“Are you okay?” I croak.
“Yes. You?”
“Peachy.”
Kai stops in front of me, reaching up to cup my face. “Baby, next time do dark shit and fade the fuck away.”
I frown at his words, confused. “I’m not abandoning you. We are in this together.”
He shakes his head. “If something happens like that again, I want you safe. I’ll be fine.”
I pull out of his arms and take a step back, anger riding my words. “Don’t tell me what to do, Kai Cartwright! I will not leave you to save myself, so forget it,” I snap.
There’s a faint, barely discernible whistle in the air.
I frown. “Do you hear that?”
Realization hits too late, and I barely have time to react. Desperation fuels my magic as I turn, sending Kai skidding backward just as a dozen rocks rain down upon us. I gasp, dropping to my knees as several rocks slam into me, knocking the wind out of me. One clips the side of my head, stars exploding in my vision.
A feral growl erupts from my throat, my fingers digging into the dry dirt beneath me. I’m so sick of being knocked down, so tired of being here.
Anger and frustration surge within me, and I tip my head back and scream. The sound reverberates through the valley, a raw, primal cry that sends a shockwave blasting outward, blowing away the lingering dust and clearing my sight.
Slowly, I stand, every muscle in my body protesting with the effort. Pain radiates through me, but I force myself to push past it. The world around me is a chaotic blur, but I zero in on the one thing that matters—Kai. My eyes find him almost instinctively, my heart beating just a little faster when I see him. Thankfully I managed to move him to safety.
His lips curl into a grin, one that’s equal parts defiance and encouragement.
“Let’s give them hell, beautiful,” he says, his voice grounding me like a steady anchor in the storm.
I nod, a small smile tugging at my own lips despite the situation.
Turning, I let my eyes wander over the darkening valley and catch a glimpse of movement near a rocky outcrop. Without hesitation, my body dissipates into thin air, reforming on the summit of the rocky cliffs above. I gaze down at the older woman below, a smirk curling on my lips as I catch the flicker of surprise in her deep-green eyes.
As she lifts her hands, her white hair begins to float around her, charged with the energy she’s conjuring. The surrounding air vibrates, and within moments, a massive wall of dirt and dust materializes, swirling with a chaotic force that seems to take on a life of its own. With a sharp flick of her wrists, she sends it hurtling toward me at an alarming speed.
I grin, the familiar tingle of my own magic surging through my veins. With a simple gesture, I summon a gust of wind, the power singing in my blood. The wind howls as it tears through the debris, ripping apart her spell with an almost effortless ease. The wall of dirt and dust disintegrates into nothingness, scattering into the air like mere ashes before vanishing entirely.
Surprise flickers in her eyes, but I don’t give her time to recover. Drawing on the dark well of power within me, I push back with a surge of my own magic. It swells within me, potent and unrelenting, before bursting forth in a shimmering wave of energy that crackles and snaps with raw, untamed power.
The air around us hums with the intensity of my spell as it slices through the space between us, a dark force that pulses with life. It’s more than just magic—it’s a declaration, a display of strength that leaves no room for doubt.
There’s a moment of silence, a heartbeat where everything seems to pause, suspended in the tension between us. And then the air explodes with the clash of our magics, the force of it reverberating through the ground and sending shockwaves that ripple outward.
The ground beneath me shifts as the cliffs themselves tremble with my energy. My magic crashes against her defenses, a relentless tide that pushes her back, step by step. She grits her teeth, her hands shaking as she struggles to maintain her barrier. Then she grins, and her form shimmers and changes. Standing before me is a small child, her eyes lined with tears. But she hasn’t changed into just any child. It’s a five-year-old me. Long black hair, big black eyes, tear-stained cheeks.
I falter, my magic wavering in the air. Shadows pour from me as I lock eyes with the old witch. She’s cunning, I’ll give her that, but you would have to be to survive out here. My scalp pricks in warning, sending goosebumps over my skin as we stare at each other. She takes advantage of my momentary distraction, charging toward me with surprising speed. But I’ve faced opponents far deadlier than her. My reflexes are honed, and I sidestep her attack with ease, my feet gliding across the dry dirt. As I pivot, her form distorts, a shimmering ripple of magic passing over her. And suddenly, I’m staring into the face of my mother.
“Stop playing games,” I growl, my voice laced with frustration and anger. Her deception is nothing more than a cruel illusion, a mockery of the past I left behind.
But she’s quick, and before I can react, the ground beneath me gives way. I feel the earth crumble, my balance shifting as she lunges at me. Time seems to slow as we both free fall, her hands outstretched, reaching for me. But I’m not helpless—I twist in mid-air, maneuvering around her with a fluid grace, my arm snaking around her neck in a vise-like grip.
As we spiral downward, the world around us a blur, I glance over my shoulder. A rocky precipice looms below, jagged and unforgiving, rushing up to meet us. A moment of instinct takes over, pushing me to gamble everything on a desperate move. With a final surge of strength, I twist my body sharply, releasing my hold on the witch’s neck.
For a split second, everything is weightless as we hover in the void between sky and earth. As gravity exerts its force, I shift and my owl wings spread out, allowing me to glide just inches above the ground.
The impact of the witch hitting the ground sends a cloud of dust into the air, obscuring my view momentarily. I do a full circle overhead before I shift back into my human form a few feet away. My eyes lock on the witch, who is already struggling to rise.
Suddenly, Kai is by my side, his presence a surge of raw, protective energy. His form ripples, muscles coiling beneath his sleek fur as he shifts into his wolf form, a terrifying force of nature. His sharp fangs glint in the dim light, bared in a snarl that promises violence. The fur along his back bristles, standing on end like the raised hackles of a predator ready to strike, while his ears flatten against his head.
