Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (best large ereader .TXT) 📕

and yanking sent me off balance. My left hand began to slip from its hold around the base in which the Full Moon Orb above rested. I managed to reestablish my grip and kick out toward Kage, landing a blow that sent him stumbling back a step and shaking the pillar. The Moon Orb rattled around and was dislodged from the base, bounding down and plummeting into the water beneath. As I regained my balance, Cian—hands still bound and weak from the influence of The Sorek Shackles—charged into Kage with his shoulder to give me a fighting chance. They both stumbled into the fountain wall, nearly toppling into the water. Kage quickly recovered, whirling a strike to Cian’s nose with his elbow that sent Cian to the ground. With a smooth motion, Kage drew the Tartaros Blade and placed it ever so eloquently against the exposed skin of my side as I reached further into the spout and wrapped my fingers around the wet, velvet cloth I’d been searching for.

I eased the stone from its hiding place and held it tightly against my chest, still clinging to the iron spike atop the pillar to keep from falling. Cian struggled to his feet behind Kage, poised to go at him again, until he saw the blade perched at my side.

“I’m going to need you to hand that over,” Kage spat, malice dripping from every syllable. He was clearly pissed over the reluctance to go along with his plan to take over the world.

I hesitated, and that’s where I went wrong. The burden of the blade seared against my flesh as he pressed to make its presence known. I had a decision to make. Hand over the stone . . . or take my chances with the blade.

“Now Kage, you said yourself, we should both want to see the world a better place. So, of course I’m going to make sure that happens.” I moved my hand just slightly as though I were going to hand the stone over, then I winked at him, flashed him a gratified grin and plunged toward the water below.

Fire sliced through my side. The water muddied red around me. Looking up through the iridescent glow, I saw Kage as if he were moving in slow motion, raising his foot, readying himself to dive into the water after me . . . after the stone. Out of the darkness behind him, Cian emerged. He charged into Kage and the two flew over the edge of the fountain into the basin just as the world faded around me.

Thirty-Five

“Aisling, find the Full Moon Orb. Remember, it harnesses all of the powers of the other orbs: healing, protection, illumination, water manipulation, and so much more. If you are in tune with the lunar powers, your instincts will reveal what you need. The Silver Moon is peaking. Awaken, child, and complete your quest.”

My eyes shot open and immediately filled with moonwater. I exploded from beneath the surface, gasping for air. It took only a second to get my bearings and focus on the commotion of Kage and Cian grappling a few feet away. Confirmation that I’d only been unconscious for a few moments—just long enough to get the message. To my relief, the velvet wrapped stone remained in my grasp.

Pain seared through my side and I cringed as I moved through the waist-deep basin. A blood-stained trail following me as I frantically searched for the Full Moon Orb. When another stab of heat detonated through my core, I stumbled and lost my footing, sinking under the water. But that’s when I caught the glimmer of it against the edge of the stone wall. Moving through the water more quickly underneath, I pushed my way to it and grabbed it with my free hand.

I emerged from the water just as Kage drew the dagger back, glowing red and seeking its own. Time didn’t stop, but I’d have sworn it slowed to a crawl. I heard myself scream Cian’s name, noticed the moonlight glint from the blade’s edge, watched the scene play out like a movie in slow motion as the Tartaros Blade fulfilled the vision I had dreaded. At once, a metallic tinge lingered on my tongue. I felt the water around me explode as a rush of adrenaline surged through my veins, energizing as it traveled my nerves like a superhighway until I was certain every cell in my body might erupt. And I aimed the entirety of that power at the man still standing before me.

Instinct invaded, and I surrendered to it. With the Moon Orb in one hand and the Kanna Stone in the other, my arms moved in a half-circular motion, as though summoning the water from behind me, and hurling it forcefully—and with impressive precision—at Kage’s chest. The intensity of the blow hurled Kage against the pillar behind him. I watched the Tartaros Blade tumble from his hand into the water and my instinct was to go after it and run him through. I rushed forward to grab the dagger before Kage could regain his bearings, trying to ignore Cian’s limp body floating nearby, but I couldn’t. Foregoing the Tartaros Blade, I stopped and placed a hand over the binding of The Sorek Shackles and concentrated my energy on the lock. It flew open and I quickly removed them and tossed them aside.

“Cian. Cian. Please answer me!” I pleaded. But he didn’t . . . he couldn’t. Without wasting another moment, I leaned over, kissed his forehead as he had kissed mine only hours before, and then returned my fury to the one who had taken him from me. Eyes narrowed; determination twisted within me.

Kage was just wrapping his hand around the hilt of the dagger when I pushed the hand holding the Kanna Stone forward, the cloth falling to the sides around my fingers, revealing the stone itself. A series of words I didn’t even recognize spilled from my lips and the