing her center.

She fought to keep her breath steady, despite Avroz’s claws buried in her stomach.

Her silviamesh had stopped him slicing clear to her spine, but energy-coated claws still popped the seams, digging deep into vulnerable flesh. Avroz lay beneath her sword, eyes bright with a rage she’d need nine centuries to comprehend, fangs ready for her throat. He pushed his claws deeper. Fi clamped her teeth against a scream, blood slipping hot down her navel.

She didn’t know what to do.

She hadn’t expected to get this far.

The noise drew Syvr out of the house. They halted on the porch, eyes wide. But they didn’t intervene.

All Fi could do was hold her blade steady.

“Release me, vavraesa,” Avroz ordered. “If you value your life.”

“No.”

His eyes narrowed. Fi felt the swish of his tail beneath her. Pain pushed black around the edges of her vision.

“No?” he seethed.

“You first.”

“Release me. Or I’ll shred you down to bone.”

“So will I, daeyari!” Fi fought through the pain, warred to keep her sword firm at his throat. “We’ll go together, if that’s what you want so badly. I’ve got thirty-three years to leave behind. You’ve got nine centuries. Which is a bigger legacy to give up? Because rest assured, you haveno ideahow petty I can be.”

Petty enough to keep Tyvo’s antler. To kill Verne. Were those the calculations running behind Avroz’s glare? Or was he debating the swiftest way to gut her?