Vines shot from the ground, the twisted roots reaching for that vile witch, but they were stopped by a torrent of flames that arched high into the air and shot toward us on a massive wave.
Zara stood protectively in front of Morgana, and my jaw clenched so hard I thought I'd break my teeth. Julian had already stepped in front of me, blasting ice at the approaching flames. He kept throwing up layer after layer, and I mirrored him until the fire died down, leaving only thick steam hanging in the air around us.
Out of the steam, a figure advanced, and my eyes widened as a glint of a blade came slicing through the air toward Julian.
Wind gathered at my palms as I shot them toward him, blasting him out of its path.
Julian screamed, and something thumped to the ground at his feet. The blade that had been aimed at his neck instead sliced through his arm, and Julian fell to his knees gritting his teeth in pain. He looked wide eyed at his now missing arm, at the jagged cut that licked across his left side. He shakily raised his other hand, desperately and awkwardly trying to control the damage.
Zara was nearly upon him again, her blade raised for another strike. Roaring, I shadowed behind her, my arm crashing down onto hers, knocking her blade from her grip as I locked my arms around her. She thrashed and Julian looked up at her—not just with fear, but with revulsion so raw it splintered my heart.
Zara thrashed in my hold, and she managed to spin free, turning to face me, but I had been ready for it, a tunnel of wind sending her tumbling in the air.
She landed like an animal on the ground, her nails digging into the dirt as she slid to a stop. I was already running toward her, and she lunged forward. We met in the middle, and Zara’s fist landed across my cheek.
I laughed darkly as my dagger embedded into her upper thigh, and Zara let out a curse of pain as she pulled it free. Spinning it in her grasp she stabbed it through my left shoulder. I let it happen, and clenching through the sting of it, I lifted her by the legs, slamming her onto her back on the ground. She pivoted, her elbow slamming into my jaw, and I felt something slither around my neck as I was pulled back, allowing her to roll out from underneath me.
“Zara,” I hissed, my magic searing through the vines. My boot swung out, and I swept her legs out from underneath her, and she stumbled right into the spinning ball of water I had conjured. Zara’s limbs thrashed, and a snarl left my lips as I spun around to check on my uncle and Julian. My blood ran cold as my eyes landed on Morgana. She had Flynn in her grasp, her hand wrapped around his throat. His body rigid as if an invisible rope bound him.
My gaze cut to Julian, who was now passed out on the ground, but his chest was rising, the blood a slow trickle from his mutilated arm.Fuck.
“Your uncle’s cabin had excellent protective charms,” Morgana purred, glancing down at him. “Kept even me out, which is impressive. I was surprised, though, when they were lifted only hours ago.” She smiled, her grip tightening, and I narrowed my eyes at her.
Flynn’s warm brown gaze landed on me, and they were filled with tears, with unspoken words.
“Let him go,” I begged, taking a step closer.
“I think you need to learn what is at stake here, son,” Morgana whispered, and something shot past my head. A glint of silver flew in the air. Morgana removed her hand from my uncle's throat, and my eyes widened as I watched a dagger slam into the center of his neck. Blood sprayed, and my uncle’s eyes widened, still frozen in her grasp.
I whirled around and saw Zara advancing, another dagger in her hand, and I drew in a sharp breath. “Stop!”
She didn’t hear me. Only kept stalking forward, no emotion, not even a pitying glance in my direction. She raised the dagger, and I shadowed in front of her, tackling her to the ground.
Morgana’s laugh echoed around us, and she dropped my uncle. His wet gasps filled the air as he tried to pull in breath, his body thumping to the ground at her feet, still bound.
“You will give me that book, or everyone you care about will die,” she barked, and I knew what she was going to do next, and I couldn’t let it happen. I wouldn’t let her kill my uncle. He was still alive. I could still save him.
I shadowed in front of her, slamming against a shield I hadn’t seen. Suddenly, Zara was in front of me, blasting me back. My body rolled on the ground as my nails dug into the earth, desperately trying to stop my momentum.
She has caused enough death.
I shot to my feet, my body vibrating, filling with power and erupted.
My magic hit Zara first, throwing her back and slamming her against Morgana, whose eyes were wide, fear entering them for the first time. Unfortunately, she managed to throw up a shield, and the massive black wave of power slammed against it.
A dark dome appeared around them as my magic fought to break through, but the dome was shrinking. Morgana was unable to hold back the onslaught of my anger, my power.
I gritted my teeth, pouring all my energy into breaking through that infernal barrier and reaching the ancient witch who had stolen everything from me. My family, my mate… and now my kingdom. She had inflicted enough death and pain. She didn't deserve a swift end, but a brutal one, one that would make her bleed and suffer as she had made so many others. I advanced step by step until I was upon them, my magic still surging, clawing its way forward. I felt her defenses falter under the strain, sensed Zara’s raw panic through the bond, and then it became distant, a faraway ache.
They fled. Ran away like cowards.
With a snarl, my magic imploded. I contained it, channeling it skyward as agony ripped through every limb and muscle. The raw power I'd unleashed could have leveled this entire kingdom. Power surged upward, exploding into the sky and forming a massive black mist that blotted out the sun. The sound and the tremor of the earth made me cringe as I fell to my knees, my eyes burning as I crawled towards my uncle.
Blood was pouring from Flynn’s mouth as his gaze locked onto mine, and my hatred for Morgana only grew.
Flynn was dying.
Tears fell from my eyes, and I shook my head as I approached my uncle.
