33. Callie

Grief split me in two and carved a hole right through my chest as I stared across the broken concrete at Magnar’s body. He was so still, so pale, like everything that had made him, him was just...gone. I felt like I was standing on the precipice of an unending abyss. If I moved so much as an inch, I’d plunge in and fall forevermore into darkness.

Montana’s arms were around me and she was whispering something, but I couldn’t focus enough to hear it. I was torn between wanting the comfort of her embrace and hating her for loving one of the creatures responsible for my pain. She held me tightly and her tears fell on my bare shoulder.

My heart had stopped beating. Where it had pulsed with life just moments ago, now it was a cold, hard thing. A lifeless, joyless chasm within the centre of everything I’d thought I was.

Erik and Julius battled on and I was struck with the burning sense of how pointless all of it was. Death leading to death, on and on until none would be left standing in the end. And why? Julius would kill Erik and Fabian if he could, but it wouldn’t bring Magnar back.

I’d never stand captured in his golden gaze again or feel the warmth of his touch on my skin.

Montana gasped in alarm, her hand clutching my wrist as she dragged me away from the bars. I resisted for a moment, not wanting to look away from Magnar, not wanting to abandon him when he needed me most. Except he didn’t need me anymore. There was nothing left inside the shell which used to house his soul.

My sister pulled my arm more urgently, and I forced myself to turn and see what was wrong. Fabian was racing towards us, the golden key clutched in his hand as his gaze stayed fixed on me.

I stared at him for a moment and suddenly realised why Julius was still fighting. Killing them wouldn’t bring Magnar back. But it would feel really fucking good.

Fabian jammed the key into the padlock and I grabbed my sister’s arm, pushing her behind me despite the fact that she’d been trying to shield me first. He wasn’t interested in her but I refused to let him near the only person I still loved in this wretched world.

Fabian ripped the gate open and stared at me like I was the only thing that existed in the entire universe.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed, hesitating on the threshold of our cage. “But he was poisoning you against me. You couldn’t accept the goddess’s gift while he still lived. But now you’re free of him. Free to give your heart to me completely.”

“How could you think I could love you now?” I hissed. “Have you been dead for so long that you’ve forgotten what it is to be alive? Killing him doesn’t just erase how I feel about him.”

“I know it hurts,” Fabian replied, feigning some sense of understanding while stepping towards me purposefully.

I started to back up, pushing Montana aside so she didn’t end up penned in by him too. She resisted for a moment, clinging to my hand then suddenly released me and stepped away. I didn’t have a moment to wonder what had changed her mind as Fabian stalked closer.

“You have no idea how this feels,” I replied, my voice low with warning as he continued to close the distance between us.

My palm ached for the feeling of Fury in my grasp but I’d left the blade on the floor when I’d been holding Magnar in my arms. My gaze dropped to the golden blade as Fabian stepped over it but there was no way for me to reach it.

Montana slipped out of the cage and I hoped she had the good sense to get out of danger.

Fear spiked through me and the power of my ancestors drew closer as I opened myself to my gifts. I wouldn’t let this monster take me. I refused to bow to the pressure of the goddess as she tried to make my pulse race for him.

My gaze dropped to Fabian’s muscular chest, but I didn’t let Idun stoke any flames of desire in me. The only thing I saw was the blood which stained his skin. The blood of the man I loved.

My back collided with the bars behind me and Fabian stopped.

“Can’t you feel it?” he whispered, leaning in as if he wanted to kiss me.

I could sense Idun drawing closer to us, lending more of her power to the bond as heat flamed along the mark on my palm. I ached to lace my arms around this demon’s neck, to give in to the desire which fuelled his abhorrent actions. I fought against it, keeping my arms at my side and praying she didn’t take me hostage as she had at the wedding.

Fabian reached out to touch my cheek, brushing my hair aside in a gentle caress.

I recoiled, staring at him in horror. How could he think I’d want him now? He was coated in Magnar’s blood, looking at me like I was some prize he’d won. But I would never be his. I swore it on everything I was. If I couldn’t break this bond with him then I’d end my life before I’d spend it with him.

He leaned closer and I ached to hurt him as he’d hurt me, but the fucking bond wouldn’t let me raise a hand against him.

He took my inaction as an invitation and dipped his mouth towards mine.

I gritted my teeth and pressed my hand to his chest, holding him back.

My eyes fell on the mark on the back of my hand. The one I’d received when I’d taken my vow and my life had been bound to Magnar’s. The one that Julius had told me would disappear if Magnar was dead.

I inhaled sharply as my eyes flicked away from Fabian to Magnar’s body which still lay on the concrete. Relief flooded me, rocking the foundations of my soul as my broken pieces knitted themselves back together.

My heart swelled and my shattered soul was reborn in this dazzling ray of hope.

The mark was still intact, so he wasn’t dead. And if he wasn’t dead then he was healing. And if he was going to have the chance to recover before Fabian figured it out too, then I had to hold his attention.

I looked back up at the immortal monster who had me pinned beneath his gaze.

I could still feel the desperate ache of the partnership rune drawing me towards him and for once, I gave myself to its desires.

I slid my hand further up his chest, holding his gaze as his muscles tensed beneath my touch. His eyes filled with lust and he pressed me back, his hands gripping my waist.

I raised my other hand too, holding his face between my palms as I stared up at him and the space dividing us grew smaller and smaller.

“I knew you’d give in to it now,” Fabian groaned longingly.

He lifted me into his arms, pressing me against the bars and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

My heart thundered with the promise of what I was about to do. Fabian’s mouth lifted into a triumphant smile just before he pressed his cold lips to mine.

I ignored the tremors which rocked through me as he kissed me hungrily. I could taste the iron tang of Magnar’s blood on his mouth and with it, I found myself again. Found enough of myself to push off the power of the rune and work against its hold on me.

My grip on Fabian’s face tightened. Strength flooded into my muscles as I called on my gifts and with an almighty wrench, I twisted his head as hard as I could.

Fabian tried to push me back, but it was already too late. I gathered my rage, releasing a feral noise as I dug my fingers into his flesh, feeling his neck break. I growled with effort and threw every ounce of my gifted strength into forcing his neck to turn even further until with a shuddering yank, I tore his head from his shoulders. His blood flooded over me, soaking through my white dress as I bellowed my satisfaction at the watching stars.

Fabian’s body fell to the ground beneath me, and I dropped his head as I fell on top of him.

Pain clawed at my fractured soul as the bond balked against what I’d done and I was seized with the desire to place his head back upon his shoulders.

I gritted my teeth and crawled towards Fury instead, pulling the blade into my hand with a sigh of relief.

Keep faith, Sun Child.

My hand trembled violently as I touched Fury to Fabian’s heart and the blade urged me to force my arm down. But another part of me was screaming, wailing and begging me not to do it.

I loved him. I hated him and I loved him and wanted him dead but his death would kill me too.

Tremors racked my body as the two desires warred inside me and I was frozen between acting on either.

A groan of pain drew my attention, and I looked up as my whole world snapped back into alignment.

Magnar was beginning to move, his hand curling into a fist as he prepared to re-join the battle taking place between Erik and his brother.

With a desperate cry, I turned from Fabian’s body and ran from the cage, racing to the slayer who owned my heart.

We would finish this fight together.