Or die. But punish me.
I emblaze my Charge and jump to my feet, dashing to close the distance between us. My gaze holds Xarion’s.
“Kill him now!” Octavian shouts.
I spot Phoenix racing toward Candra, the mob of Narcos closing in around him. His arms ignite and he sends a ball of Flame careening toward Candra—
Without looking behind her, Candra dodges the Flame. She latches on to Xarion’s head, her hands anchored below his jaw. Her eyes meet mine. “See you in the underworld, sister.”
A Narco seizes her from behind, but before she’s pulled into the mob’s clutches, she smiles.
And snaps Xarion’s neck.
The crack sounds through the corridor as his head is twisted around.
The world falls away.
Time all but stops as Xarion wilts, his limbs becoming limp, and he drops to the floor.
The Narcos take Candra down. Her body engulfs in flames.
Amid the chaos, Phoenix succeeds in dragging me away from Xarion, my hands reaching out—my cries burning my lungs.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The sky is fire red.
The seams under the swollen clouds are molten outlines against the ocean’s sunrise sky. I stare into its intensity, unblinking. I wish I could dive into that fiery place just between the ocean and sky and wisp out like a curl of smoke.
Or walk straight into the depths of the harbor.
And not resurface.
“Star?”
It’s Phoenix’s voice again. I can hear the caution in it, the worry. The fear that I’m lost.
But I’m not.
Turning my gaze toward the towering statue of my goddess, I look into her lioness eyes. I admire her strength, her proud posture. Her prowess. And I decide that just as Alexander was likened to a god and Cleopatra was Isis incarnate, Astarte is linked to Sekhmet. They are sisters to me, both Egyptian war goddesses, and I am a descendant—my name chosen for me by the gods.
I am Astarte.
I am wrath.
Whirling around, I change my course and march toward the barge.
“Star!”
I can’t answer him. I can’t. If I open my mouth, all the grief and pain and heart sickness will fall out. And I need it. I latch on to those dark emotions and shove them deeper into the pit of my belly, allowing it to fuel my quick gait
.
I suppose Phoenix decides that if I’ve lost my mind, it doesn’t matter. He follows me on to the barge. Finally, he’s quiet, and I’m pleased.
The barge drifts toward the palace.
Fury seethes through my soul. Candra took my love. And the Narcos stole my revenge. I can’t even hunt down Candra and inflict my anguish upon her. No. But I can punish those who are responsible for everything.