Page 147 of Fated In Ruin
Oh, God. He was…impressive. Taller than he’d been. Broader.
More, in every way.
Still himself, and yet…not.
No, Malachi’s entire being sang with a primal energy not of this world, and my body responded, my marrow humming, my core contracting as I gazed up at him. This being still looked like Malachi, except his face glowed with power and his eyes…his eyes danced with stars, like he contained the power of the heavens.
And as the creature that had once been Malachi set me aside and rose naked from the pool, that celestial spark ignited when his attention snapped to Ravok, flattened against the wall, watching us in horror.
“No…this cannot be.” Ravok’s gaze bounced between us. “I was the one…you were supposed to…” His brow furrowed, shoulders straightening as he decided he could still salvage this situation. “Kneel and swear your fealty to me. I am your master. I created you andyou serve me.”
The beast that tipped his head bore no resemblance to the male I loved. His slow, toothy grin was bloodcurdling, eyes burning with a fire that seemed to issue from the depths of hell.
“I do not serve you. I shall never serve you.”
I didn’t know if the words were spoken aloud, or echoing inside my soul, only that his fathomless voice thrummed with ungodly power, the sort that could send people crashing to their knees.
Freezing water lapped around my waist as I scooted away, writhing shadows crawling up his legs, carrying a trace of the sparkling magic still leaking up into the dark portal, which appeared to have gone dead.
Then the stars in Malachi's amber eyes began glowing, filling the room with brilliance as enormous claws extended from his hands, dripping black shadows into the pool of water as his body began to change, growing taller, broader, until he filled the entire room.
Toned shoulders turned bulky, bulging over with muscle, chest turning into solid slabs, an abdomen that was rock solid and bigger than I could fit my arms around. Trim thighs became tree trunks, flexing with strength, his jaw sharpening, gaze turning darker than the night sky.
He became something out of my nightmares, covered in thick, velvety skin, coated with a flickering shadow of my dark flames, his face a mask of bestial cunning and predatorial intent. Then there was nothing left of the Malachi I knew, and something entirely foreign stood before me.
Orcus.
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. “Malachi,” I whispered, scooting to the opposite wall from Ravok, but the creature was focused wholly on his Maker, and I knew instinctually, I’d better stay out of the way.
The chamber shook violently as the beast—as Malachi—let out a roar that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The sound vibrated through my bones, through the very stone of the mountain. More debris crashed down from the ceiling, splashing into the pool, one chunk sucked into the portal.
And I swore, behind that still, suspended portal…something roared back.
Ravok wasn’t cowed. He approached the shadow creature with his arms spread wide, like he was going to tame the beast. “I Made you and you swore a blood oath of obedienceto me. Now I have created you anew, and even if I have to force you to kneel, you will submit to my will.”
The creature watched him with those terrible eyes, massive form rippling with barely contained violence. Then it made a sound, a raspy creak that might have been a chuckle.
“I serve no one, you pitiful worm.” Those eyes skated across the walls, the pool, until they landed—with the weight of the entire world behind them—on me.
I serve only the one who bled for me. The one whose blood flows inside me.His thunderous voice echoed through my head, a long, pink tongue flicking out and tracing those full, shadowy lips.The one who tastes of desert storms and spice.
An illicit shiver went through me, ill-advised and definitely inappropriate, given the shitty timing. But damn, whatever Malachi had become, he was…breath taking, in every way.
“No,” Ravok hissed, glaring between us from across the pool. “Whatever this bullshit is, you will not thieve away my power. You will never take what is rightfullymine.”
65
EVANGELINE
Ravok really couldn’t read a room, because if he thought this creature wouldeverobey him, he’d spent too much time in that iron box.
“Malachineverbelonged to you.Never.” My voice carried across the still pool. “You are a monster and I can’t wait until he tears your throat out so you finally stop fucking talking.”
“As for you, Evangeline,” Ravok crooned, his voice still dripping with confidence. “You belong to me as well, little shadow.”
The beast lifted a lip, a snarl rumbling in its chest, talons flexing like knives, waiting to cut.
Then the air in the room changed.
