Page 111 of The Blood Moon Oath

“Stay light on your feet. He’s stronger, but you’re faster.”

Rothgar presses the attack, his strikes wild but heavy. I duck and weave, using the natural terrain of the ring to my advantage. Rocks and roots jut out of the ground, and I use them to trip him up, forcing him to adjust his footing.

Then his magic shifts. A burst of flame erupts from his hands, licking toward me with deadly intent. My instincts scream at me to run, but Finn’s voice cuts through the noise.

“Your powers, Sable. Use them. Feel the fire, don’t fear it.”

I grit my teeth and extend my hand, focusing on the heat radiating toward me. The flame wavers, then splits, parting around me like water around a stone. The crowd gasps, the air buzzing with disbelief. Even Rothgar falters for a moment, his confidence cracking.

“That’s it,”Finn encourages.“Now push back.”

I channel the energy, redirecting the flames toward him. They spiral in a controlled arc, slamming into his chest and sending him sprawling. He scrambles to his feet, his snarl more feral now.

Before he can recover, Torin’s voice booms from the edge of the ring. “You’ve had your fun, kitten. Now it’s our turn.”

Kael and Torin step into the ring, their presence a wall of strength that bolsters me.

“You’re not alone,” Kael says, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You never will be.”

The three of us fall into a rhythm, a deadly dance that leaves Rothgar scrambling to keep up. Finn’s voice guides us, slipping into our minds like a thread weaving us together.

“Kael, flank left. Torin, keep him off balance. Sable, hit him where he’s weakest.”

Rothgar’s magic flares wildly, desperation seeping into his movements like poison. Fire erupts from his palms, swirling violently before morphing into a gust of icy shards that cutthrough the air with lethal intent. Wind howls around us, whipping dirt and debris into a storm meant to disorient and destroy. It’s chaos—raw, unfiltered power—but I don’t feel fear. Not anymore.

Through the bond, I can feel them—Kael, Torin, and Finn—all of them, their strength thrumming in perfect harmony with mine. The connection between us is no longer jagged or strained. It’s smooth, seamless, like the pieces of a puzzle finally locking into place. Each of them is there, unwavering, and for the first time, I understand what it means to fight as one.

Torin’s presence is a steady drumbeat in my mind, wild and unyielding. He moves with brutal precision, his blade slicing through Rothgar’s defenses like they’re nothing. I feel his exhilaration, the primal joy he takes in the fight, and it surges through me, making my heart race.

Kael is a wall of icy resolve, his magic a shield that absorbs Rothgar’s relentless attacks. He’s focused, every movement calculated, his mind a fortress of calm determination. Through our bond, I can feel his resolve bleeding into me, bolstering my own.

And Finn—though he’s not in the ring, his presence is just as strong. His voice threads into my mind, smooth and commanding, directing us with the clarity of a master strategist.“Torin, keep the pressure on. Sable, pivot left. Kael, close the gap.”His guidance weaves through our bond, pulling us tighter together, making us unstoppable.

Rothgar hurls another burst of fire, but Kael deflects it with a sweep of his hand, the flames dissipating into harmless sparks. Torin lunges forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly intent. Rothgar stumbles back, his magic faltering, and I see my opening.

I dart in, quick and sharp, my blade catching him acrossthe side. Blood blooms against his tunic, and I feel his pain through the bond, a sharp, satisfying pulse. He’s weakening. The rhythm between us—Kael, Torin, Finn, and me—becomes a symphony, each of us playing our part to perfection.

For the first time, I can revel in their strength without hesitation. Their power doesn’t overshadow mine; it complements it. I feel Kael’s cool focus, Torin’s unrelenting ferocity, and Finn’s calculating mind, all flowing through me as if they were my own. And in return, I know they can feel me—my determination, my grit, my refusal to back down.

Rothgar staggers, his breath ragged, his magic flickering like a dying flame. Torin presses forward, his blade a blur of lethal intent, while Kael holds the line, his magic creating a barrier that forces Rothgar into a corner.

“Finish this, Sable,”Finn’s voice slides into my mind, steady and sure.“This is your moment. Show them your strength.”

I step forward, power surging through me like a tidal wave. Rothgar tries to throw one last burst of magic, but I feel it before it even forms, twisting it back on him with a flick of my hand. The energy slams into his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.

He looks up at me, fear flickering in his eyes for the first time. The crowd falls silent as I approach, my steps deliberate, my blade glinting in the torchlight. Through the bond, I feel Kael’s pride, Torin’s exhilaration, and Finn’s unwavering support. They’re with me, every step of the way.

I press my foot harder against Rothgar’s chest, pinning him down as he struggles beneath me. His own blade feels heavy in my hand, its sharp edge gleaming with finality. The crowd holds its breath, the silence almost deafening as I lower the blade to his throat.

“This is your champion?” I call out, my voice sharp and cutting through the stillness. “This is the man who thought he could take everything from us? From me?”

The warlocks surrounding the arena erupt into cheers, a deafening roar that shakes the trees and echoes into the night. I glance back at Kael and Torin, their faces bloodied but alive, their pride surging through the bond like a flame that warms me from the inside.

But this isn’t enough. Rothgar isn’t defeated until I make him so.

I tighten my grip on the blade, feeling the balance of it, the weight of the moment. Rothgar glares up at me, his teeth bared in defiance, but there’s fear in his eyes. He knows what’s coming. He just doesn’t have the strength to stop it.

“For everything you’ve done,” I whisper, my voice low enough that only he can hear. “For the lives you’ve taken, the pain you’ve caused, and the fear you tried to sow—you don’t get to walk away.”

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