Damnation.
That’s what this spell would mean for me.
What it would fucking do to me!
I couldn’t… I couldn’t let it!
No!
“You’re fighting me,” Cornelius spoke. “Breathe. Focus on what needs to be done.”
I looked out at him, the determination and concentration as he streamed his magic into me, as he fucking unmade me.
I turned my head and saw Velra with her purple magic live, pacing back and forth, tears in her eyes for me at what needed to be done here.
Needed to be done.
That was what Cornelius had said.
Maybe he was wrong.
Maybe the Healers were wrong.
Maybe Kai was wrong.
Hell, maybe even my own body was wrong.
I’d handled a lot of fucked-up things over the years… why did this need to be different?
If I kept my magic, it wouldn’t have to be.
But without it… if I let them take it…everythingwould be different.
Iwould be different.
I wouldn’t be that charismatic, dominating force of energy and purpose.
Fuck, I’d benothing.
I snarled. My magic sparked, bursting from both hands in crimson flames.
“Sylas,” Cornelius warned.
I gritted my teeth and pushed harder.
Through it, I caught Velra’s eye.
And then her words not long ago seeped into me.
“So alone. Nowhere to turn to. No one to truly trust. At least until recently, right?”
“Until recently, yes.”
“It’s time we both stopped kidding ourselves that we favor isolation.”
“That it’s easier.”
“And safer.”
