Read Online Dominion of the Star (Descendants of the Fallen Book 1) by Angelica Clyman - Free Book Online

thin trench knife.
    Jeremy squeezed his temples as
the memories returned. He knew he could defeat his Ophan, but he had to make it
seem fair. He discarded his sword in favor of a steel pole as defense against
his opponent’s bladed knuckle dusters. The small knives danced in quick
succession close to his face, his hands, his side, but he blocked each attack
with quick swings of his makeshift staff.
    Kayla was backing up,
protectively waving the jagged rod in front of her. Her face was twisted in
concentration, but the relic refused to transform. “No, stop! I…can’t!” she
cried as Za’in approached.
    His Ophan said nothing as
Jeremy was forced up a set of stairs and back along a metal beam, high above
the ground. He remembered that wicked smile…was it eager to kill or to die? His
adversary shot low, catching Jeremy’s leg with the edge of a trench knife, and
he stumbled, dropping his weapon, but he used the opportunity to pull his Ophan
down with him, wrenching one of the knives from a surprised grip as they fell
together against the girder. It had to end here. Trial by combat really was an
excuse — not for revenge, but for control. The eyes that watched them didn’t
matter, and what happened in Madeline was nothing in the face of the knowledge
that being an Arch didn’t make him free. This was the only way to end the
struggle of the past five years. He dragged the weapon’s barbed knuckles along
his Ophan’s back, and then turned his wrist, pressing the blade through flesh,
all the way to the hilt. He released his grip on the weapon and shoved the
writhing body off the beam. Jeremy stood, regarding the still, twisted form
that lay in a patch of dark, wet sand, wondering if he’d ever feel the relief
of a lifted burden, even as his men raised their voices in his name.
    A girl’s scream brought him
back to the present. Kayla was on her knees, holding her staff above her head
as Za’in’s blades made contact with her weapon. Her opponent took a retreating
step, bringing his hands together and conjuring a sword that was the skeletal
twin of Jeremy’s blade. The Arch watched as Kayla’s eyes widened, her hands
dropping into her lap. She lowered her head, gripping her relic tightly as the
staff began to glow, shrinking in size and collecting in her right hand. Kayla
raised her face, her eyes wet and shining, her teeth bared in rage. She flung
her arm up into the air, throwing an explosion of light towards Za’in. He
shielded himself with the massive sword, and she fell forward, collapsing to
the ground.
    Jeremy swallowed hard, staring
as his lord stood over her, motionless and silent. Za’in then knelt down beside
Kayla, gently resting his palm on her back, and he looked up to lock eyes with
his Arch.
    “When we push our limits, we
find they are further than we think. However, this is dangerous without the
proper guidance. You survived today, and such a trial need not be repeated.”
Za’in turned his full attention to the girl, gathering her trembling form into
his arms.
    Jeremy’s face stung, and he
lingered for one more moment, catching a glimpse of her eyes fluttering open.
He quietly crawled out the window into the blinding desert light, a pale
imitation of the brilliance that escaped Kayla’s right hand.

 
    7
     
    The giant bulbs above each metal structure outside Kayla’s
window were shining brightly, every one throwing out four radiant beams in
separate directions. Some cast a bluish, others an orange tinge on the
surrounding concrete walls and sand dunes. The only sound in the night was the
ever-present wind, cooled by the fallen sun. She had brought Kittie’s chair to
the narrow, tall window, and sat resting her head against the single bar
running vertically through the opening, while she stared out, her eyes
unfocused. She was lonely.
    Kayla recognized that the dull
pain in her chest wasn’t the same longing that moved her to leave the potter’s
village. There was a sense of