A low growl rumbled through the trees, branches shaking in anticipation. The forest floor crunched under heavy paws, sticks cracking under sharp claws.
“We need to leave.” I drew Seren closer to my side, any humor in me long quenched.
She pushed her mágik further out, illuminating the forest around us.
The Markoláb was upon us before we could react. Seren was pinned against a tree, at the mercy of the beast. I was sent sprawling in the opposite direction, only able to watch as the creature loomed over her.
My collection of wounds prodded at me, sharp and threatening to bleed anew. I struggled to regain my footing. “Goddesses, protect her.”
Seren summoned bursts of bright light, honing them into spears as she struck toward the flying hound. It opened its gaping maw, saliva dripping over its moonlit teeth as it inhaled her mágik directly into its throat.
“Harkin!” Seren cried out and summoned a wave of water instead, knocking the creature back, but it only advanced again. Snarling and snapping, it approached.
“I’m coming,” I gasped. Adrenaline rushed through me, drowning out everything but the need to keep her safe. I lurched between them, pulling the threads of my own mágik. I pushed against it with a gust of icy wind, and though I did not know if it would work on the beast, I tugged at its emotions, willing it to calm.
The Markoláb fought against my control, thrashing its head and gnashing its yellowed fangs. Its shoulder knocked into Seren, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her temple struck a rock, and blood trickled down her cheek. She swayed, her fear mingling with my own.
I pushed harder, imbuing the urge to relax and leave peacefully into its tense body. Anger and fear and deep, deep hunger rose within me, as if it were my own, the bridge between us yawning wide. I panted in exertion, forced to my knees.
Seren dropped her own mágik—spent—and with one final surge, my will overtook the Markoláb’s. The creature sagged and took to the sky, returning back the way it had come.
The sounds of the Váracis Erva returned, punctuated by the sound of our gasping breaths and the hollow shine of the moon—there as if it had never left.
Chapter twenty-four
Harkin
The sun sank low on the horizon, fading rays dipping through the gaps in the trees. Snow began to fall anew from the gray sky in soft, swirling flakes. My boots sunk into the fluffy white layer which stuck to the frozen ground with ease.
As darkness stole over the Váracis Erva and dusted our cottage in rising-moon blue, my thoughts came again to the Markoláb. Its dripping maw cracked wide as it inhaled Seren’s mágik, dimming the light in her eyes.
My heart stuttered, the fear still a living thing in my bones. She had almost died—we both had—and I knew there would not be ease in the journey ahead. We would only know more pain. All through the day, I tried to voice my apprehensions, but they caught in my throat, too harsh for the light of day.
Seren’s lips parted half a dozen times, poised to name that rattled worry I was sure gnawed at both our guts, but she closed them again. She focused on training, on distraction—ever the soldier at heart—and humor, too. That new lightness in her brighter than ever, determined to drive out the darkness.
Footsteps crunched behind me, and I turned. A wave crashed over my head before I could react. I drew in gasping breaths as icy water sluiced down my face and soaked into the fabric of my tunic. Myhair plastered against my forehead, falling into my eyes. I pushed it back with one hand, cursing when my wet fingers turned numb with cold.
I wanted to summon anger—even annoyance—within myself, but I found that I could not. There was only sickening affection.
“Was that a challenge?” I goaded, stalking toward her.
“That’s payback,” Seren corrected. “For causing that Tünécris to bite me. It still hurts, you know.”
“No, it doesn’t. That was days ago.”
“No.” A slow smirk tilted her mouth. The cold turned her lips vibrant pink against pale skin, and I fought against distraction. “It really doesn’t.”
Seren raised her arms again, lightning quick, and her mágik rushed toward my body. I hardly managed to repel it with a gust of my own power.
“You will regret this, Seren Corso.” A wicked grin split my face as I took up an offensive stance.
She pretended to ponder my words. She tapped her finger against the bridge of her nose, then pointed it right at me. “Hmm… Actually, I don’t think I will.”
We pounced, barraging each other with bursts of playful mágik. Water dumped into my boots, soaking through my knitted socks and sending me sliding through the snow. I glared in Seren’s direction. “That was uncalled for.”
Seren lashed out again, grinning wildly, and I sent a powerful gust of wind ripping around her. She looked away from me for just a moment then toppled forward as my power pushed at her back.
I was on her before either of us could blink. My knee slotted between hers as I pushed her back into the snow. Seren’s lips partedas she exhaled heavily, eyes shifting between mine. Her chin tilted exposing the long line of her bare throat. She swallowed as I did. Neither of us spoke—moved—for a moment too long, reveling in the warmth of the other.
