Page 135 of Ashborne Phoenix

“Mine! Hear me, Cruors!” she screamed and shadows moved in the trees in response. “It is mine—all of it! My power, and his!”

People shifted between the trees and I prayed again, reaching for Voski, but while I could feel him in the bond, his eyes were closed, and he didn’t respond.

‘I’ve got this,’ I reassured him. ‘Don’t worry. I know how to do this.’

Drunk with the power I poured into her, body trembling, her son now forgotten, Lady Ashford gasped and dropped the knife she’d had at his throat.

“More…” The word was a hoarse plea easing from her tightened throat.

I nodded and took a grip on her arm, jolting when the contact allowed me a greater flow of the power. “It’s yours,” I said through my teeth, shoving that storm out of my chest, out of my veins, through my palms, pouring it into her with a wave of love for her son, for the people of my nation, and for the Creator Himself. “Have it. Take it. All of it.”

The darkness of it, the weight, was a relief to give over, like draining a cesspit. Yet, she pulled at it, sucked at it. Shaking as if she reached climax, her eyes flew wide and her hand slapped to the dirt to steady herself.

I smiled grimly. “Take it, and use it. You give our love a gift, a protection… a sacrifice. Take it, Lady Ashford. Use it. You’re a blessing.”

“What…” Her tongue was thick on the word. “What are you doing?”

A thread of concern underlined her bliss. I didn’t answer, but kept shoveling power to her—a tidal wave. A storm. A wildfire. Every spark and flow.

And slowly, her eyes widened from ecstasy, to confusion, then horror.

“Have it,” I whispered. “Have every ounce of power within me—all that I’ve been given. I love him. I give it up gladly. I offer it to you freely. You didn’t need to threaten him, I would have given this to you anyway—”

“No. No!”

“Yes!”

“Ssssstop!” she hissed.

But I shook my head. “No,” I said simply. “I won’t. Because I love him too much to ever leave this between us. We are stronger without this darkness. So, thank you. You’ve given us a gift.”

A thin shriek broke in her throat. Moments later, she began writhing, scrambling to break the connection, clawing at my hand—but I gripped her arm like it was a lifeline.

“It was never Vane’s power that stopped Breckon vowing to me,” I murmured to her, too low for the others to hear. “It wasn’t my power either. It wasn’t a sick covenant braided together in your dark power. We didn’t understand: It was love. Love kept Vane and me together, and protected our bond from everything, and everyone else.

Ava screamed—a howl of shock and pain, and places on her skin began to redden. The smell of burning hair grew strong.

“Stop… stop! It’s burning—”

“I’m so very sorry, Ava, it seems that your power can’t survive being offered for good. It can’t remain in a place where it is made right. And because I love your son, and I offer it to you, for his good…”

“Stop!”

“It seems to have no choice, but to look for a better home—just like when you tried to harm your son while he gave himself for me.”

A strange sound gargled in her throat as her eyes grew rounder. But her body vibrated with the power I poured into her—that coiled and lashed and found nowhere to rest, and so, it burned her alive as it sought a safe haven.

Her hair was beginning to smoke. Then her jaw dropped and her lips peeled back from her teeth. “No… No! Take it back! That’s not—I don’t want—”

She scrabbled like a panicked child, her nails becoming talons, clawing through the earth, and across Voski’s arm and shoulder.

I prayed for him to be safe, and stayed focused on pouring all of it into her.

And at some point, as she began to shriek, her skin bubbled and blistered. She twisted, convulsed, pleading. But I kept my eyes on Voski, and the power fled me as love swelled my chest.

The world shrank, darkening at the edges. Just as Voski had, my body began to weaken in the wake of controlling that tidal wave. I trembled as the power I’d had coursing through my veins just moments before bled away. Rushed away. And I gladly hurried it along.

‘I love you,’ I sent to Voski through the link. He twitched, panting, trying to regain his strength and lift his head. ‘I love you so much. Even if this is the end… At least we took her with us. And I’m so glad you were mine. You’re worth it, Voski. Every moment. Every battle. Every effort… I love you.’