Page 248 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
‘You’re weak,’ the creature spat, its voice sharp as broken glass. ‘And this world will fall because of it.’
Mal closed her eyes for a fleeting moment. Because the creature was right. The world needed the God-Killer. Needed something ruthless enough to tear gods from their thrones and end the ruin they had wrought.
But Mal…
Mal could not become that thing. Not at the cost of those she loved.
‘You’re right,’ she whispered at last, the words heavy with quiet defeat. ‘But I can’t do it.’
The creature’s smile deepened, widening into something almost triumphant.
‘Then let me.’
It extended its tattooed hand towards her, claws glinting faintly.
‘You won’t feel anything,’ it said, softer now, coaxing. ‘It will be like sleep. I will take over… and I will do what must be done. I will save this world, Mal Blackburn.’
Mal stared at the offered hand.
And for a moment, just a moment, she thought of the dream. Of warmth. Of peace. Of a life where Ash still stood beside her, where their daughter laughed, untouched by fate or gods or blood.
She could return to it. Let it swallow her whole. Forget theworld. Forget the pain. Forget the endless weight of being the one who had to endure.
She was so tired.
Tired of losing everyone she loved. Tired of holding herself together for others when she was already breaking.
All she wanted was to disappear.
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks as her gaze lifted—drawn, unwillingly, to the keep perched upon the cliffs.
To the place where her mother had died.
‘You could stay here,’ the creature said.
And then, she heard it.
A laugh.
Faint, distant… but achingly familiar.
Mal turned, her breath catching, her purple eyes widening as the figure emerged along the shoreline, walking towards her through the hush of the sea breeze.
Ash.
And in his arms, their daughter.
Something inside her broke open.
Mal ran.
She ran across the sand, heedless of anything else, until she reached them, and the moment Ash gathered her into his arms, she collapsed against him, sobbing as though the world itself had been lifted from her shoulders.
His lips brushed her tears away gently. His golden eyes bright with something she had not seen in so long.
Hope.
‘Let’s go home, Mal,’ he whispered against her mouth.
