All characters and the original Dark Swan Series belong to Richelle Mead.
"Mine," I growled through gritted teeth as I plunged my iron athame into the ground. Dorian stood by my side, tensed and weary from using magic though he still wore his signature smile. "This is mine. No, Kiyo, I won't ever be like your precious Maiwenn. I'll be better."
Kiyo stood a few feet away from me shaking. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Maiwenn fall to her knees in silent defeat.
"What have you done, Eugenie? You've lived up to your father's name." Kiyo's words came out like sharp stabs.
"I'm doing what I have to do to protect my children. I -" Kiyo transformed into a large fox and lunged at me, cutting me off mid sentence. I felt the ground around me shake with Dorian's earth magic as I fell. I could also feel the land calling to me, searching for a new master. Dorian was exhausted from fighting off Maiwenn's guards. He couldn't continue for much longer and I found myself cursing my idea to come with no backup. I had wanted to show Maiwenn and Kiyo that I wasn't afraid of them, but my pride was costing me now. My arms were pinned to the ground under Kiyo's massive paws and I couldn't lift my right hand that held the athame. The land vibrated beneath me. I could feel it screaming for someone to claim it.
Kiyo brought his mouth to the side of my throat as he had done lovingly in his human form so many times before. This time, however, he was poised to rip out my jugular. I started to connect to the water in his body to tear him apart as I had Aeson, but some small part of me didn't want him to suffer like that. He was the father of my children, even if he wanted them dead. I could feel his hesitation too, but I knew he would kill me. I started to continue my magic, but before I could complete it a force slammed into Kiyo's back. The hit knocked Kiyo off of me and I gathered the air around me, pushing it into him and knocking him back into the wall of Maiwenn's castle. His head connected with the stone and he slid down the wall, unconscious. I turned to see who had attacked Kiyo and before me stood a black skinned, red eyed creature. Volusian, my minion.
"I didn't summon you," I said as I stared at him in shock. Why hadn't I thought to bring Volusian to help fight? "You didn't have to save me. Why did you save me?"
"I want you to die slowly, mistress, with my hands wrapped around your throat. This death would be too easy for you." Volusian's face showed the small glimpse of happiness that only came out when he talked about my death. "I warned you that you couldn't trust these two. While one tries to take your life, the other takes your prize."
As he spoke I felt the ground rumble. The land around me began to transform into a perpetual autumn that I knew all too well. Turning, I saw Dorian crouched down, his hand buried in the earth.