The Devil's Kiss - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,74

it away and flew a sparkle of power to rip through the auditorium. Loud gasps echoed followed thereafter, and even I had to gasp myself. My shield had proved to protect me, but to protect someone else, that was certainly new. My panic apparently made me stronger.

Kyden’s shouts of pain quieted. Fear wrenched through me, not knowing if it was because he was dead, or that he was just unconscious.

“What is going on here?” Magnus growled.

He glanced around the room, his eyes settled on Azar, who stood, shaking terribly. Obviously, withdrawing the hold over me took an immense amount of magic on his part.

“Azar, you will die for this betrayal,” Magnus roared. Then, he glanced to his demons. “Kill him.” No one moved. Shock and treachery flashed across Magnus’ face before his gaze fell on me.

“I can’t let you do this,” I said softly.

Just because the bond had been broken momentarily didn’t mean I still didn’t feel connected to Magnus. He was my soul mate, we were bonded and he was embedded into every part of me. Killing him would mean killing a part of myself. Was I capable of that?

“You are my Lady.” Magnus’ face darkened. “What are you doing?”

Tears filled my eyes, my words barely able to form. “I don’t know. I just can’t let this happen.”

The battle inside me was intense. Reason and heart told me to save Kyden—but my soul wouldn’t hear it. Questions swam through my mind as I battled within myself. I had never chosen Magnus. Just because fate brought us together, did that determine true love? My heart told me no.

Kyden was the man who loved me for who I was. Magnus would want me to become something different—dark. Kyden gave me everything I needed and no bond was needed to declare it.

It simply was.

In that very moment, I defied the odds.

My heart grew stronger. The fierceness that compelled me began to fade as Magnus’ connection to my soul weakened. His was a bond not based on love but on compatibility. I was the best choice of a mate for him. We could be more powerful together. We would provide everything we needed to each other, but that was not love.

Love is messy, confusing, comes with highs and lows. It wasn’t something convenient.

With my heart winning, I stepped forward. My soul screamed at me to back away, to stop what I was about to do. Every part of me shook in need to just run into Magnus’ arms and forget everyone else. I glanced quickly at Kyden’s lifeless body and the trembling stopped.

I wasn’t Magnus’. I was Kyden’s, always and forever. I knew it in every part of my body, even if my soul declared it otherwise.

Magnus’ grin was cold and evil. “You are meant to be mine. It lies there within you. You feel it. The pull. You need me. If you do this you will kill your soul.”

“My soul is nothing without Kyden,” I stated as I let my magic fill me.

Magnus screamed my name as power began to whip around us. He tried to catch my focus, tried to get me to hear his voice so I would stop, but my only thought was of Kyden.

I centered myself around every ounce of love we shared and drew on it. My soul was only one part of me and my heart at this very moment was stronger—solid.

Low hums filled the auditorium as energy began to flow rapidly. The magic I conjured was nothing I’d ever felt before. It wasn’t elemental. It was all energy and it felt powerful.

The willow on my neck began to tingle in response to the magic forming inside me. I considered drawing Magnus’ Black Magic within me, but instantly knew that I didn’t need it to destroy him.

The bond created with Magnus gave me part of his ability, and it made my magic stronger—gave more energy to my elements. It derived from Black Magic, relieved and fueled mine.

Magnus screamed louder. The betrayal and hurt was strong in his voice. It ripped at me. My soul nearly crippled hearing it. I roared against the desire to stop the magic from consuming me, and deny the need to see him dead. Magnus threw his magic at my shield. It hit in spurts, coming at every angle.

He was strong, which made me feel oddly proud. The one destined to me should be powerful, but the part that sunk deep wasn’t strong enough. I could unleash my power at any time