24
Barbie
My toes curled and my spine arched in Killian’s embrace. Need coiled tight in my core as he claimed my mouth, his kiss a savage tenderness that made me dizzy.
My dark flame intertwined with his starlight, our mating bond snapping to life and burning brilliantly. Every supernatural in the courtyard now knew that I belonged to the chaos prince. I was his true mate by right and magic.
When I broke away, breathless, I caught Queen Lilith watching from across the space, icy hellfire crackling in those jade eyes.
I met her gaze head-on, my body deadly still, ready to fight with fangs and claws and every drop of power I possessed. The queen could challenge my claim, but she’d learn exactly what happened when someone tried to take what was mine.
The stars stared down at this corner of Earth, awaiting the showdown between me and the powerful fallen star—and theinevitable bloodbath. The heirs tensed around Killian and me, sensing the violent shift in the air, but they’d defend Sy and me to the death.
The queen’s lips curled in a mocking smile. She winked at me, and a heartbeat later, thunder split the sky. A vortex slammed into the center of the courtyard, its raw force ripping me from Killian’s arms. He lunged, but I was already spinning away. I screamed his name, my fingers stretching desperately for his. His dark lightning struck the vortex, the other heirs’ power joining his as they fought to break me free.
My dark wind and flame surged toward their magic, desperate to connect, to claw my way back to my mate.
But the power hurling me skyward was unstoppable—only one force could rip us apart like this. Around me, students screamed as the vortex snatched them up, trapping us all in its merciless grip.
“Due to the current threat, we’re bringing forward the second bride trial. It begins now!” The bell’s toll sliced through the furious roars of Tyson, Killian, Rowan, and the other heirs. “Steel your hearts, bride candidates—half of you won’t survive the cull. But your sacrifice will be remembered, as Mist of Cinder stands strong.”
