We repositioned ourselves, preparing our weapons for combat against the razorven. Using my magic like this depleted me, and I was unprepared for how much energy it took to wield this much power. Everyone made it look so simple, like breathing, just an automatic extension of their bodies. I didn’t have time to think about it though—we had more creatures to battle, and I couldn’t give up now.
Jax shifted, roaring in defiance as he lunged forward, attacking the closest razorven. Kade followed, running toward the battle. Meanwhile, a trail of shadows slinked up my leg and onto my chest, forming the shadow armor I’d worn once before. I flipped my dagger in my hand and moved to follow the others when a caw echoed around us. One that sounded eerily close to my head.
I froze, unable to move. Slowly, I looked behind me to come face-to-face with five strox. The beasts had returned—with reinforcements. They lowered their snouts, breathing a foul-smelling stench in my direction. I felt the shadows harden against my chest, turning more solid as the beasts narrowed their deadly gaze at me. Their eyes gleamed with malice as they slowly approached me.
Kade and Jax both were in the middle of battling razorven on the edge of the clearing, but Ian came running to my side.
“Great,” he muttered. “How did thatnotwork to scare them away.”
“Looks like our magic slowed them down, intimidated them maybe, but didn’t harm them,” I replied, eyeing the giant birds.Their feathers flared, and they clicked their beaks angrily as they crept toward us.
“I thought my battle with these creatures during the marriage trials would be a once-in a-lifetime event, but lucky for us, I get to do it again. Better move fast.” Ian looked over at me. “Together?”
I nodded, pushing away my fear. There was no place for it here. “Together.”
We charged forward, blades at the ready to fight the ancient battle birds. The strox were undeniably agile on their feet. A talon swiped at my side but bounced off the shadow armor fortifying my chest. My breath lodged in my throat, the impact of the attack knocking me off balance. The strox swiped at my outstretched hand, and its talon scraped across my palm. Blood oozed from the cut.
I grimaced, trying to push the pain from my mind. Jumping to my feet, I lunged forward, aiming my dagger at the bird’s chest, only to fall sideways as a wing knocked me over.
“Lana!” Kade called out.
Shadows crawled over the forest floor, and my light answered in response. Together, like extensions of my own arms, they held the strox at bay, while I moved to drive my blade into its side. I raised my dagger to deliver the killing blow.
“Stop!” The sweet sound of a female voice echoed through the forest, bouncing off trees, amplified and booming around us. “No more.”
A billowy figure, shimmered brilliantly against the dark forest, emerging from behind the strox. Instantly, the beasts stopped their attack, bowed their heads, and retreated to stand beside the figure. The razorven’s hissing ceased as they too approached the figure in white.
“Is that…” Ian started as Jax quickly shifted back to his Fae form.
“A spirit?” he asked, finishing Ian’s thought.
I blinked, still clutching the dagger. Kade moved to my side, out of breath from his own battle, his sword still clutched in his hand.
“There’s no need for those.” The woman gestured toward our weapons. She made her way forward, her feet appearing to hover above the ground, as she moved gracefully through the forest.
Her words did nothing to placate the feeling that the beasts would attack us again. None of us put our weapons away.
When she stopped in front of our group, I stared at her in awe. Her hair fell in soft curls around her shoulders, but it was the color that startled me.
Rose gold.
Exactly like mine.
“Who are you?” I breathed out the question more than demanding it, my eyes widened in shock.
She smiled and reached her hand toward me.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Kade growled, raising his sword as shadows shot out before us, creating a barrier. Ian and Jax moved in closer, ready to fight our way out if necessary.
Instead of the spirit being offended, she smiled at Kade before raising an eyebrow. “I mean your mate no harm.”
Goose bumps skittered across my arms in anticipation.
Surprise flickered across his face before he caught himself, narrowing his eyes as they filled with distrust. “My mateasked you a question.”
The spirit laughed, her face appearing genuinely joyful while her bright eyes danced. “Is he always like this?” She moved through the shadow wall with ease and reached forward, touching the side of Kade’s face.
He sucked in a sharp breath and froze in place, almost as if captivated by the strangeness of this spirit touching him.How had she gotten through the shadows? My pulse quickened, trying to wrap my head around who stood before us.
