“Okay.” Gabriel paused, then quickly nuzzled my neck with his snout. “I love you,Dante.”
“I love you, too,Gabriel.”
I let the barrier fall as he dashed off to Lorenzo’s side. Thankfully, the raiders had pulled back from him and were focused on the growling pack of wolves in front ofthemnow.
Good,I thoughtangrily.
“Let’s give these humans something to remember us by,” I snarled toStoneheartpack.
We attacked as one. The wolves by my side formed a thick wall of teeth, claws and fur. As the raiders rushed at us with their weapons ready, I noticed something - they had lost some of their vigor. The length of the fight was starting to take its toll. They weretiring.
This was their best shot atwinning.
I had to make sure this was a fight Stoneheart packwouldn’tlose.
As I ran ahead, my blood pumping with adrenaline and love for my family, I shifted back into my dragon form and unleashed a shot of fire that drove back the raiders’ front line. As the humans danced to avoid the flames, the Stoneheart wolves dove onto them with years of pent-up anger and frustration. Snarls and human cries filled the air. Weapons were picked up and thrown, or crushed between powerfulcaninejaws.
For the first time, the raiders looked trulyafraid.
“Keep going!” I commanded. “You candothis!”
Suddenly, snarls sounded from behind me. As I glanced over my shoulder, I was flooded withrelief.
The rest of the pack wasjoiningthem.
Soon the ground disappeared. The whole area swarmed with wolves, all shifted and all ready to fight for theirfreedom.
The raiders clearly didn’t expect this. Even if the humans surrounding this area outnumbered the wolves in total, only a small army of humans were here right now. That gave us just enough of an edge to completeourtask.
The mass of wolves pushed forward. Slowly, the humans edged back. They knew they couldn’t win this fight. I grinned in satisfaction and exhaled a celebratory plume of fire. At this point, I wasn’t even doing anything - Stoneheart pack was doing it all on their own. They were taking back their own freedom. I just had the opportunity towatch.
I flew back to Gabriel’s side. He and Lorenzo were straining hard in concentration, but the barrier was almost complete. Sweat trickled down Gabe’s brow. He was putting everything he hadintothis.
I shifted into human form, closed my eyes, and put my hand on his. The warm, softly electric sensation of magic flowed through my fingertips and into hishands.
The vibrating thrum of the barrier became louder. I didn’t dare open my eyesjustyet.
“Dante,” Gabriel said, his voice thick from concentration. “Isthatyou?”
“Yes,” I said. “I’m rightbesideyou.”
“I feel your magic flowing through me… Is thatnormal?”
I leaned closer to him and pressed my head against his, feeling his warmth. “Yes. As fated mates, we share a magic pool. Any magic I possess can be transferredtoyou.”
“Fated mates,” hemurmured.
“I know you don’t like that phrase,” I admitted gently, “but that’s the best way I canexplainit.”
“No.” He shook his head, his hair brushing against mine. “It’s perfect. It’s what you and I are.Fated.”
I smiled. Even though my eyes were still closed, I got the feeling he wassmiling,too.
Suddenly, Gabe’s magic swelled, like a tightly shut flowerbud finally blooming. The earth trembled beneath our feet. Something in the air changed. Wind forcefully rushed allaroundus.
Gabe staggered back from the intensity and I reflexively grabbed him to prevent his fall. Even Lorenzo grunted. We allfeltit.
When I opened my eyes, I didn’t seeanything.
