Astarte's Wrath (Kythan Guardians 0.50)

As I near Phoenix, he reaches down and grabs my hand, helping me to my feet. Our gazes meet in understanding before we race toward Xarion.

Candra stands next to the black vortex of the aether as it yawns open. Her eyes widen when she locks on to us charging through the storm toward her minions. “Kill them!” she shouts.

Lunia backs up a step, her head bowed. She won’t fight us. Instead, she latches on to Xarion’s arm, taking one of his captor’s places so that he can meet us in battle. I cringe at her cowardice.

My gaze shifts to Xarion, and he smiles. While the two are trading places, he drops down and unsheathes a dagger from his ankle. He drives the blade into the Leymak on his left as Phoenix grabs the one on his right. Candra screams and bolts toward us, knocking Lunia to the ground.

Chaos surrounds the fray as sand rises in the whipping wind. I’m blinded from the fight between Phoenix and the others. Focusing on the one I’ve tackled, I drive my fist into his face. Nuri’s burnt head snaps sideways and he spits red. Then he looks me in the eyes before catching my arms with Flame-engulfed hands. His power surges through me, scorching. I’m unable to move as he throws me off and climbs on top, trapping my wrists above my head in his heated grasp.

“I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to fuck a Shythe,” he snarls. He growls, exposing his canines, as he pushes my shift up my thighs with his free hand. Heat blazes along my skin where his hand travels, and I kick my legs. He bears down harder.

“I may not be there to witness it—” I grind out. “But your race will answer for this.”

He laughs as his knees force mine apart. I try one last time to buck him off.

The weight of his body is suddenly gone. Xarion wraps his arms around Nuri’s shoulders and falls backward.

I scramble to my hands and knees.

“You’ll never touch her again,” Xarion seethes. Then he drags the blade of his dagger across Nuri’s neck, through his power source. Nuri gulps for air, the wide gash bleeding a river of red over his swirled ink. His body jerks one last time and he falls still.

Xarion’s chest heaves. His bloodied face looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen it. He begins to stand and I bound up, determined to save him back.

A blast of silvery power hits Xarion’s chest and I scream as his body is flung feet away from me. Candra glides toward him, her body suspended by the high winds, her toes dragging through the sand.

Curses fall from my mouth as I stumble to get to him, but she blocks my path. Latching on to his arm, she yanks Xarion up beside her, her illuminated fingers clutching his throat. “Call off your mutt, Star.” She nods toward Phoenix. “Or I’ll kill him now. Octavian requested the pharaoh be brought in alive. But he’ll only be slightly less contented to see him brought in dead.”

I search the chaos for Phoenix. He’s fighting the last one of Candra’s minions. “Phoenix!”

His blazing hand halts mid-strike, his other fisting the Leymak’s black tunic. When he spots Xarion trapped in Candra’s hold, he releases his foe. The Leymak drops to the ground near Lunia’s feet, gasping.

I look at Candra. “I’ll find you.” I swallow, sand scraping my dry throat.

“I know,” she says, backing toward the black portal. “I’ll have the scepter. And I’ll be waiting.”

Xarion’s eyes hold mine as Candra leads them closer to the aether. His body is paralyzed in her grasp, her coils of silvery power wrapping around his body. My feet beg to move—but I know she means her words. One step, and she’ll unleash her power into him.

Phoenix sidles up beside me, his body bathed in blood and limp. “It doesn’t end here, Star.” I try to nod, to believe his words, but I’m stiff with fear.

With one last look of shame, Lunia grabs the fallen Leymak and helps him stand. Then she wordlessly disappears into the blackness with him.

Candra gives me a sly smile as the aether reaches out, swathing her in dark spirals of mist. Then she’s gone.

Xarion’s gone.

The black void wavers, shrinking.

At once, Phoenix and I start toward it. His feet dig into the sand, kicking up grains behind him. He’s faster and pushes himself ahead. With a grunt, he lunges. He vanishes into the aether just as the black haze smokes out.

I shout and dive for the last of the dark wisps—and hit the desert sand.

“No! Gods!” I lift my hand and grasp at the dark mist as it fades to nothing.

Chapter Nineteen

My head endlessly lashes around as I seek another portal into the aether. Panicked, I grab a handful of sand and pitch it into the calm air. Hold my breath. Wait to see it swirl, catch on something, anything in the wind.

The dry grains scatter and hit the ground.