Page 86 of The Most Wanted Witch

“I’m good.” I shot a hard look past him to Lou, who was waiting this out as well. With a last glance at Hawk, I said, “I’ve got this.”

He nodded, letting me know he’d keep up his end, which meant he’d keep Lou from killing me, or whatever his plan might be. Lou was patient if nothing else, standing back and waiting.

Another hour or so rolled by, my body feeling battered as I stayed in the crumpled position, directing all my energy to the feeling of the hill. Mentally, I was no longer there. I was nowhere, nothing in focus but an internal battle to keep fighting.

When I did open my eyes again, we’d been joined by Bautere, and another ten of his kind. They’d joined Hawk, forming a circle around me and Dread as we battled, keeping Lou on the outskirts. The air around me was nearly glowing with my magic, lighting the entire hill as it continued to flow from my body.

Bautere nodded at me. I nodded back, hoping he could see the gratefulness in my gaze.

I didn’t know if he could, but as I looked at the others of his kind, at Hawk, even at Lou, they all stared upon me with a mix of disbelief and awe in varying degrees.

I dropped my head to my knees again, concentrating all the energy I had on one sole purpose: Dread.

There was a gasp and my eyes shot open.

Dread, still not opaque but not transparent enough to let the sun filter through anymore, writhed forward, casting us all in shadow as it partially sank.

It got closer and closer to me as I struggled to not give an inch. I wanted to pull back from the approaching creature. The only thing keeping me going was sheer will.

The closer it got, the more I feared a trap, but not forit, as Lou had promised. It was nearly upon me when one last step set off a roar of agony that nearly shattered my eardrums and blew my hair back. The creature was slowly sucked into the hill, clawing at the air as it was.

I stayed in place, not sure if I could break contact with the hill or if I should, afraid it would rear up again.

Suddenly I was blasted from the spot and thrown several feet away.

Hawk was beside me within seconds, Bautere by him. Hawk took my hand, laying it over my still-bleeding magic.

“Say the words. Say them,” Hawk demanded, grabbing my shoulders and holding me up.

“My gift is finished.”

My hand dropped to my lap and he moved his fingers to my wrist.

Hawk nodded to Bautere.

Bautere leaned his head back, raising his arms to the air. “I don’t feel it anymore.”

“Neither do I,” Hawk said.

Neither did I.

There was nothing but silence as I looked around. Bautere’s fighters had all closed ranks around us, protecting us as we regrouped.

“You did well,” Bautere said, giving me a nod. As I looked past him, his people did the same. One by one, they all nodded to me, a heavy silence filling the air.

“Is there pain anywhere else?” Hawk asked, feeling the bones of my legs and then arms.

“No. I’m good.” I tried to sit up on my own but didn’t make it more than a few inches before leaning back into him.

“You did enough. Rest now. I’ll take care of you.” Hawk bent down and scooped me up into his arms. I didn’t fight him. Couldn’t if I wanted to, and at that moment, I didn’t want to at all. I laid my head on his shoulder, knowing he’d get me home safe, no matter what.

A gap opened in the fighters’ circle as Lou stepped forward. The fighters barely gave him more than an inch of buffer, making it clear whose side they were on.

He stepped forward, a smile forced upon his face. “Impressive. I wasn’t sure you would be up to it, but you’ve proven yourself quite capable.”

“Thank you. It was a good plan.”

Hawk said nothing, but his arms tensed around me.

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