Of Blood and Sacrifice - Ebook

A storm’s been awakened, and it won't be contained for long.

I've been pushed beyond my limits, my heart shattered into pieces, and a magic forced on me I know nothing about. With a darkness stirring inside me that I should be afraid of—but I’m not—it’s time to show Alaryk even though he won the last battle, he won’t get so lucky again.

My grieving period is over. I’ve moved onto rage, letting vengeance guide me. Everyone left that I care about wants me to let them in, but until Alaryk is no longer breathing, I won’t let them distract me from what needs to be done.

I’m destined for two paths. One that leads to light and love, the other, darkness and power. The time is up to decide who I will become, and ready or not, I’ll either save the worlds or destroy them.

This time, not even the Fates know how things will end.

**Spoilers to Book One ahead! Beware!!**

Lightning struck all around me as my hair flew across my face and tears flowed down my cheeks. The anguish came and went, some moments better than others, but most of them worse. Today was not a better day. After just laying my parents to rest, my grief was in full force.
It wasn’t right, nor was it fair, but there would be retribution. Alaryk would get what he had coming to him. I wouldn’t stop until he paid for taking the two most important people in all the worlds away from me—he and the two men who had done the dark fae’s dirty work.
“Kali!” Jordan’s voice sounded like a whisper through the thunder that followed the fit I was throwing, and I pretended not to hear her.
Kaliah, you need to stop before you hurt someone, Stryx sounded in my head.
That was the only thing that could give me pause.
Enough innocent blood had been spilled and I refused to be the cause of any more.
Fine, but I don’t want to talk. Make her go away, I replied, not caring if I seemed unreasonable.
Jordan had done her best to be there for me, but no amount of consoling could heal the hurt in my heart. My parents were gone, and they were never coming back. Alaryk had taken them from me when I refused to go with him and be by his side in some asinine quest for control.
Ryland is here, too. Shall I send him away as well? The disappointment in Stryx’s voice wasn’t missed.
As the thunder quieted and the lightning began to dissipate, my shoulders hunched. I don’t know.
Ryland hadn’t been hurt by my lightning before, but he’d yet to force himself on me since the moments after the fight. I’d asked for space and he’d given it, but not easily.
You can’t be afraid to care about people anymore. Your parents’ deaths were not your fault, and they would be devastated to know you were doing everything you could to push away those who care for you most.
Stryx was the only person I couldn’t make disappear. The feathered annoyance was always there in my head, reminding me of things I’d much rather forget.
“I’m not leaving, Kaliah Grace. Neither is Ryland. You had your time, and now you’ve forced our hand.” Jordan glared from across the training field as the storm around me died down.
I’d at least had the forethought to go outside of town before I let the power rip from my core and through the sky. Power that had been unleashed just moments too late. Useless then, but I’d make sure the next shot I had at Alaryk wasn’t wasted.
Ryland was next to Jordan with Stryx on his shoulder. They both stared at me, but with more patience than my best friend.
Deciding I’d let enough of the rage out for the afternoon, I caved and went to them. I didn’t have the energy to deal with Jordan if I refused to speak with them once again. Her level of annoyance with me was only increasing as the days passed, and I knew deep down she didn’t deserve the treatment I’d been giving her. None of them did.
She opened her mouth, but Ryland covered it with his hand. “You yell at her one more time and I’ll deal with you myself.”
She bit his hand, and he pulled away. “She’s my best friend. I’ll do whatever I want.”
Stryx snapped his beak. “Enough. Both of you. Kali, how are you feeling after utilizing that much power?”
What I appreciated most about that question was that he had specified it to my abilities, not my actual feelings. It was possible Stryx knew me even better than Jordan did, but I’d never tell her that. She’d probably murder the owl.
She could certainly try. It would be fun, Stryx replied to my thoughts.