A Clash of Storms (A Shade of Vampire #50)(50)

Mmm… A new soulmate…

I swallowed back another wave of tears, hurting too much to even feel creeped out by Asherak’s voice bouncing around in my skull. I stopped moving as it all sank in, breaking me down.

Vita’s last vision of the war’s outcome was coming true, and I still wasn’t ready for it. I loved him. I couldn’t let him do this. I couldn’t let him destroy himself.

And yet, it seemed like I had no choice.

I was angry with Phoenix and Jovi and everyone who didn’t try to stop Draven. But deep inside, my conscience was telling me the same as they were. Draven was going to do this, no matter what I said. I couldn’t prevent it.

“I’m yours, Asherak,” Draven hissed. “Take me.”

A soul-shattering roar erupted from Azazel as he slithered toward Draven, unwilling to let go of Asherak.

“You will not leave me!” Azazel cried out.

Open your soul to me, Draven, I heard Asherak say, satisfaction oozing from his husky voice.

“Draven!” I screamed his name again, fighting tooth and nail to break free. “Please… Draven...”

“I love you, Serena,” Draven said softly, as his beautiful gray eyes finally looked at me.

I could feel it. And it hurt even more because it wasn’t a regular “I love you”.

It was his goodbye.

“No!” I shrieked, my legs flailing in my desperate attempt to reach him. Phoenix and Jovi’s arms constricted around my arms and torso, keeping me in place.

Draven held his ground as Azazel lunged at him. The entire castle shuddered, cosmic amounts of dark energy suddenly being released into the atmosphere.

The snake pendant exploded in a phosphorescent green light just as Azazel clutched it.

The light swallowed the entire platform like an incandescent emerald dome.

It blinded us.

Draven…





Draven





I hadn’t exactly planned for this.

I hadn’t wanted it to get to this.

“Draven, no!” I could hear Serena screaming, over and over, but it was too late.

The winds that Azazel had summoned to enforce Asherak’s presence settled.

The bright green light that had engulfed the platform faded, and I could see everyone clearly. Azazel’s consternation crumpling his face. Tears streaming down Serena’s cheeks as Jovi and Phoenix held her back. Jax, Anjani, and Hansa’s pained expressions as they gripped their swords tighter. The young Druids watching me quietly, their lips pursed as they took a step closer. Aida and Field helping Vita back to her feet; the fae looking at me and recognizing the very vision we’d all wished to avoid.

Even Patrik and Thadeus had stopped fighting. The five Destroyers that had come up last were paralyzed, staring at me, their eyes flickering green. Whatever control Azazel had had on them was now wavering. One of them, a female with long brown hair and black scales covering her arms and neck, shook her head before she fell to the floor. Her bones cracked as her serpent tail split into legs and she returned to her Druid form. One by one, the remaining Destroyers recovered as well, while the three shifters watched from behind the pillars, wary of getting closer.

And I had opened myself up to Asherak.

We’d all hoped that it would be over if we removed the pendant and beheaded Azazel, but, clearly, that hadn’t worked out. I’d been forced to make a decision that I knew would cause grief but would also save my world.

There was no other choice.

Azazel and Asherak had to be stopped. Millions had died because of them, and millions more would continue to die if they were allowed to coexist and burn everything in their path.

Asherak’s soul needed a new host if it were to leave Azazel’s body. None of the young Druids were as strong as I was, and we knew it. I was younger, but we could tell from the speed with which I was learning and the overwhelming power of my spells that I had what it took to host a soul as dark as Asherak’s. I was the low-hanging fruit we needed to draw him out of Azazel’s body.

We’d talked about this extensively during our training in the sphere at Stonewall. I’d never told Serena about it because I knew she wouldn’t take it well, but the Druids and I had prepared for this outcome.

I’d had months to anticipate this exact moment, but making the decision still felt like a thousand swords stabbing me repeatedly from all angles—the pain felt near impossible to handle. Serena’s voice made it worse, my stomach twisting itself up in knots at the sound of it, but I had to keep going. I had to let him in. I had to stop this madness.

I felt Asherak’s soul slipping through me, chilling the blood in my veins as his whispers resonated in my head.

Let me in, Draven…

I did. Darkness and poison filled me, making my muscles tremble and my skin feel like it had been set on fire. His toxic soul coursed through my limbs, and my chest swelled with the incredible power it carried. Asherak was strong, and I couldn’t help but feel impressed by Azazel’s ability to hold him for so long. It felt as though an active volcano had been stuffed inside me and was constantly erupting.

“Draven.”

Serena’s cry made me turn my head. She was still trying to break free from Phoenix and Jovi’s hold. I gave her a reassuring smile, but I could feel her pain throbbing through me.

“It’s okay, Serena,” I managed.