What could I do? I had ice magic, but the wraiths already exuded cold. I doubted ice would affect them. I had death magic, but the wraiths didn’t seem to be alive. I had the ability to transport objects, but calling for a pencil wouldn’t help me now. I had fire … Fire.
I took a deep breath, hoping to steady my racing heart. Then I glanced at Flynn and Teal. Each man held his sword, ready to slice through any wraith that passed through my barrier.
But there were too many black-hooded creatures. At least one was sure to make it through the gale surrounding us. And all it took to kill was a single touch.
What I was about to do would either end us or save us. I’d never combined magics before—hell, I’d barely mastered using them separately. Setting the wind on fire? It was an insane idea. Fire needed air to burn, but too much air would start an inferno. Too little air, they’d sputter out. And if I lost control … I pictured the entire forest going up in flames, consuming not just the wraiths but every living thing for miles. We’d burn alive.
I met Teal’s eyes and saw confidence I did not possess. Confidence in me. “Not sure how you’re doing this, but I have faith in you.” His voice was barely audible above the maelstrom.
That made one of us. Ever since they’d taken me, I’d been reacting, letting others take the lead. I was done being passive. If I wanted a better life—if I wanted to live—I had to fight. With a silent prayer, I set the wind aflame.
The second I released the fire into the wind, my knees buckled. Only Teal’s quick grab kept me from hitting the ground. His strength—his resolve—gave me strength. I might be close to collapse, but his nearness meant I could keep fighting. Till dawn.
Chapter
Twenty
GRAYSON
Pierce and I limped toward the clearing, both of us aching and bone tired.
We’d encountered a pack of wolven and had fought, our backs pressed together, until they were all dead.
We were bloodied. We were alive. And we were worried. Had another pack attacked Teal and Flynn?
Slowly—every muscle in my neck and shoulders screamed—I turned my head and studied my brother in arms.
He’d received a head wound, and his face was streaked with blood and sweat. He didn’t seem to care. Instead, he was focused on reaching Teal and Flynn.
I rubbed at the tightness in my chest. The wolven had been strong, and their numbers—well, we’d gotten lucky.
Above us, the sky lightened from purple to lemon, and I sent a silent prayer. Please, Jano, let us find them safe and unharmed. I didn’t hold out much hope. After all, the god had never answered me before. “What if?—”
“No,” Pierce snapped. “Don’t think like that. They’re fine. They’re all fine.” He meant Flynn and Teal and the shield.
I gavea brief nod and trudged toward the clearing.
“Do you smell that?”
I sniffed the air. “What?”
“Smoke.” Pierce, who’d sustained a deep gouge in his left leg, sped to an uneven jog.
I followed him and wrinkled my nose. Not just smoke. The stench of the grave. Wraiths.
We raced toward the clearing. “What the?—”
“Fuck,” Pierce finished.
A burning vortex spun in the center of the clearing.
“Where are they?” Pierce scanned the circle of charred trees before pointing at the flames. “And what is that?”
I edged closer to the swirling fire and yelled, “Flynn? Teal?”
“Grayson?” It was Flynn’s voice.
The fire flickered, slowly dying out as the wind subsided. Flynn, Teal, and the shield stood unscathed at what had been the vortex’s center. The shield, who held her hands out in front of her as if she’d created the whirlwind, wobbled.
