Page 116 of Of Flame and Fate

Shayna converts the toothpicks into needles. They leave her hands faster than I can blink, clearing a path through the crowd herding Johnny closer toward the exit. Men and women rush by me, clutching their faces and trying to pull them out. I whirl out of their way, not wanting any part of them. It’s a disturbing sight and damn effective, the pain Shayna inflicts just enough to distract them from their quest and break Johnny’s spell.

I try to reduce the amount of lightning I release, but it’s damn hard to concentrate on lessening my power amidst the escalating chaos surrounding us.

Bellows erupt and bits of ceiling rain down when theweresslam the giant grizzly into the base of the stage. They’re trying to keep the shifter away from the humans. Except the humans are everywhere.

And so are the neophytes.

Black smoke appears in swirl and a woman in dark robes materializes, her long staff aimed at Shayna.

I light her up with a siphon of flames, the intensity so strong sparks spray against the mob clustered around Johnny. It doesn’t do much damage, just enough to snag their attention and snap them free of Johnny’s hold.

I race around the burning witch, fighting against the panicked and shrieking people now trying to escape. Something hard hits me in the back of the head, knocking me down. I cut my hand on something sharp. Blood drips from my palm as I try to push up on my knees.

My nose is bleeding, too. I’m not sure why. Something doesn’t feel right and I can’t see well, my vision is fading in and out.

A foot connects with my face, the impact tossing me back to the floor. Blood pours out of my mouth and nose. I try to rise and put one foot under me when something else bangs into my shoulder.

People are everywhere. They ram me, kicking and trampling me. I curl inward, cocooning myself in my fire. It’s just enough to keep people off me and gives me a moment to gather my senses. I’m hurt and my stomach churns with nausea.

Except I can’t just fucking lay here.

I force myself to my feet, my stomach lurching when I push forward. Shayna is battling it out with another neophyte, dodging her curses as she reaches for her dagger. She flings her blade, puncturing the neophyte’s skull. I’m almost to them when the witch I set on fire grabs me, her eyes fierce and her skin only partially burned.

She yanks me to her, her fingers digging into my throat. “We will kill you,” she spits out, ignoring the swirls of my blue and white flames crisscrossing like ribbons across her face. “All of you.”

My fire has no effect on me and it’s only barely touching her. The protection wards around her body are strong and her hands are killing me. I gasp, choking as she clamps down.

Oh, and Sparky doesn’t like that one bit.

My right hand shoots out, snatching her by the throat and lifting her off the ground. I feel her neck crunch beneath my grasp as my fire builds and anger consumes me. She trembles, releasing me to smack at my hand. As I watch, the protection wards she built around herself break down. Her skin sizzles, crackling off in pieces.

“Burn, bitch,” I tell her. “Burn.”

Like a missal ignited in blue and white flames, my arm launches her. She soars into the second tier, the impact splitting the first few rows and caving in the second level.

Yet it’s Johnny who screams.

I stagger, the dizziness and pain I feel making it hard to keep my feet. Someone runs into me, then another someone, the collection of howls, shrieks, and sounds of destruction across the arena disorienting me further.

“Taran!”

I fall into Gemini’s arms. He cradles me and moves fast. I shiver as cold air strikes my face, the agony stabbing through my veins dulling and confusing my thoughts.

Behind us, something wails in torment and vicious growls erupt. Flesh tears and death fills the night. I think a wolf is dead, but then Gemini yells, “Take him down,now.”

I want to ask him what’s happening, but I struggle to form words. My body grows colder as my pain tucks the rest of the world away from me. I make out some words and sounds. Except I can’t see anything, my vision completely blurred.

“We have to kill Johnny,” I manage. “And Misha has to stay away.”

I try to tell him that Johnny is the one who’ll hurt our babies, that he’s sacrificing his fans to save himself, and plans to sacrifice Misha. It’s why Johnny wanted theweresto guard him, their magic makes them heartier tributes, and why he requested Misha to retrieve him. As the strongest vampire, Misha was the ultimate prize Johnny needed.

I think I tell Gemini. My lips move, but I can’t be sure I actually speak.

He seems to understand. So does Emme.

Her light streams across my cooling skin, easing the pain and sharpening my vision back into focus. My shoulders jerk when something in my face snaps and my ribs fasten into place. Based on what seeps out, my nose was bashed in. I swipe at it irritably as Gemini wrenches me to my feet.

Like me, he’s covered with blood. All the wolves are, their dense fur coated in crimson. The shifter is dead. I catch sight of his naked human body lying across the field, beside awerewho didn’t make it.

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