Page 31 of Claiming the Dhampir

I shook the thoughts from my head. Visions of grandeur were what led to the demise of my own family and future. I did not see my allies as lesser, even though they technically were.

A sharp pain in my chest pulled me back to the present and my current task. How had I let myself get distracted? Another sharp tug alarmed me until I realized it was my mate trying to find me. I followed the thread straight into the house and reached for her through our bond. A wall of fear and helplessness nearly knocked me over.

All of my doubts and caution were swept aside in an instant. I released my demon and charged the house, following the thread connecting me to my mate. The dark fog of my magic swirled over the fae wards, revealing a large dome about three feet from the exterior walls.

I dug my claws into the ward and tore into it. The magic screeched as I pulled it from its base and ripped a gaping hole in the ward Brance had surely thought was invincible. Within seconds, the broken ward flared in shades of green, purple, and red before it fell to the ground in cascading sheets.

“No!” a man screamed from inside the house.

With the wards gone, it was easy to hear fighting. The smell of something burning wafted from the house, along with a renewed surge of fear from my mate.

“Lorna!” Elliott cried.

I flared my wings, preventing him from charging into the unknown. I could withstand a magical attack from the fae, but he could not. I was certain it was Brance I’d heard inside the house.

“Move!” Elliott growled.

Rather than argue with him, I jumped through the nearest window before he could push past me. Glass shattered around me, but I didn’t notice it, nor did I care. All I could see was Nathan hanging limp from the ceiling with a pool of blood at his feet. Gaping wounds covered his exposed torso, and I couldn’t tell if he was still breathing.

The fae would die today. There would be no mercy for them.

I tore my gaze from Nathan only to find Kenrid huddled in a corner. Burn marks covered his bare chest and bruises darkened his face.

Yes, the fae would die today.

I finally turned my attention to Lorna kneeling next to Kenrid. She didn’t appear hurt, but her fear still pulsed through our bond. Her eyes transitioned from blue to green to black so quickly, it was nearly impossible to follow. A good indication that her dhampir was barely under control. I’d had complete faith in her ability to keep it all together, but I was still relieved to see her intact.

A low growl rumbled from my chest. It was time to kill the fae.

“Elliott, get Nathan down,” I commanded, not taking my eyes from Lorna. “Little d’laej, stay put.”

She nodded. The fear radiating between us worried me, but I didn’t have time to address it. I needed to take care of the traitorous fae.

“Watch out!” Lorna squeaked, pointing at something behind me.

I spread my wings to their full width, blocking whatever spell someone had thrown at me. Heat washed over my back and wings with a wave of fire. My runed scales absorbed the magic easily, making them glow bright for several seconds. I slowly turned to face my attacker.

Brance.

I bared my teeth at him. When his face paled, I chuckled. His clothes hung in tatters from his body. Apparently, he’d already been in a magical duel with someone. I glanced around and found Alyssa crawling across the floor—away from me. She’d obviously been beaten, both physically and magically. Her aura was so weak, I doubted she could pull off the simplest of spells. I dismissed her as a threat and turned back to Brance.

“Your magic cannot hurt me, foolish little fae,” I taunted. “If it makes you feel better, try again. Just know that I will have my turn when you’re finished.”

Brance pulled his shoulders back and snarled. “I’ve sacrificed everything for this! I will not allow you to stop me.”

He pressed his palms together, a faint glow emanating from the contact. I could feel his magic building, but it was weak like a tingle across my skin. While Brance couldn’t hurt me, he might decide to target one of the others. I closed the distance between us just as he released his spell. A pulsing ball of electricity exploded from his hands and veered to the left - straight toward Nathan and Elliott.

I lunged, trying to get my body between the spell and my friends. I wouldn’t make it—I was too far away—but that didn’t mean I couldn’t intervene. Tendrils of my own magic shot forward in a dark cloud, blanketing Brance’s spell. It detonated the same as the traps outside, sending a plume of power in every direction.

The backlash blew Elliott off his feet and sent him tumbling into the nearest wall. Brance flew in the opposite direction, sliding on his back through the shattered glass on the floor. Nathan swayed from his bindings. He moaned as his body spun, but I was there a second later to stop the movement.

“I got you,” I said, gripping him as tenderly as possible.

I glanced up at the rope holding him, wondering why Elliott hadn’t yet released our boss. I cursed when I saw the spelled rope. Of course they tied him with bindings that couldn’t be broken. I reached up and jerked the rope, pulling the anchor from the ceiling along with several chunks of wood and plaster.

Nathan fell against me, and I lowered him to the floor. Elliott was there a moment later.

“Get away from him!” Lorna yelled.

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