Raevina let it pour from her body. Sweat trickled down Arianna’s face as heat enveloped them all. She could see shadows moving too, small flames erupting wherever those dark tendrils touched something flammable.
Talon’s leg gave out and he fell forward. Ellie’s body rolled across the ground, her limbs flailing as if she were completely unconscious. Just as he promised, The Demon darted for Ellie. He rolled and grabbed her arm, easily pulling her onto his back without missing a step. Saoirse and Gavingrabbed Talon, yanking the male to his feet. Both draped Talon’s arms between them.
Arianna looked back one final time, then the ground fell out from beneath her feet.
Chapter Ten
Arianna
Arianna plunged into water so cold it stole the breath from her body. Darkness swallowed her, summoning the crippling terror from her nightmares. She free floated for one horrifying second before forcing her limbs to move, kicking hard upward until she broke the surface. Arianna gasped only to choke on the acrid air. With burning lungs, she spun to find a tall muddy embankment with flames consuming the trees above.
Saoirse, Zylah, and Gavin emerged next, the two females hauling a weakened Talon between them. The Demon launched from the water, mud wrapped around his lower portion as he held a limp Ellie in his arms. Raevina floated up with ease, seemingly immune to the brisk temperature. The female turned slightly to study the flames. They blazed even hotter and Arianna was certain the Shadow Weaver had everything to do with it. Good, so long as those wretched creatures couldn’t follow them.
The river’s current tugged her downstream. Arianna collected everyone with her magic and coaxed their bodies toward the opposite bank. They all crawled ashore then collapsed, chests heaving, fighting for breath.
Arianna only gave herself a moment before scrambling to her feet and rushing to Ellie’s side. The Demon still held her sister, but Arianna tore her from his arms and pressed an ear to Ellie’s chest. Her face paled. A horrible, wet rattle echoed from her sister’s lungs.
“Venom,” Raevina rasped, clutching her own chest.
Arianna stared at her in horror. “What?”
“Their bites,” Raevina continued through panting breaths. “Their bites are venomous.”
Arianna stared down at her sister in horror. “W—what do we do?”
“Pull it out,” Talon answered, crawling closer, his body trembling.
“I don’t—what do you mean?”
Talon collapsed and rolled onto his back, his eyes clenched in pain. “I’ve watched you do it before.” He paused to breathe. “You have to pull it out.”
“How?”
Talon only shook his head. Panic surged through her anew as she took in everyone surrounding her. Only Gavin appeared unharmed by the venom.
Six people. How in the seven hells was she supposed to pull venom from six bodies when she didn’t even know where to begin?
“Time is of the essence,” Raevina pressed, sinking down to sit with her legs crossed. “If you can do something, do it now.”
“I—” Arianna’s hands reached for Ellie and she let her magic flow. She didn’t have the slightest idea how—there. Her eyes went wide. She could feel … something. It was heavy, at odds with the blood and other natural fluids running through her sister’s body.
Arianna wrapped a tiny tendril of water around a few particles, then focused on bringing them toward the skin’s surface. They moved freely. Hope pulsed through her. She could do this. She grabbed more and more, letting some hover just under the skin, the particles small enough that they’d slip straight through the body’s sweat glands. Then she yanked it all out at once.
Ellie’s entire body lurched like she’d been shocked by iron. Ellie gasped for breath, and her heart pounded from the sudden rush of pain.
Arianna threw the offending substance to the side and sank back inside her sister’s body, replenishing the water she’d stolen from the tissues. Ellie’s muscles relaxed again, her breathing easier.
Arianna dove in again, isolating the particles a second time. There wasn’t much. She’d found the wound along her sister’s ankle easily enough and most of the venom was still concentrated there.
Ellie’s body arched again. She let out a whimper the third time.
“Arianna.” Saoirse’s concerned voice had Arianna whipping her head toward the female, then to Zylah who was lying with her eyes closed on the ground.
The half-breed’s heart beat rapidly.
Arianna scrambled over and knelt at Zylah’s side, placing her hands over the female’s body. She found two wounds quickly. One at her left wrist and the other by her right knee. Rather than closing them, Arianna used the openings to pull the venom out faster. Her healing magic spilled through Zylah’s body next, and the half-breed’s breathing immediately eased. Her eyes fluttered open and Saoirse helped her sit up. Arianna left her in Saoirse’s care and ran to Raevina next.
“Him first.” Raevina jerked her chin toward Talon.
