Page 160 of Barbi and the Villain

“That is nice of you.” I smile. “Although I appreciate you defending my honor, you should have thought about the consequences before.”

“But now I have you to be my voice of reason.” He winks.

I chuckle. “Speaking of that, we should go to the kitchens and get some food. At least for the dogs,” I suggest. Ander in particular needs to eat often since he’s a growing pup.

Nykander nods.

After we have all our essentials with us, Nykander lures the dogs inside the pink dog house and locks the door.

“They will be easier to transport this way,” he mentions, and I give him a quick kiss on the lips for his thoughtfulness.

He teleports us to the kitchens, and I go through the pantry, taking out some basic items and placing them in a bag.

But just as I’m about to tell him I’m done, a loud bang erupts in the village.

We both freeze. My eyes flare with alarm.

“What was that?” I whisper.

He shakes his head, placing a finger to his lips.

Heading to the window, he pulls the curtain aside to look outside. I follow him.

A devastating fire rages in the western part of the village. At first, we hear the crackling of wood as the flames consume the buildings. The screams of the villagers soon follow. A few run for their lives, only to be struck down by an invisible force, seemingly being cut in two.

“What—” I gasp.

“Stay here,” he tells me, and in the next second, he flashes himself out of the room.

He appears in the middle of the road, his expression grave as he awaits something.

Another loud bang erupts in the air, and the High Priestess flies backward, landing next to Nykander. Her clothes are ripped, her body riddled with bleeding wounds. She breathes harshly, barely getting herself back to her feet.

Nykander glances toward her, his eyes narrowed.

She wipes the blood from her mouth and a smirk appears on her face.

“I told you my death will not be by your hands, demon,” she murmurs, and somehow I hear her.

I gulp down. It must be these new powers. Yet as her mouth moves again, my ears fail me.

Damn it! I strain to hear but can only make out half words.

Nykander nods at her. His energy shimmers around him, the darkness coming to the surface and forming a shield around him.

The smoke dissipates, and from within its depths, Damien appears. He steps forward, followed by Jocelyn, Arisa, Leoni, and a slew of other magic wielders who are terrorizing the villagers.

Damien swings a fire lasso from his right hand. A villager screams and runs out of the way. But he doesn’t stand a chance as Damien cuts him in two, killing him without batting an eye.

My eyes widen. This is too similar to my dream for it to be a coincidence. My instincts kick in and I disobey Nykander’s orders, rushing out of the kitchens.

“Barbi, I told you to stay back,” his voice booms.

“He has the blood of your sire, Nykander. He will try to stab you with it,” I say breathlessly.

He turns to look at me and gives me a brisk nod.

“Stay back now,” he decrees and, using his powers, he envelops me in a shield of dark smoke. He directs his attention to Damien, who has now gained more ground. Extending his arm to the side, Nykander morphs a sword from his energy.

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