Relinquish: Book II of the Rising Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page B

flails, kicking out at Vikesh, but the giant hardly pays him any attention. Static electricity ripples in the air around me, lifting wisps of hair from my shoulders as hatred pools in my belly. I will kill him for this, I silently vow.
    “Eamon, don’t move.” His eyes widen with fright as a fork of lightning spears down from the clouds. Vikesh’s mouth gapes open in horror as he tosses Eamon aside and throws out his hands, grappling for control of the bolt.
    Get him out of here! I scream at Kyan as I step forward, pressing with all my might against Vikesh’s strong hold. I can feel him attempting to disintegrate the lightning by rearranging the currents. Already, sparks of fire ricochet off the bolt and sizzle as they sear the metal of the bunker.
    I don’t have time to see if Kyan is following my order as I take another step, biting down on my lower lip until my teeth pierce my flesh and blood pools along my gums. I jerk my head to the side as Vikesh sends a spark my way. A narrow miss.
    I struggle to refocus, but I can feel a quivering beginning in my arms. Facing off with Vikesh is sapping my energy too quickly. I won’t be able to hold this much longer.
    Vikesh’s mounting fear is nearly palpable as whirlwinds of dust rise in attempt to distract me. I swipe them away easily as I take another step. A mere dirt trick won’t be enough to sway me as a new idea forms in my mind.
    I focus the main part of power on my struggle against Vikesh but streamline the remainder back up into the clouds. A single, spear-like bolt of pink lightning lances toward his heart. His eyes widen with horror a second before the electricity strikes. He dematerializes with a horrific scream.
    Flaming particles drift on the air as his shriek rises to ear-splitting heights.
    “Get down!” Someone slams me from behind as the released lightning bolt careens into the bunker. Sparks explode in a shower of color. The explosion is deafening, echoing deep into the forest.
    Molten debris rains down from above. A distressed cry in my ear sends me into action and I close my eyes, shoving the person laid across my back out of harm’s way as the chunks of heated metal rain down upon me. I cry out as it connects, melting the fibers of my jacket to my skin. The scent of burnt flesh makes my stomach lurch as I weakly throw up my arm, creating a partial protection.
    White-hot metal glows on the ground around me, but I barely give it any notice as my shield sputters and dies. One shriek rips from my lips as something lances through my side. Darkness encroaches on my vision as my arms and legs give out, spilling me to the ground. I’m only vaguely aware of someone screaming as my eyes flutter closed and I am trapped within my pain.
    Everything hurts.
    “Illyria!” I blink, struggling to focus on the man kneeling beside me, cradling my head in his hands.
    “Carleon?”
    “Oh, god.” His voice trembles as he lifts his hand. I can see in the flickering of firelight that it is slick with blood. Fresh blood. My blood.
    I grind my teeth as he attempts to roll me over. “Don’t!”
    Nausea washes over me when something large shifts in my abdomen. “Don’t look, okay?” he whispers as he wipes his hands against the breast of his uniform.
    I try to nod but clench my eyes shut as bile rises swiftly into my throat, tainting my mouth with its acidic taste. I stare up at the stars, amazed at how beautiful the cloudless sky is. I blink, fighting to remain conscious as I wonder what happened to all of the clouds.
    “Is he gone?” I croak, coughing up blood. It bubbles from my lips, coating my tongue. I gag, trying to swallow it back down.
    “I think so.” Carleon darts a cautious glance around the charred courtyard. There is little left that hasn’t been singed. “I don’t see him.”
    “Eamon?”
    “Kyan is taking care of him. A broken leg and a nasty bump on his head, but it could have been a lot worse.”
    I dig my nails into the dirt, fighting to