Zephyrus stood off to the side, completely unfazed. As he didn’t seem to want to join the battle, I left him alone—for now—and concentrated on my fellow Royal Fae.
Zings of electricity shot from his fingertips, all aimed my way. I deflected them with flowers, frowning as he turned the gorgeous creations into ash.
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“No respect,” I muttered, stirring an array of blossom motes to blind his vision. My tree from the bedroom had finally reached me, grounding me in life as I directed the thick black ropes toward my attacker.
If I could incapacitate him and Zephyrus, I could find a portal and escape.
Maybe.
I honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead. I just wanted out of this damn suite.
The snakes, however, would prove to be a problem.
Hence the petal shield.
A root wrapped around Kolstov’s ankle, tightening, only to be engulfed in red and yellow flames.
I screamed as the fiery embers reached my heart, my tree crying out in pain. “Stop!”
“You first,” Kolstov ground out, his destructive essence screeching across the floor and destroying my creation with horrifying ease.
I fell to my knees, agonized over the destruction of life, his vile powers eating at the goodness of mine.
Hatred unlike any I’d ever experienced bloomed inside me, all directed at this monster of a royal. Energy blazed from his golden eyes, overtaking mine in murderous lashes that obliterated my vines and all traces of the earth I’d brought into his suite.
Including my beloved tree.
He hadn’t stopped at the roots, taking the entire thwomp and incinerating it into ash in a matter of seconds.
My chest ached at the loss.
So wrong.
How could you?
Why?
The thwomps outside wept with me, their branches rattling angrily in protest.
“That was fascinating,” Zephyrus murmured.
“That’s not the word I’d use for it,” Kolstov retorted, his booted feet appearing in my vision. “What the actual fuck, Aflora?”
I glowered up at him. “You’re a monster.” My voice was hoarse, the black magic coating my earth source leaving me breathless.
He scoffed at that. “You just unleashed a monster into my suite, nearly killing all of us in the process. Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“It wasn’t going to kill us,” I returned, livid. “You are the murderer here.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Really?” He bent down, grabbed me by the neck, and hauled me to my feet. “Let’s see about that.” He dragged me through the living area to the back windows. “Watch.”
“No.”
When I tried to struggle, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, capturing me with my back to his chest. His lips were at my ear. “Fucking watch or I’ll drag you back to the Council and throw you in the dungeon for the week.”
I bristled at the threat and considered conjuring more pollen dust to suffocate him with, but our heads were too close together. I’d probably end up inhaling the potent mix, too.