Prophecy

Chapter 37: Agony

*Xavia's POV*

The moment I turned around to find Grace, I felt the arrow slowly penetrate my chest, its sharp tip slicing through my flesh. A strange force suddenly stopped it from going all the way through, but... the damage was done. Severe pain pulsated through my body, and I began to collapse to the ground with a guttural grunt. My vision blurred, yet I could see Grace flying to my side, her eyes wide with panic. She lifted her hands over my chest, and her warm, Heavenly light began to emanate from her palms, attempting to heal my open wound.

But... It wasn't working.

Instead, I screamed in agony as I felt something truly sinister and severe slowly coursing through my veins. My body convulsed, and I began vomiting what looked like a mixture of blood and something black. The substance was thick, and the taste was utterly horrendous—foul—as if I had ingested the plague itself. It made me feel sick to my stomach, which only made me throw up more.

Slowly, it became harder to breathe, and I worried about what that might mean for me and my mate. Once the wave of vile puking had ended, I noticed Conquest approaching several feet away. Then, Grace knelt beside me, picking up the arrow that had pierced me. My power was fading, making it very difficult to sense the three arrows shot at her until they were almost about to strike.

All I could do was watch.

I couldn't help...

Being that helpless terrified me.

Just as the arrows reached Grace, she lifted her hand, and they stopped, instantly falling to the ground.

How did she...

Wait...

That's her other power! Telekinesis.

Wow... I am proud of her for figuring it out.

My mate stood at her full height and faced her oncoming opponent, and then she glanced at me. I saw her expression fall before I heard her loving voice in my head say, "Stay strong. I'll be right back. I love you."

Just attempting to speak through our mind-link was so hard to do.

However, I managed a complete sentence even though I struggled, "F-focus... on y-your... t-training, Grace... you can d-do th-this... I... lo-love... you..."

I saw her expression change; determination filled her visage as she confidently marched closer to the first Horseman of the Apocalypse, Conquest, and... he looked different. I was in too much pain to even try to understand why that could be... I only hoped Grace and I would get answers when the time was right.

"My brothers will rise next. I am the beginning, and together, this world will cease to exist," Conquest threateningly said to her.

My mate did not dignify his words with a response.

I had to mentally smirk at that.

But my smirk and enjoyment didn't last long as he raised his decrepit bow again and shot a barrage of arrows in Grace's direction. She dashed past them, our hearts pounding as the arrows whizzed by. I felt what she felt, even though doing so made me feel much worse... I couldn't help her, but... I needed to remain connected to her, no matter what. I didn't care that it hurt me more... Eventually, the Horseman noticed my beautiful mate wouldn't stay still and decided to single-target her with his next attack.

As he aimed and shot the powerful single arrow, Grace lifted her talons, blocking his attack with a satisfying clang.

Holy shit!