by S. L. Watson
I stared numbly at the sunken sapphire eyes that reflected back at me. The circles underneath had turned to a dark purple, and my raven hair hung limp and dull, with greasy strands falling loose from my bun. I didn’t want to think of how skinny and frail my arms and legs had gotten, but Darion wouldn’t relent. He scowled at my reflection.
“You’re skin and bone, Ev. You need rest and food.” His eyes softened into a plea. “Even if you find Orien, you’re in no condition to fight him. Please—”
I yanked my arm away and spun from the mirror. “I’m getting closer. There’s a crack. If I can just break through, I’ll see what he sees, and then we can find him.” I glanced sideways to see Molly wiping up the chalk on the floor.
“You’ve been at this for weeks, Ev. Please, just take a break. Your students are noticing the change in you. They’ve approached Molly with their concerns.”
My attention flew to Molly, and she nodded that it was true.
My head drooped, and I stared at my bleeding hands.
Molly rushed to me and cupped her hands over mine. “Darion’s right, Ev. You can’t beat Orien like this, and please remember that if you put your life in danger, you put Darion’s in danger, and I need both of you in my life.” Molly’s voice cracked and tugged at something buried deep inside me, but I stifled the emotion before it surfaced.
When I lifted my head to look at Molly, something unexpected caught my eye from across the street. My heart thumped, and I barely listened to Molly’s words.
“Come on.” Molly urged me forward. “Let’s get these cleaned up, and then you’re coming to dinner with us, and that’s an order.” She dumped antiseptic over my hands.
“I think I’ll just take a quick shower here in the locker room.” I withdrew my hands from Molly’s but offered the best smile I could muster. “Why don’t you two go on ahead, and I’ll meet you at the café?”
Darion narrowed his eyes. “We can wait.”
I gave Molly a pleading look, and she patted my shoulder before going over to Darion and taking his hand. “Babe.” She turned on her “you can’t refuse me” voice. “Let’s give Ev her space. She’ll meet us there, won’t you?” She flashed me a stern appraisal.
“I promise.” I tried for another smile, but it came out as more of a twitch, but thankfully, Darion caved and followed Molly to the door. He stopped just before he was through and held the door propped open with his elbow as he turned back. “If you’re not there in thirty, I’m coming back.”
I sighed and shooed him with a wave. “I’ll be there. Now get out of here so I can get ready.”
I waited a minute until I felt Darion’s energy turn the corner, and then I walked outside. The energy I sensed from across the street reappeared, and so did the person it belonged to. Bree stood in the open doorway of her studio, which had been abandoned until this moment, and met my seething glare. My chest tightened as the desire to rip her to shreds tore through me. She was the reason Orien had Oria’s ring. If she hadn’t stolen it from me, Orien wouldn’t have killed Lucas. He would still have needed him to barter with me. She was just as guilty as Orien.
My skin burned. Bree jumped back when she heard the explosion above her head, and then her sign caught fire and crashed to the ground.
This time when I smiled, my lips peeled back from my teeth, and my cheeks lifted painfully high. When Bree’s eyes met mine once more, she cringed and doubled over, grabbing both sides of her head. Energy poured from me as I crossed the street. Even if Bree had tried to use her power to block my Empath abilities, it wouldn’t work. I twisted the onyx ring on my finger, which I’d had Freya make me, and stepped over the fallen sign.
A sardonic laugh escaped my lips as I glared into Bree’s pleading eyes.
“Make it stop!” she begged.
My nails dug into my palms as I circled her bent form. “I told you that sign sucks.”
“Please,” she moaned. “I can help you find Orien.”
Black tendrils burst from my palms and consumed her. I kicked the door closed behind me, barricading in her screams, and dragged her to a back room.
Folding chairs sat propped against a wall, and I slid one over and snatched Bree by the hair, forcing her onto the chair.
I didn’t know what game Bree was playing coming back here, but I intended to find out.
Bree’s phone buzzed in the purse still slung over her shoulder. I took her bag and dug the phone out. A text from Ty lit up the screen, and I ground my teeth.
