I blink against the wind tearing into my face, thinking that I must be hallucinating, but Sara has definitely stepped away from the tree.
But she was tied, wasn’t she?
Sara takes another step forward, and Bruce staggers away from her, falling on his back. A rush of blood stains the wind, enough blood to mean death.
Axe grabs her arm and yanks her towards him. Sara flails with her other hand, finally grabbing onto Axe’s shoulder. He screams, spins away, and hits the ground with a thud.
I’m close enough now to see her expression as she turns on Rafe. He scrambles back, falling on his ass as he tries to get away without taking his eyes off her. Sara throws up her hand and points at him, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Rafe’s scream drowns hers out, and he convulses on the ground. I pull to a stop right over him, watching blood pouring from his nose, mouth, and ears.
He gurgles, then his breath drowns in the wave of blood rushing through his body. I look up at Sara in astonishment, and she blinks, tries to take a step forward, and falls.
I’m in my human shape in less than a second, leaping forward to catch her. I wrap my arms around her waist and slowly lower us to the ground, cradling her in my arms.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay. I’m here now.”
“Shawn,” she whispers, touching my face. “You’re alright.”
“Yeah. I’m tough. But what the fuck just happened here?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I just…got so scared. Something in me shifted, and the ropes came undone. When I looked at Bruce, it was like fire came out of me…right out of my bones and through my skin.”
Her words scare the fuck out of me, but I just shake my head and stroke her face, kissing her.
“We’re all okay. That’s all that matters, now.”
“I think it was…magic.”
“Magic?” I repeat, nerves boiling in my guts.
After that fucking snake, all magic gives me the creeps.
“Yes. Since we slept together, I’ve felt strange. Like I was aware of something beyond myself. When Bruce closed his fist on my throat, I reached into it and…I’m not even really sure what happened.”
“It’s okay,” I say, stroking her face. “We’ll figure it out. Right now, we just need to get you home.”
“Yes,” she whispers, smiling. “Home. Let’s go home.”
I lean down and kiss her, gently brushing my lips against hers. Joy and gratitude surge in my chest as I realize, after all my years of wandering, I finally have a home.
And it’s right here, in her arms.
Chapter 24 - Sara
The trip home passes by in a blur, and the only sensation I really notice is Shawn’s arms around me. He carries me most of the way, even after I start to protest that I can walk.
When we arrive back in town, there is a crowd of people gathered in the park, and most of them turn and head towards us when they see us coming.
“Oh my God, Sara!” Scarlett yells, running up to me. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” I answer, accepting her hug. “I was a bit roughed up, but I think it’s mostly healed now.”
Alisha and Grace come over as well, and both of them share a look when they step back.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Your aura, it’s changed,” Grace says. “I never thought to ask before, but have you ever had trouble shifting?”
