“I don’t like you,” Isla remarked easily.
“Kill her, kill her, kill her,” the councilmembers chanted.
“Last chance,” the wraith spat at him. “I’ll do it. I’ll let your woman die.”
Rage boiled in his chest as Blythe wobbled on her feet. “Mistake, wraith.” He might not be able to touch her, but he could reclaim what was his. He flipped a switch in his mind, and the hatred she’d stolen in her nightly feedings—what she hadn’t burned through—ripped free of her, slamming into him.
SuddenlyPenelopewas hit by weakness. Her mask of beauty slipped, revealing the skeletal creature beneath. Another underground monster unearthed.
Too late. Laughing, the Phoenix cut Blythe’s throat with a brutal slash of trinite as she spun—the roar barreled from Roux as one of Carrigan’s fiery wings sliced through the harpy’s belly, cauterizing the edges of the wound at the same time, slowing the healing process.
As Blythe dropped, hitting her knees, the Phoenix executed another spin, clearly intending to use the other blazing appendage to remove her head. But Blythe misted in and out again, avoiding the blow.
Penelope bellowed, rallying. “You think this stops me? Say your goodbyes to yourgravita, Astra.”
Breath congealed in his throat as Blythe shot to her feet. She punched the Phoenix, nothing more, but Carrigan wheeled back as if she’d been gutted. A bright gleam of red glittered from her throat as she toppled. The ruby! It had come off the harpy, who had adhered it to the Phoenix. Now Penelope had no idea she drained Blythe’s competition.
Picking up a sword, his woman smiled as Carrigan lumbered to her knees. Swing. Too weak to defend, the Phoenix lost her head. Literally.
Panting, hands fisted, Blythe stood fast as the body of her foe toppled a final time. Whether the Phoenix could heal from such a wound while being drained by a wraith or not was irrelevant. Blythe had done it; she had delivered a death blow, winning the tournament!
But how had the ruby fallen from her perfect skin? The only way would be for Blythe to have forgiven him. Acquitting him of all charges. Which meant...she had.
His eyes widened. Wonder bloomed through him.
“All hail the new queen of Ation,” he shouted.
A collective denial rang out.
The councilmembers spoke over each other. “This isn’t possible.”
“Wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”
“The crown belongs to us!”
“No one will be leaving this realm!”
Blythe’s gaze flipped up, finding Roux on the dais. The connection and chemistry between them arced, a lightning bolt to his systems.
He saluted her, and she winked.
Oh, how he longed to stalk over and yank his harpy into his arms. Maybe on Laban’s behalf, maybe not. Either way, Roux could not let her go. He was keeping her, and that was that. What else mattered?
As if she’d read his thoughts, she nodded.Soon, she mouthed.
Yes. Soon. They would have their talk and plan their future. He could decide how to handle the blessing task. But harm her? Never again. He’d do everything in his power to make amends with Isla. Never could he take her father’s place. Never would he try. But no matter her feelings, he intended to oversee her protection for the rest of his days.
Realizing she’d lost her leverage, Penelope screeched—the last sound she made. In a blink, Blythe was standing before her, little more than mist, and splitting open her torso. The wraith vanished as her guts spilled out.
“Told you,” Isla told Roux as Blythe materialized at her side. “She always wins.”
He smiled. “That she does.”
Aggression rose from the royal council. He spun, facing them. “A single battle remains, and it’s ours.”
Sensing their end, the females attacked him in unison. As blows were exchanged, he and Blythe pressed together, forming a wall in front of the little girl. Block. Strike. Block, block. Slash.
But the child didn’t stay put. Moving out from behind them, Isla stretched out her arms. As her brow furrowed and her nose wrinkled, the air at the opposite end of the dais rippled. The underground began to shake, dirt billowing, rocks falling. Then, a colorful door appeared, with a lock above the handle.