Another howl burst from Joshua’s throat. Kira didn’t so much as glance his way as she whirled around and bolted away, disappearing into the trees.
Chapter 23 - Kira
Kira’s paws hit the ground, rhythmically pulling her along the path of dark, oozing energy she sensed. The cries and howls of the special ops team left behind in the forest made her guts twist in on themselves. She had cast as many protection spells as she could before the trail of darkness started to fade away, and she knew she had to follow it.
She prayed to the Moon Goddess that they would see the potions she left behind, pre-infused with magic to heal them.
Images began to flood her mind. Blood spraying across her face, the sound of shattering bones. Tendrils of demon-snakes swarming the special ops, tearing throats, punching through bodies, and—and—
She whimpered, her steps slowing despite herself. Her heart hammered, and the alien sensation of her wolf told her to turn around, to race back to her mate and protect him. But this energy trail! It was unlike anything she’d felt before, and if instinct was right, it might be their key to defeating the demons. To lock them back away for good!
But what if my instincts are wrong?
A twig snapped behind her, and she whirled, already panting and out of breath in this form. She snarled, her lips curling back to reveal her teeth. Her eyes widened when it was Joshua who pushed through the brush, his sides heaving. Blood matted his fur, and her heart leapt. He was hurt!
He shifted to human form, instantly reaching for her. “Town’s the other way. You’re running toward the ocean; you need to go back.”
Kira took a deep breath and reached inside herself, trying to remember the sensation of shifting from one form to the other. It hurt less retaking her human form than the instinctive shift to wolf form, but it still made her legs shake. She shouldn’t have done that. Even if her wolf form was technically faster than her human form, it was still so weak. The shifts had taken a lot out of her. Energy she needed to save for her magic. Her wolf was so small that she had kept her shirt, bullet-proof vest, and the bike shorts she’d worn underneath her pants, but her shoes had been lost.
“I’m not going to town,” she rasped as he pulled her up against him. His eyes widened, but she pulled away, hating to leave his arms. “There’s no time to explain. You have to trust me.”
Joshua cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. It was deep, desperate, and Kira clung to him. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to put all of her emotions into that kiss. Then he pulled away. His hands lingered a moment longer, and he nodded. It was all they could do, all they could say.
Both spun at the same time and darted away, back to their missions. Kira’s heart slammed into her chest as she ran, ignoring the bite of forest on her bare feet. She growled low in her throat, more determined than ever. Her wolf urged her on, but it no longer had the strength to emerge. The twig-covered forest floor gave way to the rocky beach abruptly. This place on the island was tucked neatly between the two packs, a stretch of beach that belonged to neither side.
The energy led her straight to the water’s edge, where she skidded to a stop. Just within the ocean, the water turned from bright blue to a deep, seething black. It looked like a sinkhole, if not for the oily slick that bubbled and hissed on the water’s surface. The surges of energy that sprang from the hole madethe hairs on her arms stand on end. Was this where the demons were coming from?
A massive, clawed hand shot from the portal, latching over the side. Kira backed away, her chest tightening as the wind brushed against her legs. The bulletproof vest felt impossibly heavy. The water’s surface churned and boiled as a head emerged from the portal.
The demons she had seen before were black voids, shapes where all light was sucked into and disappeared. This one had form. The hand had scaly, oil-black skin, shimmering with the sickly rainbows of an oil slick. It shimmered as it pulled itself upwards, a beast pulling itself off the edge of a cliff. As the slick sloughed off the demon’s head, it revealed scales that were a grey-red. Spikes adorned its head like a crown, and fierce amber-yellow eyes snapped open and locked on her.
Kira threw her hands forward, weaving the protective barriers she’d perfected. She cast it at the demon, hoping to lock it into place and prevent it from emerging any further. It howled, revealing thick tusks in its mouth, and launched itself up. It sprang out of the water, shooting straight toward the sky. The sickle-shaped claws on its hands sliced across her net. The strands broke apart and shriveled away.
It landed on the beach, revealing its full shape. It stood ten feet tall, masculine in shape with huge shoulders and a muscular body. Its entire form was covered in scales that ranged from vivid red, through to grey and rust, to black. A row of spines ran down its back, and a muscular tail whipped back and forth behind it. Its arms were longer than its legs, and it looked like some sort of misshapen ape as it swung its flat, noseless face back and forth, grunting.
Kira ground her heels into the beach and wove a new spell. The beat of her heart matched the tap of her fingers as she created new strands, weaving them together with a low chant. As the light blazed between her hands, the demon’s gaze focused on her. It lowered its head, snarling and huffing. It slammed its hands into the ground and jerked forward, roaring.
With a cry, she sent the spell flying toward it. The demon shot to the left, dodging the ball of light, but Kira twisted her hand, flicking her wrist, and the spell followed her path. It slammed into the side of the demon, sending a shower of scales spurting into the air.
It bellowed and charged at her. Kira quickly built a new shield-net, flinging it at the demon. It shredded the protective barrier as easily as it had the first. She leapt aside, stumbling as she avoided its charge. It flew down the beach, skidding to a stop as rocks sprayed to either side. It whirled and charged again, a terrible grin twisting its face.
Kira threw another spell at it. The spell slashed down the demon’s side, and blood welled in the injury left behind. But when she tried to dodge its attack, it spun suddenly on one foot and slashed her with its claws. They cut through the bulletproof vest like butter and flung her away. She landed hard on her back, the air driven from her lungs.
Get up!she snarled at herself, but her body wouldn’t move. Shock and dizziness disoriented her as the demon stalked toward her. It laughed, a rippling sound that caused her to quail before it.
Her lungs wouldn’t expand, and darkness started to creep in at the corners of her vision. Kira jerked her hands, trying desperate to start up a new spell. Light fizzled at her fingertips.Her mouth opened and closed, but she couldn’t get anything out. Her chest seized more painfully as panic swept through her.
A howl broke loose through the air. Joshua leapt from the trees, surging over Kira’s head. He crashed into the demon and began tearing at it instantly. A half-dozen of the special ops burst through after him. They attacked the demon, making it snarl and twist as it slashed at them. The wolves dodged and wove between its blows, narrowly escaping those deadly claws.
Kira closed her eyes, breathing through her nose. Her chest ached, but she managed to pull in a breath. Wheezing still, she pulled herself to a staggered half-stand. Her arms clutched her ribs as she tried to clear her mind enough to create a new spell. She was transfixed by the battle happening before her. The howls, the clash of teeth—
Then the demon found its mark. Its teeth closed around Joshua’s back, and it clamped down hard, shaking itself back and forth. His head jerked wildly.
Kira screamed. She threw her hands forward, sending out waves of magic that smashed into the demon. It howled, dropping Joshua, and reared back. Its movements grew more frantic and wild, slashing and clawing at the light as it surrounded the creature. The special ops jumped out of the way of its writhing limbs. Kira raced to Joshua’s side. Blood matted his fur, but he was already pulling himself back to all four legs.
She threw herself over him, wrapping her arms around him. As soon as they touched, the surge of magic strengthened inside of her. She felt it pulsing between them, stretching and pulsing like a bird opening its wings for the first time. Her eyes locked on his. She felt the magic in him, swirling and gold-tinted, the color of his eyes. There was something else, too, something that felt like thorns.
The witch hunter curse. It pulsed, a deadly thing that choked his magic.
