by A. K. Koonce
The expression fractures my own heart, and my cruel, cruel Prod laughs slightly at it.
Everything suddenly falls into place. I know what I have to do, even if it breaks my men in the process.
“He’s my father,” I tell them. “He gave me my powers. This—” I gesture at the portal, at what our world is becoming. “—this had to be done to give me that control, the power I need to protect you from myself.”
My father takes a step forward, crossing his arms against his chest. “And there is still more power to claim, my daughter.”
Phoenix’s eyes slash to him. “Don’t,” he hisses. “You don’t get to fucking call her that.” He takes a step forward. “You aren’t her fucking father. Her father’s name is Mr. Thomson. Her father adopted her, he bought her paints, he has been there for her when you weren’t. You are using her for your own fucking agenda.”
“Phoenix.” My voice is a tether that pulls his gaze back to me. Something in him softens. “My mother was an angel.” An angel I’ve despised since I’ve heard of her. “And she tried to kill me.” She killed my brother. I had a fucking brother.
My father slips at my side, placing a hand against my shoulder. “I sent Izara away to protect her from those who would kill her. Like her angel mother.”
“I saw her,” I add. “I saw her in limbo. ‘You shouldn’t exist,’ she said to me. Because she wanted me dead.” A single tear slips from my eye. I could have been dead like my brother, like the broken body of the little boy with bicolored eyes held within the arms of a crying father.
“Because you shouldn’t,” Syko says. Not unkindly, but with a hard edge to his voice. “No angel would willingly lie with the devil. So ask him how you came about.” His eyes narrow on Shade. Lucian. My father.
I don’t know what to call him.
The words Syko implies are too ugly to think about, and the devil at my side has no response to them. My gut clenches, but I push all feeling aside.
“You didn’t see what I saw. You didn’t hold my dead body in your arms. But I held yours.” My eyes find Malek’s, Saint’s, Syko’s, Phoenix’s, Heaven’s, and Sasha’s. “I killed you all and it won’t happen again.”
“It won’t,” Shade says with pride. “Because hell is coming through and your powers will only grow. You will be powerful, more powerful than any being to walk earth, heaven, or hell.”
He waves a hand in front of my body and I feel the change come over me. The Academy uniform fades and becomes a sleek black dress with individual golden specks sewn over it like burning embers. A heavy weight settles over my brow and I know, without having to look in a mirror, that it’s a crown.
“Take your power, my daughter.” He turns and I turn with him, watching as the three thrones of hell form behind us. “Join us.”
Join us.
Yes, my Prod purrs. Join them.
I turn in time to see the Messenger of Chaos step from the portal, his massive body fitting through it like it’s nothing. His footsteps thunder, and he shoots a gargoyle smirk in my direction as he goes and takes a seat on his throne, on the right side.
“Join us.” Shade takes a step back and sits on his throne in the middle and I see him for what he truly is. A demon. A devil. His wings arch above his back, and two horns sprout from his forehead, growing into vicious curved spikes.
I know what I have to do.
I turn to my men and feel the tears stream down my face. I know they know what I am going to choose. I know I will break their hearts, and I know, without a doubt, that I am going to lose them.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, as I take a step back…
...and sit on my throne.
Thirty-One
Phoenix
No. No.
Emotions rip through my chest until I feel like the erratically beating heart inside me is going to explode.
I’m numb, so fucking numb as Izara takes a step back and sits upon that burning throne of her father’s making. Of the devil’s making.
The moment she sits upon it, a change rips through her. Her body arches and a gasp tears from her lips. Her whole body trembles and she squeezes her eyes closed against what looks to be pain.
I want to reach for her, to separate that goddamn space between us but I drop to my knees instead. Because the emotions are too much. They’re tearing through me, rising, rising…
Izara opens her eyes and I watch, with unbidden tears sliding down my cheeks, as one of her eyes melts from whiskey to glittering gold, and the other is consumed with black.
And when she smiles, I know there is no trace of Izara left within her, because her Prod has fully taken over.
“Izara…” Saint takes a tentative step towards her.
He doesn’t get a chance to say anything else.
Because at that moment, the portal is thrown open wider…
... and all of hell pours through.
The End.
Thank you for reading Destruction of Two. The final book, Wrath of One is coming soon! Reserve your copy now!
Wrath of One
Also by A.K. Koonce
Reverse Harem Books
The Hopeless Series
Hopeless Magic
Hopeless Kingdom
Hopeless Realm
Hopeless Sacrifice
The To Tame a Shifter Series
Taming
Claiming
Maiming
Sustaining
Reigning
The Royal Harem Series
The Hundred Year Curse
The Curse of the Sea
The Legend of the Cursed Princess
The Harem of Misery Series
Pandora’s Pain
The Severed Souls Series
Darkness Rising
Darkness Consuming
Darkness Colliding
The Huntress Series
An Assassin’s Death
An Assassin’s Deception
An Assassin’s Destiny
The Villainous Wonderland Series
Into the Madness
Within the Wonder
Under the Lies
The Mortals and Mystics Series
Fate of the Hybrid, Prequel
When Fate Aligns, Book one
When Fate Unravels, Book two
When Fate Prevails, Book three
Resurrection Island
Also by Aleera Anaya Ceres
Reverse Harem Series
Royal Secrets
Secrets Among the Tides
Whispers Beneath the Deep
Caresses Between the Sand
Death Beyond the Waves
The Hybrid Trilogy
Braving the Beasts
Escaping the Beasts
Freeing the Beasts
Royal Lies
Book One COMING SOON!
Anthologies
Hers From the Start
Paranormal Romance Series
Deep Sea Chronicles
Fall in Deep
The Blood Novels
Blood Drug
My Master
Last Hope
Love Bites
Young Adult series
The Last Mermaid
The Witch Games Trilogy
The Witch Games
About A.K. Koonce
A.K. Koonce is a USA Today bestselling author. She’s mom by day and a fantasy and paranormal romance writer by night. She keeps her fantastical stories in her mind on an endless loop while she tries her best to focus on her actual life and not that of the spectacular, but demanding, fictional characters who always fill her thoughts.
If you want more A.K. Koonce updates, deleted scenes, and giveaways, join her Newsletter or Facebook Reader Group!
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About Aleera Anaya Ceres
Aleera Anaya Ceres is an Irish-Mexican mix who enjoys reading, writing, art, and heavy fangirling. When she’s not dreami
ng up stories about mermaids, she’s daydreaming about all sorts of fantasy creatures. A proud Slytherin from Kansas, she currently lives in Tlaxcala, Mexico with her husband and son.
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