Page 135 of Hero of Havoc

“It’s beautiful,” I blurt, and my brother scoffs.

“It’s the Second Kingdom.”

My jaw falls slack as I gasp. “Wait, what?”

Hugo nods. “If I’m right, which, when am I not?” he jokes, but the humor doesn’t meet his eyes. “Then the Second Kingdom palace is off to the left somewhere, and there’s a nearby village to the right.”

“You’ve been here before?” I clarify, and he grimaces.

“With Lucky,” he states, pointing up. “We’re not far from the kingdom borders,” he adds, and I gulp, the nerves zipping through my limbs in a frenzy.

“Hugo, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all,” I whisper, struggling to breathe as my brother’s hand drops from my shoulder to find my hand.

“It’s okay, VeeVee, we’re together. All we have to do is…”

His hand falls away as he clutches his throat.

“I…”

His face reddens, making my chest clench as he claws at his neck.

“Vee…”

He falls to his knees as I stand frozen in place, gaping in horror as my brother struggles to breathe.

The air stills around me as a shadow hovers behind Hugo, an unwanted guest smiling menacingly at me. With a snap of his fingers, my brother chokes, a gargled sound vibrating from his throat before he collapses in a heap, and terror burns through me.

Leonardo.

“What have you done?” I breathe, ice warring with the burning sensation in my veins as I sway, my body unable to handle the emotions churning inside of me.

“Oops, wrong Hayworth offspring. Never mind, Ivy. Let’s go.”

Ignoring him, I fall to my knees beside my brother, brushing my hand through his hair as he remains limp.

I scramble to feel my brother’s pulse, but nothing dances against the pad of my fingertips as I glower at the vile man before me.

“What. Have. You. Done?” I bite, my fingers trembling as tears line my bottom lashes, my eyes bulging as I fight against the disbelief claiming me.

My magic roars inside of me, detonating along my skin in a raging fire before blasting from my fingertips in a neon green, exploding across Leonardo’s body, while simultaneously swallowing me whole.

I scream.

Not for me.

Definitely not for him.

But for Hugo.

My Hewy.

Collapsing at his side, the green flames dance around us, cocooning us together.

As I take my last breath, I pray with all that I am that I don’t come back.

Because without him, there is no me.