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"I will," he promised "And it’s only a matter of time before they make their way in here Both will co to keep them safe," Ares said "And I will kill one of them, and you’ll have to choose I just need to bide my time"

Seth was almost on him

I allowedabout time You never have as much as you think"

Ares opened his er Shoved deep into Ares’ back The god reared and screa to kill you!"

"It’s a little too late for that," Seth said, yanking the blade out of Ares’ back

I snapped forward at the sa into the air Seth hit a pillar with a sickening crunch I couldn’t allow to distract ed hite

Ares whirled onto the side as I unleashed the purest power in and out of themy arm out, akasha flared from my shoulder, just like the cord that had connecteddown my arm, it erupted in a burst Ares tried to h

The bolt of akasha hit hiy up, throwing everything into the attack Light crackled and spit into the air Wisps of fine s forward, I kept on hi hi with each passing second, but I gritted my teeth This was it There would be no second chances When the akasha sputtered out, which it would, I would be down for the count

But Ares…he was backing away, still able to walk, and I eakening fast I had no idea how much more I had in me or what it would take to truly kill an Olyht weakened My breath expelled fros harshly as an ache started behindmy free hand, and he squeezed The cord between us reappeared, wrapping around our joined hands Suddenly, it made sense to me I drew in a breath, and Seth jerked as if a puppet ht froht to look upon Pulling froy became a white fire

Ares’ fury-filled roar developed into a terror-filled screa off at the sa back tointo the sky

I still held onto Seth’s hand, ods’ eyes ide, his arms stretched out at his sides He tipped his chin down and hiswhite light was e the intricate network of veins until his chest lit up

I took a breath, but it got stuck

Ares lifted his head as the white lines reached across his shocked face, covering his head within a second

He disappeared under the white light

The sound of deafening thunder cracked through the roo a second too late The sonic wave rolled across the roo into Seth andus apart, and we flew backward, hit the floor, and slid An explosion rocked the room, and fine, white dust poured into the air like snow Starbursts floodedoff

And then there was silence

Hands and ar, I rolled onto my side and lifted one A hole had been blown straight through it, exposing beaht

I looked over ed breath

The spot where Ares had stood was empty On the floor, the blackened tile formed a perfect circle, like a brand I knew in one The blast was a release of his essence, returning it to wherever it ca onto my butt, I winced at the ache that consumed my body as I scanned the room for Seth The white dust had settled like a fine blanket of snow Near the entrance of the ballroom, Seth lay face-down

I stared at his, and when it did, my heart nearly exploded in ods…

I staggered tothe weakness indown beside hirabbed his shoulders and rolled hi him "Seth, come on"

His eyes were shut Golden lashes fanned cheeks that didn’tdeep insidein

I grasped his cheeks The marks of the Apollyon--the beautiful blue ers No No No I tried our bond to reach hi but a low huain, and when he didn’t respond, a broken sob racked its way through my body as I dropped h ain, because I had felt this when I’d held Caleb as he died No s he’d started, he’d ht in the end And even if he hadn’t, if it had been ht him down, the pain would’ve still been there Seth was a part ofthat part Forever

I can’t breathe

"Neither can I You’re squashingback, I let out a startled shriek Seth stared back atHe was alive

I smacked him Hard

"Ow!" Seth rolled onto his side, out of rasp "What the hell was that for?"

"Don’t ever do that again, you jerk!" I sht you were dead!"

Seth chuckled hoarsely as he rose onto his knees "I was knocked out, Angel Please don’t do that again"