Page 131 of Her Ivory Flame

They had run opposite of town, hoping to lead the creatures away from the rest of the people occupying the town and from the sound of it, it seemed to be working.

The sun was starting to set, the late summer evening coming to an end and she could feel her power draining as the wall stayed up for a few more minutes.

Kaden abruptly turned to the right, the rest of the horses following with quick feet and charged towards a large clearing just beyond the treeline.

Roars got louder and she knew her power had run out, the creatures charging for them faster than they could get the horses to run. They would have to stand and fight, even if that meant their death.

The treeline ended, the massive clearing opening up and she looked to Raine, fear hinting at her friend's face.

They all halted suddenly, her eyes going straight to Titus. “You and Raine keep running. Do not stop and as soon as it's dark enough, take her to Mydalsa.” She yelled, pointing to Raine.

“I’m not leaving!” Raine yelled.

She moved closer to her friend, eyes pleading and she held out her axe to her. “Take this,” white flame flickering on its blade. “I will come back for it my friend, but you need to leave quickly.”

Raine’s lips quivered and she saw a glance towards Finnley, a silent goodbye between them. Titus rode up next to them and in a second, Raine was running off with him, her eyes glancing over her shoulder one last time before crossing the middle of the clearing.

The ground rumbled beneath them and she jumped off Zuri, pulling the halter from her face. The rest followed and the horses took off after Titus and Raine, leaving them standing in knee high grass with the enemy closing in.

Kaden grabbed her hand, his eyes scanning her features and then she felt it. A sudden surge of power went through her and she looked down. His power was feeding into hers, the black fading into white and she could see his eyes straining the more he gave her.

“Stop!” she yelled, pulling her hand against him.

“You need it.” He breathed and her entire body vibrated with an influx of power.

Roars came from the treeline and she snagged her hand away, Kaden slightly unsteady on his feet. She knew he gave her too much, he himself was stuck in the fog he had told her of and she was furious at him.

The others stood around her, sword in hand she let her borrowed power ignite.

It wasn’t any more power than she had been able to access on her own, but it was at least a recharge and they desperately needed it.

Quickly she grabbed each man’s sword and added her power to it, making their blades deadly to the creatures just before the first one came charging out of the woods.

She threw a wall of flame up, the first creature slamming into it with a scream before another dozen followed. They started to run around it, reaching Xander first who sliced effortlessly through it and the body disintegrating into ashes.

At least she knew her power on their weapons worked.

More followed as her wall disappeared and before she knew it, one of them was upon her.

Her sword glowed like a bright light, slicing through the creature and dodging a second one. Finnley beheaded it just as she rose to her feet to swing at a third.

All of them cut down each creature that came after them, but it seemed it was a never ending wave coming from the woods. They had already taken down three dozen when the masked man appeared from the shadows of the trees, the sun dropping fast.

Her borrowed power was almost gone, and she could tell from Kaden’s slower movement, he couldn’t give her anymore.

“Give up!” the masked man’s muffled voice yelled as he got closer.

She snarled in return and cut into another creature, her power barely strong enough to incinerate him.

“Come with me and I will call off my pets.” The masked man yelled again.

“You won't touch her.” yelled Kaden from a few feet away.

She felt that tug of their bond, a reassurance he was there with her and he would stay.

Finnley’s scream jolted her, turning to see a creature’s claws sticking through his side.

Horror washed over her and she felt another crack burst in the wall around her power as anger took over.