That or this loyalist knew what facing The Great Bear and his mate meant.
The battle was nearly over. Already, the tides of victory were in their favor. The remaining loyalists scrambled to make an escape across the valley and up the steep, narrow path leading to the high mountain pass to Orofine.
Even the trees on the mountains across the valley had awoken to his call. Those few loyalists fleeing to the mountains would not stand a chance with the trees in an uproar.
Then Savine heard the buzz of hundreds of wings in the air.
Chapter thirty-eight
Avery
“Who the fuck is attacking us now?” Weston shouted from where he guarded Avery.
“From what we can ascertain, we are being attacked by a large force of Hylaxes,” a warrior responded.
A chill swept through Avery’s spine. A flash of memory brought back that bloody fight on Quartz Mountain when she had to stab a Hylax to prevent it from taking her alive.
Savine looked overhead as a throng of wings deafened the sky. As soon as he heard the wings, he’d turned around and raced to Avery, pulling her close. Avery leaned into his warmth. The strange, feral magic that she inadvertently pumped into Savine seemed to be diminishing. She still didn’t know how she’d drawn that magic out of the ground or how it transformed Savine into a beast focused solely on finishing his enemies.
It had frightened Avery to see him so overcome by magic and so violently cutting down the loyalists. But strangely enough, it also aroused something instinctual in her. A need to stay close to him and let him protect her rippled through her body. She felt tethered to him, like some invisible chain kept them together. Maybe this strange magic had tied them together somehow?
Avery’s first taste of battle wasn’t over yet. Her magic called to her like she’d never dreamed possible. Maybe she was also filled with thatstrange magic? If so, it manifested itself very differently in her. She was itching to help the wounded and heal their pains. Although she hadn’t admitted it, she wanted to help the wounded loyalists. Surely, if she showed them mercy, they would be more loyal to Savine in the long run?
The buzzing of wings overhead grew louder, and the sky filled with arrows. Avery couldn’t stop the scream that surfaced as she ducked down to the ground. Last time she had an arrow shot at her, she’d uselessly covered her head with her hands. This time, when she brought her hands up, she pulled on the magic within her and spoke for protection for herself and the ones she cared for.
A large orb grew around herself and her friends. The arrows that struck them bounced off, without striking or harming any of them.
Now this was the power she’d been hoping to yield. Something to keep everyone safe from harm, to keep them from needing her healing touch.
“Nice trick, Avery!” Rue said. “Why in the Abyss is an entire army of Hylaxes attacking us?” She motioned to the sky, now black with wings and hideously distorted faces.
Savine responded first, “Jasper has finally found his allies. Avery, can you make that barrier bigger?”
Concentrating on keeping their small group safe was burning through her body. The magic required to keep this up wouldn’t last long. The desire to rest pulled at her.
“I’m so sorry. I’m already losing control,” Avery gritted the words out, and the barrier diminished. Her head throbbed, and her ears rang.
The next moment, Avery was flat on her back. Savine kneeled beside her, his hands on her shoulders. The hard lines of his face were etched with concern, and his dusty blue eyes were back. He looked like herSavine again. Avery turned her head and saw Rue beside him. Her cheerful smile still hadn’t diminished.
“Breathe, Avery, breathe,” Rue said as she stroked Avery’s hair.
“I’m fine, really,” Avery muttered as she tried to push herself up. Around her, the battle raged. The remaining loyalists were bolstered with aerial reinforcements.
“My sweet little flower is telling lies again. You are not fine. You are on the verge of burning yourself out from using too much magic,” Savine said.
“No really. Just get me up, and I can go back to healing people.” Avery saw Rue shaking her head and Savine’s sad, sweet smile.
“What you did earlier was far beyond the fae’s abilities. To draw magic directly from Aeritis, heal theentireforest and fill me with deep magic was nothing short of amazing. You need rest.” Savine’s tone didn’t leave room for argument. He hesitated and looked at her like the world was collapsing under them. “Goddess knows I don’t want to leave your side for a second, but I’m needed here. Rue and Weston will pull back and bring you to a safe place where you can rest.”
Avery shook her head. There was no way she’d leave his side. Not with the Hylaxes here. As she turned, she saw a sight that sent sheer terror coursing through her veins.
Uncontrollably, she began screaming and shaking. Right before her was the most massive bear she’d ever seen. An enormous, red-furred beast with unnaturally long claws and huge fangs tore through the battle.
Flashbacks of the bear that attacked her at Quartz Mountain filled her mind. Her sister’s limp body being dragged away by the horrible animal while she was helplessly transported to Aeritis overfilled her senses.
On her hands and knees, Avery screamed, “Morgan! Morgan!” She tried to draw her magic forward and create that barrier again, but nothing happened. Not even a flicker of magic drew forth.
Savine scooped her up like a feather and pulled her close. “Shh, Avery. I have you. It’s just Garnel. It’s Garnel in his shifted form.”
