Page 74 of Bound to the Orc Renegade

And having her at my back means I can no longer whirl to keep them at bay. The metallic smell of blood fills the air, and my movements slow yet again.

The sluagh sends up a raucous cry, wings flapping furiously—it senses victory.

“This isn’t working!” Taylor calls out. “We need to fall down!”

“What?”

“Trust me!”

And I do.

Sword held out to one side, I spin, clutch her back to my chest, and fall backward as the sluagh flock descends.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Taylor

Krivoth’s body cradles me as we fall, and it’s just like all those times I first practiced my pushing power. We land, him on the bottom, me on top facing upward.

The power of Alarria sings through my body, warming my blood and tingling along my nerves. I drop the bag and raise both hands, palms pointed to the sky.

In a pulse of power, Ipush. I push with everything I am. I push with all my love for Krivoth.

Because I do. I love him.

Seeing the birds peck him bloody, seeing his strikes slow and knowing the sluagh ate his soul…

No. Just all the no!

A percussive blast shoots from me, pulverizing each bird as it hits. They break apart, the ash of their dissolving bodies swept upward by the wave of my power until even that fades from view. Strike after strike, the birds disappear as the magical surge hits them.

I keep pushing, pouring more power into the thrust.

The last few birds wink out, leaving only one, right in the center. It morphs into a skeletal figure wrapped in smoky gray robes. Furious red eyes glare at me with pure hate, and it screams, the sounds ripped from its mouth, my power smearing the words into nonsense. It flies straight up, pushed by my power, its body disintegrating as it goes, but slowly, so slowly compared to the other birds.

Those were the victims. This is the actual sluagh.

Magic tears through me, starting to burn, the pain growing. I guess I’m not supposed to use this much in one go. All of Alarria’s might waits below me, ready for me to use, but I’m only human. My body’s still tiny and fragile. Proper witch training probably woulda taught me the safe limits, but there’s been none of that.

Thank god, I’m stubborn as hell.

I shove, thrusting my arms upward. Power tears across my nerves, setting them on fire. I can barely feel Krivoth’s strong body below mine, holding me. But I know he’s there.

I do this for him.

I do this for us. Because I want there to be an “us.” I want it with everything I am.

Tears of pain fill my eyes as my heart beats so hard it feels like it’ll break out of my chest. I can’t breathe, pain locking my muscles tight.

A horrible shriek comes from the sluagh, drawn out as the last of its form crumbles to dust that flies up and up and spreads across the sky until there’s nothing left but sunshine and blue.

My vision goes black, and I come to some time later with Krivoth’s worried face hovering over me. “Taylor? Taylor, can you hear me?”

I blink at him, the only movement I can make. My whole body feels numb, like it’s been packed away in cotton wool like a glass Christmas ornament that won’t be needed for another year.

Mist appears, looking upside down from this angle. “Is she okay?”

“What’s wrong with her?” Storm enters into view beside her.

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