The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,155
a pointed gush, sucked the body into its torrential wet, and then it fell to the rock with a crash, water mixed with black sludge shooting out where it landed.
With the end of the third Beast, there was no pithy repartee.
The prophesied immediately turned their powers on the final one.
But Daemon raced away, one step, and then two, and he was back to Beast, darting this way and that.
The men put their women to their feet, and the instant they had them on land, the witches hurled their magic at him.
The skies grew light, such were the streaks of blue, red, green and white as wind, fire, water and magic flooded the space, coming so quickly, Teddy couldn’t keep track of it.
The angmostros heads descended and snapped wherever the flash of the Beast could be seen.
The dragons sent ruptures of flame.
“They have to get him, they have to get him, theyhavetogethim,” Moira chanted.
And suddenly he took form.
As his human self.
Right at the edge to the abyss.
And when he did, the magic being hurled by the queens stopped immediately.
And Teddy’s blood froze in his veins.
“Does one of you care about this one?” Daemon called.
And he held Faunus aloft by the throat.
“No,” Teddy whispered.
“Let him go!” Mars roared.
Moira’s arms came around Teddy.
And Teddy’s eyes grew scratchy, he stared so hard at his warrior in a demon’s clutch.
And memories of words said in the past surged into his head.
You have my love.
And you have mine.
You have my devotion.
And you have mine.
And adoration.
You can be quiet now.
“No,” Teddy whispered again.
Moira held him tighter.
You will come home. To Firenze. Where it is warm and where you will know affection and respect. You will be Teddy’s sister. He will see to you. Through Teddy, you will be my sister, and I will see to you as well.
Teddy watched as Faunus turned his head as best he could in a grip he was fighting against, both of his big, strong hands wrapped around Daemon’s forearm.
And he looked Teddy’s way.
Do you love me?
Yes.
When did you fall in love with me?
It began when you kissed me after you fucked Saturn that first time at Lorenz and Nyx’s.
I am sorry, mio amore, but it took me longer. I liked you very much and wanted more from you. But I knew it would go much deeper when you annoyed me greatly by demanding to put your life at risk to become a spy.
Faunus’s eyes found Teddy’s.
I am here as the one who loves him. I am here as the man who has given him my heart, to share with you the depth of your profound mistake, so you can think on that until you rest on your pyre.
Still held by the Beast, Faunus’s beautiful black eyes looked right into Teddy’s.
This look was not a call for help.
Most handsome. I could keep you full of me for days. You’ll be beautiful shooting before me with me moving deep inside.
Faunus’s look was a call to hold.
I have a vast and beautiful family, Tedrey.
If we live them right, our whole lives are filled with family and that means you will one day be uncle to my children. Does that feel insignificant?
Daemon lifted Faunus up higher and Teddy saw him begin to transform into the Beast.
Those claws, when they came out, would take his warrior’s head.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” he bellowed, rose up, and tore over the rock.
“TEDDY!” Moira shrieked.
“TEDDY!” he heard Saturn roar.
But Teddy raced.
Daemon’s head turned to him and Teddy saw his surprise.
He then saw his lips begin to curl up.
And when Teddy didn’t stop, he watched the thing’s eyes get wide.
Faunus kicked him in the stomach.
Daemon lost hold.
Faunus’s boots hit the ground.
He was free.
But he was too close.
Teddy would make him safe.
He hit an unsuspecting Daemon in the chest.
And Teddy and the demon toppled over the side.
Into the Mouth of Triton.
“NOOOOOOOO!”
Falling, Teddy heard Faunus’s shout.
Alive.
Teddy closed his eyes.
And smiled.
Right before his head struck rock and his neck broke.
King Mars
At the Edge of the Mouth of Triton
MAR-EL
“NOOOOOOOO!” Faunus boomed.
Mars raced forward and caught his man about the chest and ribs before Faunus threw himself over the side.
They struggled.
But both suddenly stopped when a great shaft of light burst out of the mouth straight into the heavens.
Mars’s gut dropped.
Fuck.
“No,” Faunus whispered, head tipped back, staring into the sky.
Mars kept hold, but now not for fear he’d go after his lover.
They both knew his lover was gone.
Now, as his father would do, as any good king would do, he held his man in order to hold him up.