Page 38 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Lea

Leadidn’tknowhowit was possible, but it seemed like with every step forward, the woods grew darker, more ominous and threatening. Every crack of a stick or rustle of a branch caused Lea to startle, to reach for her magic on instinct. They’d been riding for hours, and while they hadn’t seen anything threatening, she wasn’t able to say with confidence that they hadn’t been seen themselves.

None of them spoke, not a single word, as they moved forward. The silence was louder than the crowd at the market, louder than the thunder that boomed from her mate’s temper. Gray’s hand remained firm against her front, his thumb swiping in reassuring arches while his head constantly swiveled as he examined his surroundings. The tension in his shoulders and the tight muscles of his arms betrayed his calm exterior. And yet, through the bond, muddled in with the worry and uncertainty, was confidence.

Lea could feel Gray pulling his power into a ball. It was as if his magic somehow ran deep into his soul—a cavern, a pocket somewhere inside him where his powers slept. She felt him pulling it out, molding it and making it more accessible to ready himself for battle. Lea paid attention as he dug deeper and deeper inside himself, and the magnitude of power she felt radiating from him made her shiver. Had she even seen the full depth of his powers before?

Lea had never felt this immensity of magic from him, but she’d also never searched the bond in this way. She reached for her own magic, considering this a silent lesson on how to tap into her own abilities and powers, but as she tried to dig deeper, she hit a thick iron wall. Impenetrable. Her darkness and shadows still thrummed along with the light inside her chest, that now-familiar hum of magic just waiting to be released, but there was nothing more hiding inside her. Lea was pulled from her thoughts when a zing of alertness shot through her body.

Her hands pulsed a silver blue, her magic flowing into her fingertips of its own volition.

"What is it?" Gray asked her, holding up a hand to pause the others riding behind them.

"I’m not sure," Lea replied. "But I feel something. Something is warning me—" The words had no sooner left her mouth when a whisper met their ears.

"New blood," the disembodied voice said. "What have you brought to us, princcccee?" the creature hissed.

Lea’s eyes darted through the dark trees, searching for the source of the voice. Was it possible the creature speaking knew who they were?

"Erik," Gray snapped, and without further instruction, Erik turned his horse, positioning it behind Emma and facing away from Gray.

"Nabis…" Emma whispered. "The dead can see them. About eleven of them, approaching from the south."

"Shit," Gray hissed under his breath.

"We’ve got this, Lea," Erik called out from behind her. "Get ready to roast some demons, Sunshine," Erik teased with false bravado.

"What is he talking about, Gray?" Lea asked, dread coursing through her veins. Why had Erik singled her out by name?

"It’s the demons. Nabis are made of pure darkness," Gray said. "Only fire can kill them. They have no body, no physical form to destroy with a sword. They exist of nothing but black mist and shadows made solid. They can regenerate, rearrange themselves to prevent injury."

"So you can’t help fight against them?" Lea was going to throw up. Of all the demons they were going to face in these woods, they had to be creatures that Gray couldn’t kill?

"I can help control your powers if you get out of hand. I can call a storm or the wind to bend your flames or douse them. I can distract the nabis, or block their way… But no, I cannot kill them."

"Okay." Lea pressed her lips together, shoving down the anxiety pulsing up her spine. "How do they attack?" Lea asked, trying to get as much precious information as she could in the few moments they had before the nabis appeared.

"Like a viper," Gray said, pulling his sword. "Quick strikes. Their bite contains a poison that paralyzes whatever it touches. A bite to the leg, and you will be unable to run. A bite to the hand, and you won't be able to hold a sword."

Dread filled Lea‘s gut. What a cruel and telling turn of events that it was because of her that they had entered these woods, and it was now she who had to save them.

"Don't be afraid." Gray placed a hand on Lea’s shoulder, squeezing gently. "I'm here with you. As is Erik. We will help you."

"And me," Noah said, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulped audibly. "I have day magic. Not a lot, but enough to help."

Gray turned. "Did you have any training for the Wicked Wood in Auropera?" he asked.

"No. Not yet. But I can help. I’ll distract them, or, I don’t know. I can dosomething."

Lea felt a surge of strong emotion from Gray. Impressed. He was impressed by Noah’s statement, and Lea had to agree. He was so ready to fight with them. Meanwhile, she was terrified, her hands shaking and her throat dry. But the young soldier nodded at Gray, pulling his sword from his back and positioning himself higher in his saddle.

"You’ll protect Janelle and Emma. Do not join the battle unless they’re attacked. This is a direct order, Noah."

"Yes, Commander," Noah said obediently.

"Get off your horses," Gray demanded, jumping off Obsidian and grabbing Lea by the waist to pull her to stand behind him. "The nabis won’t waste their time trying to harm them if we’re on foot. But they will attack them, cripple or kill them to get to us, if necessary. We need the horses to get to Calir quickly."

Erik nodded, lifting Janelle and sliding off his horse before turning and offering Emma a hand.

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