I swallowed my fear, matching his pace. When he blocked, I struck. When I staggered, he steadied me, not with kindness, but with force, like an officer dragging a soldier through fire.
The air split around us as the elemental roared. Trees cracked as the ground shook violently, leaves falling everywhere. Shadows faltered all around us, demons shrieking in disarray.
Somewhere behind, Mey cried out, her voice sharp with pain. Nate’s answering snarl rose over it. Gunfire rattled, sharp and fast, Eve, still firing, teeth bared in frustration.
I risked a glance, saw blood on the ground and Nate shielding Mey with his body. Lionel and Eve worked as a team for one brutal second, their rifles cutting down the attackers before they could finish the siblings.
Rage burned hot in my chest. My blade came down with all my might, slamming into the glowing fracture. The seam split wider, fire spitting like a forge.
Malakai seized the opening, his voice cracking through the battlefield. “Now!”
I roared, every ounce of fear and fury pouring into my strike. The crack split open, blinding, hot light bursting out. Malakai grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me away from it, as fire spurted into the air, searing the trees, smoke billowing upward.
The elemental shrieked, a final, piercing cry, then collapsed into rubble, the ground quaking as its body shattered, smothering the flames once more. Stone fragments scattered across the ground and glowing embers hissed into silence.
Silence, except for ragged breathing and the distant crackle of cooling rock. My chest heaved, lungs raw. My sword trembled in my grip, the heat still burning along my palms.
It was over. But the battlefield reeked of blood, smoke, and something colder, the knowledge that this was only the beginning.
The remaining shapeshifters broke, their stolen faces twisting before dissolving into formless shadow. They scattered, vanishing into the trees until the forest fell silent again.
I stood in the smoky clearing, as everything caught up with me, sweat and ash clinging to my skin. I hadn’t frozen in horror.
“That’s what I call a warm-up,” Ashley whooped, tossing a burnt fuse.
Nate coughed, brushing ash off his shoulder. “Warm-up? What’s the main event then, death by fireworks?”
Eve reloaded with a snap, muttering, “Could’ve handled more of them myself.”
Mey lowered herself onto a stone, coughing softly into her glove, shaking her head at us.
Lionel touched my shoulder briefly, steadying me, as if to make sure I was okay, before his gaze slid past me, to Malakai.
I wasn’t able to read his face.
Malakai wiped off his blade, sheathed it and turned that infuriating half-smile on me.
“Not bad, kitten. Almost like you’re learning.”
Mockery laced every word, yet the underlying tone was praise. It confused me how well we had fought together, considering how much we loathed one another. At times, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, I guess?
I lifted my chin, forcing my smirk to match his. “Guess you’re stuck with me for a bit longer.”
After walking for a while, we stumbled upon ruins of a stone house; deciding to clear it, we settled in for the night.
Everyone sat in the ruins, the smell of scorched stone and demon ichor still heavy in the air. We were licking our wounds.
Bandages, curses, muttered groans. The only positive sound for a while was Ashley humming happily while cleaning soot off her bombs.
Lionel broke the silence, voice low but sharp as he fixed his gaze on Malakai.
“You had her flanking you against that thing. The earth elemental could’ve taken her head off in a blink, we’renewbies. Could you explain your reasoning, Lieutenant?”
Malakai snorted, leaning against the wall. “She handled herself. Or do you think she needs you to wrap her in cotton every time we step outside the base?”
“There’s a difference between trusting her and using her as bait. You put her in danger,” Lionel said, taking a step closer, fists tightening.
Malakai flashed him a grin, taunting him. “She fought at my side. Where were you? Oh right, dragging your heels, letting Nate and Mey get injured, because you can’t stop watching her instead of the enemy.”
