Page 39 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

"They’re close," Emma breathed, eyes shifting around nervously.

"Emma, Janelle," Erik said calmly without taking his eyes off the woods. "You both should have some extent of healing magic. Enough to heal yourself from small injuries. I will protect you—" Erik met Janelle‘s eyes and swallowed, his words thick with some unspoken emotion Lea had never seen from him before, "but if you’re injured, I want you to focus on finding your powers inside you and sending them to where you were hurt. Stay close together." Erik reached to his waist, pulling a blade from his right hip, then reached to grab his other dagger from his left side.

"I already took it," Janelle said sheepishly as she held the dagger up in front of her. "Thought I might need it to protect myself. Don’t be angry."

Erik looked down at her, the shadow of a smile across his lips. "I’ll never be angry with you for defending yourself. Now, stay put." Erik positioned them together just in front of Noah before joining Gray and Lea.

"They’re here," Emma rasped as several dark figures stepped through the fog.

Chapter 23

Lea

ThemomentLealaideyes on the demons silently floating toward them, the woods grew dramatically darker. It was as if the nabis had repelled any light that had hung in the foggy air as they’d approached. She shivered, but not from the cold, as Gray stepped slightly in front of her.

"What have we here?" the demon asked as they moved closer, not so much walking as gliding. The nabis were tall, and, just as Gray had said, made of shadow. They were darkness itself, a void somehow completely absent of color. Their form was humanoid, and yet somehow not, with bodies that were fuzzy around the edges and wisps of darkness hazy around their figures.

Their fingers were long, with jagged black claws at the end. They had no hair, no facial features, save for a gaping black mouth, only noticeable because it appeared more solid than the rest of its face—a black hole with rows and rows of serrated black teeth ready to sink into flesh. As they approached, they bared those long, sharp teeth, venom trickling down the monster’s chins and dripping onto the ground.

"It’s been a long while since a group of travelers stumbled our way, hasn’t it?" The monster’s rough voice was like sandpaper against Lea's skin.

"Oh yes, brother," a raspy voice replied. "Even longer since we’ve tasted a woman’s blood."

"There will be no tasting of our blood," Gray replied as he set his shadows free. In puddles as black as the demons before them, the shadows floated from his tense body across the ground, creeping forward in rivers of darkness. The air surrounding Gray grew darker as he called a storm overhead in a terrifying display of power.

The nabis closest to him chuckled. "And what is it that you believe your shadows can do against us,Commander?"

Lea and Gray made eye contact. The monster knew exactly who he was.

"We know more than you would believe," the shadowy figure answered her silent thought. "We can smell it on him—the royalty, the riches. The bloodline. It is all there, hidden under the stench of his fear. But that is not all we know. Take you, for example."

Lea froze. What could this demon possibly know abouther? As if sensing her question, Gray raised his hand slightly, a silent gesture for her to remain quiet. She searched the bond, hoping to figure out what Gray’s plan was. He was curious, but there was a sharp tang of fear surging through him as well.

Muscles tensing, Lea sensed Gray preparing to attack. He gave her a terse nod, and she felt his reassurance flood into her chest. He was ready to protect her; would not allow anything to harm them. It emboldened her. Showing fear would betray her weaknesses, put them all at risk. Raising her chin, Lea stared directly at the creature speaking to her.

"And what is it then that you can smell on me?"

"Hmmm…. Besides the sweat coating your neck, and terror dripping from your pores? I can smell that you are mated to this one." He gestured toward Gray, and he took a subtle step forward. "Such a shame he will be forced to watch as I drain you dry," he taunted.

"I’m sure that would gut you," Gray retorted sarcastically.

"That shows nothing of power," Erik said, flames dancing off his fingertips in a casual display of magic. "I scented they were mated before they believed it themselves. What you are failing toscentis that she is more than capable of destroying the lot of you without breaking a sweat."

"Ah, but can you smell that she is not of this Earth?" The nabis took a deep inhale, goading her. "Can you smell the potential she has to change the world? She does." His black face turned to her. "She could." There were no eyes in the dark smoky form, and yet Lea could still feel the monster staring at her. "It does not benefit you, then, that I rather like the world as it is. I do not think I should allow it to be changed."

Without warning, the nabis struck. Lightning fast, just as Gray had told her. The demons jolted toward her, dozens of black serrated teeth snapping inches from her shoulder as Erik sent a blast of flames from behind. The fire parted as it reached her, folding around her body to spare her from both its heat as well as the nabis’ attack. The demon hissed, jumping backward as the fire burned away a bit of its darkness. Gray pulled Lea behind him, gripping his sword and widening his stance.

"Move on," he commanded, "and we'll allow you to torment these woods another day. They will burn you into nothing, destroy you, if you continue to fight. There will not be enough left to even send you into the void."

The closest demon laughed—an evil, cackling sound. The others gathered around him, standing in a line just behind where he stood as the demon slowly raised his fist into the air.

"Find your flames, Little Flower," Gray said calmly, "and remember that you are mine. They cannot have you."

The demon’s head swiveled to Gray. "Iwillhave her, prince," it said as he slowly opened his hand. All at once, so quickly Lea’s eyes struggled to keep up, they attacked. Flames rose around them as Erik shot balls of fire at the monsters. Heat warmed her back as a wall of fire blocked Janelle and Emma from the nabis’ sight, Noah somewhere behind them, providing their cover. The moment they were hidden, Gray went on the attack. With only his sword, he lunged and parried, swiping wide. The figures grunted as his blade sliced through their dark forms, but without pause, they reorganized and became nearly solid again.

Lea’s chest grew white hot, her flames begging to be released, but her arms wouldn’t move. What if she lost control again? Hurt Gray or Erik and made it harder for them to fight, putting everyone in danger? Her stomach turned sour, and she searched through the churning bile for even an ounce of courage and confidence.

Erik cried out as a shorter nabis launched at Gray, pushing his hands out and slamming an impressive blast of fire into the demon. "Lea!" he called out. "It’s you and me, Sunshine. I need you to focus. I need your help. Dig deep, and aim for their chest!"

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