Adrenaline.
Strength.
Power.
Fire was flowing through her veins, heating her blood, energizing her. She was bursting with it. Her body contained a living flame and it craved an outlet.
The dagger was still in Kelvion’s hand, the edge bathed in her blood. His other hand held the broken necklace. When his eyes locked with hers, his twisted smile turned into surprised fear.
Lora smirked as she lifted her hands. “Go to hell,” she snarled. With a scream, fire exploded from her. The force of it threw Kelvion back. The flames clawed at him, not letting him go.
Her heart was singing as the constant fire brewing beneath her skin had finally found its escape. The magic of her fae side fuelled her. Healed her. The fire inside her felt endless. Lora encouraged it, stretching it from Kelvion to another fae who had drawn closer. He might have tried to counter her magic with his own fire, but hers was unstoppable. She was unstoppable.
Lora got to her feet as her eyes searched for Eyden. Relieved, she found the sword was no longer impaling him. His knife dug deep into Kayai, but his eyes were locked on Lora. Astonishment flashed over his face. Maybe something like anger too.
Lora tore her eyes away, searching for her next target. Elyssa was locked in a fight. She had the upper hand. But then Lora noticed another fae sneaking up behind the girl. She channelled her fire, but could she aim that far without hurting Elyssa?
“Elyssa!” Eyden screamed, his tone warning. Yet his sister didn’t react.
Lora rushed forward, her eyes flickering between the many dangers surrounding them. Her eyes fixed on Eyden for barely half a second before he vanished. Lora stopped in her tracks, turning her head in confusion until she spotted Eyden next to Elyssa. How in the world?
He reached out just as Elyssa turned, delivering what would be a fatal blow to the fae sneaking up on her, but her knife never connected. The moment Eyden’s hand touched her shoulder, both he and Elyssa disappeared into thin air.
They were gone. Eyden had removed them from the fight. He had vanished. Teleported away. No level one could do that. Even for a high-level fae, it was a rare power to have. Lora was sure of that.
Just as sure as she was of the fact that Eyden had kept her in the dark on purpose. He’d never told her, never used his power in front of her until his sister’s life was in danger.
“Lora.” It was Jaspen’s voice that drew her eyes away from the now empty spot. “Take them out!” The remaining fae were overpowering him. Jaspen slashed out with his blade then ran in her direction, towards the humans.
Lora focused her energy. She threw her fire outwards, but her intended target dodged it easily. She wasn’t used to any of this. She couldn’t pinpoint her flames. It was like wildfire was coming out of her, powerful but uncontrollable. She couldn’t keep it in but couldn’t focus it either.
An idea formed in her mind and she threw fire between the fae and herself as Jaspen passed her. One of them snickered as she missed. Yet she didn’t.
Lora spread her arms, willing the fire to follow her command. A wall built, rising high and stretching out between the sand-coloured buildings. She felt it draining her, but she pushed on nevertheless. A shrill yell escaped her as she forced the fire to burn brighter, more intensely.
One of the fae jumped through the wall and screamed as the fire tore at him.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Jaspen reach the humans. The young man, now awake, was trying to lift the almost-unconscious woman. Jaspen rushed to her side and the two of them dragged the woman forward.
The young man’s eyes met Lora’s. “Go, I’ll be right behind you,” Lora said. With a nod, he turned to the alley closest to them. Lora’s gaze travelled back to the flames, fixating on them. She had to hold on long enough for them to disappear. Just a little longer.
Her skin felt scorching hot, her veins carrying lava. She was getting lost in her flames. It was merely her and the fire now. Everything else faded away.
“Lora, we need to go.” Was that Eyden’s voice? No, he was gone. There was nothing but the endless smoke of her creation. Engulfing her. Trapping her in place.
“Fucking hell.Lora,come on.” The voice drew closer. In her peripheral vision, a blurry Eyden stepped towards her. “We need to go now!”
But Lora couldn’t move. She was locked in her own fire. Her hands were still outstretched, her feet rooted in place. She could feel her energy leaving her, yet stopping it seemed impossible. Would she keep the fire up until she burned herself out too?
There was nothing but fire and smoke, the soot coating her skin, the smoke filling her lungs. Lora couldn’t shut it off any more than she could her brain. She was entranced, anchored into this moment. Was this the price for unleashing her fae side?
Eyden hissed as his fingers brushed her skin. His touch electrified her system, shocking her back to reality. Lora compelled her arms to drop, now feeling the source of her fire and snapping it shut, forcefully breaking the stream of power.
But she didn’t anticipate the chain reaction. As her fire faded, her body shut down with it. She dimly realised her wall had ceased burning before her eyes glossed over and she fell into mist and smoke.
Chapter50
Amira
