Birthright (The Impavidus Cycle Book 1) by M. A. Vice

Author:M. A. Vice [Vice, M. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXIII

Ragged breaths clouded in the air before him as Septimus fell to his knees into the frozen dirt. He looked at his fingers splayed in the earth before him – covered in blood, blood up to his elbows, and he did not know whose it was.

You have gotten careless.

“You are the one controlling this damned body!” he screamed back, his voice a harsh rasp, cutting through the silence of the cold air.

You are still resisting.

“You promised this wouldn’t… You promised, no innocents –“

You still believe you have any right to make demands of me?

Septimus trembled as he sat back on his knees. Much of the blood, he could now tell, was coming from shallow wounds across his arms. He must have tangled with someone – but his memory was hazy, and nothing tangible remained. Had he killed the person who’d done this?

As he struggled back to his feet, he heard a shout echo across the trees – he knew the moment the sound reached his ears whose voice it was, and turned.

“Septimus!”

Ishtar stood in the snow, her breath clouding before her, two temple soldiers standing several paces behind her. Septimus recognized the soldiers – supporters of hers, men who were sure to never speak of this meeting.

He hated them for it – he hated her for it – though, did he? She was hiding him from the Order, because they would kill him if they knew. And he dearly wished they would.

“Ishtar,” he answered, his voice cracked and raw. “Please, do not…”

“You’re injured,” she informed him forcefully, stepping forward as he stepped away.

Memory clawed its way back to him. “I should be dead – I should be – Why did you stop that man?!” His voice sounded alien to his own ears. His words laced with Lucifurius’ venom.

But the venom drained away as he collapsed again. He’d taken a knife to the gut as well – he could feel it now. His eyes traced the path of the blood running from the blade in Ishtar’s hand.

If only she’d been the one to seek me out, Lucifurius sneered. At least this one has mettle.

“He was going to kill you – and if we do not see to your wounds, you will die still –“

“As it should be,” he groaned. His vision blurred, he could feel his heart sputter in his chest, and relief flooded him… but it dissipated as his eyes righted themselves, the beat of his heat corrected itself… and surely, if he examined his wounds, he would find they were beginning to heal.

Do not venture to believe you can escape me.

“Septimus,” Ishtar pleaded. “We can overcome him still – and I cannot lose you, especially not now that I…”

She trailed off, and a painful silence hung between them, but he knew. As greatly as he wished not to, he could no longer deny the growing of her belly, the increased protectiveness of her guards.

“No…” He raised his eyes to hers. “It would be best, love.”

The soldiers had moved forward.

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