“You won’t be getting anywhere near Ty,” I growled as my fist tightened and shot out, thumping its target. Bree’s head slumped as she fell unconscious. I scanned the room for something to secure her to the chair with.
Blue flames hissed through the air as they poured from my fingertips and imprisoned Bree. Even if she got the towels I’d bound her with loosened, she wouldn’t be going anywhere.
My stomach roared, and I checked the time on Bree’s phone. Darion would come to find me if I didn’t hustle to the café.
“Sweet dreams,” I chuckled, tucking Bree’s purse under my arm as I ran back to my studio and stuffed her purse and phone inside a locker.
After changing into clean clothes, I gave my hair a quick ruffle before twisting it back up in a fresh messy bun, then hurried to lock up the studio. With a satisfied glance across the street, I ran down the block and around the corner.
Just as I swung the door open to the café, I collided with Darion, slamming into his hard chest. His hands flew out, grasping around my shoulders and balancing our wobbling bodies. “I was just coming to find you.” A frown shadowed his silver eyes.
“Well, I’m here.” I shimmied past him to the table where Molly sat eyeing her menu. “Let’s eat. I’m ravenous.” I smiled inwardly as I thought of returning to Bree.
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Everly’s journey continues in
Stone of Fire: Vitarian Chronicles Volume 3 (Coming Soon)
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Also by S. L. Watson
Fate of Fury: Vitarian Chronicles Volume 0.5 (Free Short Story Prequel)
Fate of Blood: Vitarian Chronicles Volume 1
Last Descendants: Vitarian Chronicles Volume 2
Stone of Fire: Vitarian Chronicles Volume 3 (Coming Soon)
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If you like this series and want to see more from me, please leave a review. Thank you!
About the Author
S. L. Watson is an author of young adult fantasy. Last Descendants is her second novel in the Vitarian Chronicles series.
S. L. grew up in Oregon, where she currently resides with her husband, daughter, boisterous German Shepherd, and two feisty cats. As a lover of all genres, it’s not unusual to find stacks of her current reads scattered throughout her home (Sorry friends and family for the constant clutter, but I love my books!). If she’s not deep in developing plot twists, lost in the story realm, or wandering nature trails with her daughter, she’s lifting heavy barbells, practicing muscle-ups, or glued to a UFC match with her husband.
S. L. believes reading keeps the imagination alive and that shared stories bring communities together. She would love to hear from you! Please connect with her as she regularly gives out sneak peeks, prizes, and other freebies to her friends and newsletter subscribers. Don’t miss the next giveaway.
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Acknowledgments
A special thanks goes out to everyone who worked directly with me and behind the scenes to make this book the best version of Fate of Blood. This has been a work of passion, blood, sweat, tears, and countless sleep deprived mornings. And I wouldn’t trade a second of it! Getting up at 4:00 AM has become a daily ritual, and I love the peaceful quiet of these early creative mornings, and the pot of coffee helps :) My German Shepherd, Chloe, loves her early morning romps in the yard too!
A huge thanks to Fiona McLaren, whose honest and detailed edits helped pushed my writing to a new level. Thank you, Fiona, for keeping me aware of passive vs active voice, setting details, cliche phrases, tedious dialogue bubbles, and for being honest when you didn’t agree with a story detail.
Another huge thanks to Leonora Bulbeck, whose precise eye saved my sentences from my obsessive incorrect use of commas and grammatical errors. Thank you for the meticulous detail you put into polishing Fate of Blood.
An enormous thanks to Rena Violet. Thank you, Rena, for taking the details I gave you and bringing my imagination to life on the cover. You have an amazing talent!
And to my incredible husband, Adam, there aren’t enough thank you’s in the world to express my gratitude. Thank you for taking the time to read this book and sharing your thoughts. Thank you for all of the input and advice you offered every step of the way. Your support kept me going. Thank you to my precious daughter, Rowan, whose creativity, imagination, and kind heart inspires me every second of my day. I’m so grateful for you both, and I love you, infinity times infinity infinities forever!