The Price of Magic ~ Excerpt
Julian stepped behind me and placed his hand over my mound. He leaned into my ear. “For the love of all the gods you pray to, shut…your…mouth. This is Death Court. He is not Killian here. He is Death and everything that the title commands of him. Please, this is not the time or place to voice your opinion or contempt. Save it for later, when there will be no consequences. Just close your eyes. This will be over soon.”
I should have listened and closed my eyes, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. But, dear gods, I should have.
Killian pulled the man closer, just inches from his face. His fury leaked from him like waves of heat on a summer beach. “You’ve harbored a souled, knowing she was to be put to death by her people for crimes she should die for. You’ve interrupted a fate she deserves. You’ve stolen from Death, and now Death will take from you.”
He twisted the man’s neck in his hands, the snap of bones echoing through the hall. He tossed the lifeless body to Darkness, who kicked him into the shadows at his back like trash. I chewed down my scream, swallowing the bile that climbed up my throat. My legs wobbled, but Julian kept me standing. Killian lifted the woman up by her chin. Her eyes were frantic, seeking an escape, for someone who would help her. But no one was so foolish as to help someone in Death’s grasp. Without thinking, I tried to step forward. Julian held me in an iron grip, pulling me back against his chest.
“Unless you’re willing to take up a place at her side, don’t you dare move,” Julian said in a hush that felt hot against my neck. “You will not save her. The only thing you’ll do is draw out her death.”
I glanced around the room, expecting to see the same outrage that I felt. Instead, I saw admiration and submission. My stomach heaved when I saw the wanting looks on the faces of the women, their mouths open, their bodies quivering with reverence as they watched Killian’s every move. They were enjoying his deadly power, his willingness to kill so quickly.
“You come here to hide?” Killian asked the woman trembling at his front. “Answer my questions, and this will go quickly.”
“Y…yes,” she stammered.
“You can’t cheat death,” he replied. The room filled with the smell of fear and urine. It puddled at her feet. “For the crimes of murder, three innocent souls snuffed out at the hands of their mother, I sentence you to death. Not even I want your soul. I curse you to the below.”
Her death wasn’t as quick as her harborer. He released his hold on her, and she bolted. Darkness filled her path, shoving her to the floor. Slowly and painfully, she rolled on the ground, screaming. Claws and hands reached up through the floor and ripped her apart, pulling her bloody pieces below. Her last shred of terror prickled across my skin, and I screamed. I bucked in Julian’s arms until I fell to the floor. A series of curses fell from my lips before I knew what I was saying.
“You couldn’t just keep your mouth shut?” Julian said and lifted me back to my feet by my armpit, stepping to my side. “I warned you. Now we have the attention of Death before he had planned on giving it.”
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