The Heaven-Stealer descended. Phei had expected the treasure to hover above Marcus and unfold some ancient formation, perhaps unravel his bloodline rune by rune, or draw it out through the soul bond the Slave Mark had already laid bare.
It did nothing so gentle—
The hourglass slammed straight into Marcus's brow.
Phei's eyes widened— but suddenly it disappeared and yet there was no wound.
The treasure passed through his flesh, bone and Soul alike as though none of them were worth its notice. Half the hourglass sank into Marcus's skull while the rest kept spinning outside him for one impossible moment, and thousands of ancient runes burst from the point of entry, racing across his face, wings and chest before plunging beneath his flesh in branching rivers of pale-gold light.
Marcus convulsed—
His back arched high enough to lift him from the sea, all six wings snapped open at once and scattered radiant Essence across the waters, and a soundless scream twisted his face.
