42 Chapter 26

Kent's sudden viciousness scares me.

I've never seen him like this.

He tears through the enemy mages like they are all personally responsible for every single injustice in life.

What scares me more though is that this is him still in control.

He's still giving off the comforting nothing of a Void despite the bone deep fury his actions suggest.

Still, his control is threadbare and fraying.

I can feel it in the chill in the air.

Then I can feel it radiating off of him.

His comforting emptiness is interspersed with such intense wrath that the word doesn't even seem sufficient.

I can only watch in horror as the wrath slowly but surely overpowers the emptiness.

I try to redirect it into my own magic but it's almost mind-numbingly strong.

I've only ever felt emotions this intense from one other person…

If this is a mere imitation of what he's feeling then I can only be glad that I'm not the cause.

The thought of experiencing the full force of his emotions terrifies me.

Especially now that -

He stops moving.

He just stands there in the middle of mages with every intention of killing him.

I try to draw upon magic of my own to help him but that's when I feel it.

My supply of magic is dried up.

I can't so much as generate a spark.

I am so certain it's over that it takes me a moment to realise none of the mages are attacking.

"What's going on? The mages aren't using magic anymore."

I faintly hear Riel's words but I can't quite bring myself to voice my thoughts.

"Does it matter? Just take them down before they start again!"

Even Arabella's somewhat bloodthirsty rejoinder doesn't manage to force the words out of me.

The air around Kent is practically crackling with power.

One of the mages is foolish enough to try and tackle him.

Kent doesn't so much as flinch as the mage is encased in ice and shatters mere inches from him.

Before they can do anything to protect themselves the same happens to the other mages.

I hear the shocked and somewhat horrified gasps of my companions but my gaze remains fixed on Kent.

He stands among the fallen mages, a high-level mage at his most dangerous.

His gaze flickers to me before dismissing me - whether it's because he still has the presence of mind to recognise me or he just doesn't see my low level as a threat, I'm not sure.

His entire body goes rigid with attention and the next thing I know he's taking off down the corridor leaving nothing behind him but ice.

"He's going the wrong way. Should we go after him?"

Adrian's voice gives me pause.

The throne room is in the opposite direction of where Kent is headed.

If we keep going without him we won't have the advantage of magic but neither will the enemy.

I want to go after him and make sure he's okay.

At the same Helena's orders were clear.

To deviate from the plan now would be to leave Larcen and the others fighting unguarded.

"No. We keep going."

We have a job to do.