The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 369: Last laughs

Lyla

"Well, we’ve taken care of that," Xander said breezily. "Let’s see how you can put that talent of yours to good use."

"You had no right to do that," I yelled. "But of course, you’re still as cowardly as always. Running when things do not favour you."

"Trying not to get killed by you is considered cowardice?" he chuckled. "Wow, I have a lot to learn from you, it seems."

"Stop doing this, Xander," I cried, feeling frustrated. "We cannot always get what we want, and you know that."

"Others might not, but I have to. All this drama could have been avoided if you had aligned with my goals and vision. The witch would die soon, and I’ll be free from this barrier then. I will kill your mate, your mother, her friend and maybe all the warriors that killed mine. I should kill you too, right?" he paused, his eyes shifting to my stomach. "But that depends on a lot of things now."

"Unless," a weak voice said from the ground.

Circe was conscious, her eyes open and fixed on with desperate intensity. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to speak.

"The blood price," she whispered. "If you’re willing to pay the blood price, then you can still kill him. But the cost..."

"What cost?" I demanded.

"Your connection to Neriah," Circe said, her voice growing weaker. "Using Neriah’s sword..."

"There’s no sword again," I said with a painful sigh. "He destroyed it."

"Any sword would do, Lyla. The power is in you, the sword is only a channel to wield it. Didn’t you know this?"

I had a lot of questions about that, but this wasn’t the place or ti.

"Using the sword will sever your link to the Moon Goddess forever. You’ll lose your Moonsinger abilities, your wolf spirit, everything that makes you what you are."

Lose my powers? Lose Nyris? Lose everything that made special, everything that made worthwhile to my world?"

But as I looked at Ramsey struggling in Xander’s grip, at the corruption spreading through his veins, the choice beca clear.

"I don’t care," I said firmly. "If it saves him, if it saves everyone, then I’ll pay whatever price is necessary."

Lyla, no, Nyris’s voice whispered in my mind, filled with sorrow. If you do this, we’ll be separated forever. I won’t be able to help you, to guide you, to be your companion.

Tears stung my eyes, but my resolve didn’t waver. "I know. I’m sorry."

Then I turned to Circe, nodding in agreent. "I’m ready."

She lifted her right hand and threw a blast of white light towards . Instantly, the tendrils of Xander’s darkness around my body fell off.

I reached for Ramsey’s sword on the ground now and picked it up, cradling it carefully with both hands. I thought I’d have to channel my powers into the sword or sothing like that, but the mont my fingers closed round the hilt, it felt like coming ho. power flowed through my body into the blade, but it was different from what I was used to.

"That’s not possible," Xander breathed. I could tell his confidence was cracking.

"The blood price," I said, "It’s not just about losing my powers. It’s about sacrificing everything I have to fuel the binding."

"Lyla, don’t," Ramsey managed to gasp through Xander’s chokehold. "Don’t give up everything for ."

But I was already moving towards the circle. The binding ritual could be perford again, but only with a soul that truly belonged to a Moonsinger.

"Let him go, Xander," I said quietly. "Your fight is with ."

"Is it really worth it?" he asked, though I could hear the fear creeping into his voice. "Trading your worth for a few more decades with your mate? You could be a goddess yourself, Lyla. Join with and I’ll give you power beyond your imagination."

"I don’t want power," I replied, walking into the circle and facing him finally, like I should have years ago. "I want the people I love to be safe."

"Then you’re a fool," Xander snarled, hurling Ramsey aside and turning his full attention to . "And fools deserve to die!"

Dark energy erupted from his hands again, which he hurled towards . I just stood still, watching in amusent as a blue shield instantly surrounded , and I loved the surprised look on Xander’s face.

"I think you’ve downplayed my powers too much, Xander," I said quietly. "I am a promise fulfilled. I am powerful, more than you’d ever know. How dare you think you can kill ? How dare you co for my loved ones?"

He sent another bolt of dark energy towards again. Still, the sword I held now, cut through it like it was tissue paper, dispersing the shadows and leaving him exposed and , standing a few inches away from him, so close that all I had to do was raise the sword and point it towards him and it would pierce into his body instantly.

He looked at his hands, trying to send more bolts of dark energy towards , but each ti he did, they would not even reach , until nothing was coming out of his hands again.

"Your turn to make a choice, Xander," I said, power building around like a storm. "Die fighting, or co quietly to your eternal prison."

He stared at for the longest ti, and then, with a frown that caused the lines on his forehead to deepen, he murmured.

"You! Did you plan for this mont? You knew? Oh goddess! You were ten steps ahead of . How could you be more powerful than I am? This is not supposed to happen, and how did your wolf..."

He trailed off, his eyes widening in disbelief as Nyris stepped out from behind , and I could almost feel the smirk on her lips.

"You’re not very smart, Xander, and I don’t co off as soone who seems smart..."

As I spoke, power was building around like a storm, swirling behind , Xander fell to his knees again, choking, holding onto his neck.

Circe, who was lying on the ground now, suddenly rose to her feet, looking nothing like the woman who was ant to die a while ago. From behind us, two dozen priestesses from the Moon Temple erged, with Priestess Jemima leading them. They were all dressed in their ceremonial robes.

Nanny, Terra and Circe stood side by side now, linking hands. Nanny linked her hand to Jemima, who in turn linked it with every priestess present now.

"W —What is happening?" Ramsey asked from the ground where he was recovering.

"Nothing, my love!" I said calmly, giving him a wink as Nyris and I walked out of the circle, then positioned myself between Nanny and Circe, linking my hands with them. "Just won being won, enduring years of hardships only to be called weak..."

"The effrontery to look down on people who carry life," Circe rolled her eyes. "Gosh, I hate n, not you though, Ramsey and my brother... I hate you so much, Dark One..."

From the other side of the clearing, a woman erged, dressed in white with a red cape over her head and hiding her face. She strolled to where we were and slowly removed the cape, letting her midnight-dark hair spill out.

"Hello, Xander!" the woman said with a smile. "Missed !"

Ramsey stumbled towards the woman, his eyes wide with shock and wonder. "Cassidy?"

I smiled, relishing the confused look on Xander’s face. And to think I’ve waited nearly five years, or is it six, for this day to co.