Page 19 of The Sacred and the Tormented

The wooden structure became cold and slick as power enveloped her body and soul.

She was elegant and beautiful and ready to tear down anything in her path.

Arianna watched the creatures approaching with renewed vigor. She let her magic lash out and dance before it solidified overhead forming into a dozen thick crystalized spears.

“Fire,” Rion roared the command. It echoed down the wall and magic came to life in a symphony of sounds and smells and colors.

Bow strings snapped and a barrage of arrows plunged into the tender flesh of the winged creatures. Vines and trees with sharp thorns ripped from the ground, snatching anythingin their path. Roots reached up to drag those unsuspecting into cold darkness.

Arianna kept battering them with ice and those with similar abilities did the same. She watched the jagged pieces tear through muscle and bone and pin others to ground while they were still alive.

They thrashed in pain and frustration.

They were doing it. With everyone working together, they were holding the line.

Ice and fire erupted from the enemy’s rear line and Arianna watched in horror as it came barreling toward them.

She threw up her arms, erecting a shield. Rion’s magic joined hers, as did others. Her mate wrapped one arm around her shoulders to hold her steady as the enemy’s flames and ice slammed into their own.

A resounding boom echoed from the impact and Arianna covered her face with her hands, half expecting her shield to shatter but it hadn’t so much as cracked.

She wished she could say the same for others.

Arianna’s gaze roamed over those who had fallen. Most were scrambling back to their feet. Some had minor injuries while others no longer moved.

She stared at a male body with an icicle through his chest.

Her breathing accelerated. Her hands trembled.

Dead.

Dead.

Dead.

How easily could it have been Talon or Raevina or Rion?

One second they’d been fine and the next—

Arianna glared toward the rear wall where the ice wielders stood. She swore they were smirking. Her cold gaze shifted to the ugly Dark Fae at their sides. Creatures that stoodon all fours, with thick bodies and flat noses. Molten fire dripped from their mouths full of pointed teeth.

The ice wielders pointed and it began all over again. Warriors and Dark Fae pitted their magic against one another in a match to the death. Everything was a kaleidoscope of colors taking form only to wink out again.

The Dark Fae kept advancing, coming closer and closer until they slammed their bodies against the wooden wall.

Arianna stumbled forward from the sheer force of the impact. Rion gripped the top of her arm hard and pulled her back, placing her body just behind his own.

She frantically searched for Talon and found him leaning over the edge, hand half outstretched in what looked like an attempt to catch someone.

The creatures below had already piled on top of the unfortunate soul.

She didn’t know if they were Fae, human or half-breed, but she recognized that scream of terror. The one that came right before death.

The series of noises that followed had her stomach turning. She saw a limb fly but couldn’t bring herself to turn away as the victim was devoured alive.

Gone in a matter of seconds.

The Dark Fae fought one another, pulling at scrapes of the body until there was nothing left.

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