Page 17 of Bound in Flames

Dex sprang forward. His sword flashed with a deadly gleam as he intercepted the creature mid-leap. The impact was thunderous, sending him skidding back, boots digging into the dirt to hold his ground. Twisting his blade, he carved into the beast’s flank, spilling a spray of dark, viscous blood onto the forest floor. The metallic tang hit the back of my throat.

The creature’s roars shook the air, a guttural sound that vibrated in my bones. I stumbled backward, my feet tangling in the underbrush. Dex moved with lethal precision, his swing controlled and calculated, but the beast was a relentless force. Its massive claws lashed out, tearing through his arm in a blur of motion, leaving deep, jagged gashes in their wake. His groan of pain escaped through clenched teeth.

He dodged the creature’s next strike, rolling sharply to the side as its claws tore through the air just inches from his chest. With a fierce growl, Dex surged forward, his blade carving a deep, jagged line across its stomach. A spray of dark blood splattered the ground. The creature twisted with a guttural snarl, its massive paw slamming into Dex, the impact launching him backward and into a tree with a bone-rattling thud. He hit the ground hard, and my breath hitched as he lay still. Then, with a growl of effort, he pushed himself up, his jaw tight and eyes blazing with determination. He squared his shoulders, already moving back to engage the beast.

The Shadow Hound’s glowing red eyes shifted to me, its lips pulling back to reveal jagged teeth dripping with saliva. My body was rigid as it began to move, slow and deliberate as it stalked me.Dex would never reach me in time.Panic surged within me, making my knees weak, and my magic responded, a chaotic hum that built into a deafening roar in my mind.

“Cleo!” Dex’s voice tore through the haze, “Pull on your magic!”

My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms as I fought to keep control. The ground beneath me seemed to thrum with life, a pulse of energy that wasn’t entirely my own. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I reached for it.

The earth answered with a violent tremor. Roots exploded from the soil like a living trap, twisting and writhing with a predatory intent. The wolf launched at me with a demonic speed, but my instinctual magic was faster. The roots wrapped around one of its legs mid-air, yanking it down with a shuddering crash that reverberated through the clearing, sending a cascade of leaves and twigs raining down from above. The creature let out a pained snarl, its massive frame writhing as it struggled against the bonds. My desperation fed the magic. It was overwhelming, hot, and burning through me like liquid fire. It tasted bitter onmy tongue, as if the very essence of fear was forcing its way out of me. An icy-hot sensation coursed through my veins, spreading to my fingertips in waves. I pushed the power outward. More roots surged upward, coiling tightly around the beast, pinning its legs and forcing its body into a grotesque sprawl. The sharp edges of the roots dug deep, slicing into its flesh and popping joints with a sickening series of cracks. The Shadow Hound thrashed and roared. Its glowing red eyes were wild with fury, but the roots only tightened, holding it in a vice-like grip that left it helpless.

Dex seized the opportunity and lunged with a roar, his blade slicing through the air. The weapon sank deep into the creature’s neck, blood spraying as the Shadow Hound let out a final, gurgling snarl. Its massive body convulsed, shuddering one last time before collapsing in a heap, its weight crashing into the earth. The oppressive tension that had gripped the forest lifted abruptly, leaving behind a suffocating silence punctuated only by my ragged breaths.

I stood, frozen, my chest heaving as the magic within me slowly receded, leaving a hollow ache in its wake that made my entire body tremble. A faint silvery-green glow lingered at my fingertips, shimmering softly before fading back into me, as though the magic itself was retreating to some hidden well deep inside. The roots entangling the creature’s lifeless form slowly unwound, retreating back into the soil as if they had never existed. My hands shook as I took a calming breaths, trying to find my center. The sight of the bloodied ground and the mangled remains of the beast left me cold, but the weight of what I had done—what I was capable of—pressed on me.

Dex turned to me, his broad shoulders heaving with each labored breath, sweat glistening on his flushed skin. The deep gash along his massive arm bled steadily, the crimson streaks trailing down to his fingertips before dripping onto the forestfloor. His sword still dripped with unnatural dark blood, and the droplets stained the path beneath him. His golden eyes locked on mine, their intensity undimmed despite the strain etched into his features. “You saved yourself, little shaman.”

Tears stung my eyes as I shook my head.“I didn’t control it,” I whispered, each syllable trembling. “It just… happened.”

Taking another step closer, Dex’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, the warmth of his touch grounding me in a way I desperately needed. “Breathe. The magic is part of you,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “It answers to your emotions, yes, but control takes time. You’ll learn.”

His words settled over me like a balm, soothing the raw edges of my panic. I looked up at him, searching for any trace of doubt or fear, but all I saw was determination—an unwavering belief that I could rise to meet this challenge. It was a lifeline I hadn’t known I needed, anchoring me against the chaos that still swirled inside.

“We need to move.” His voice was gentler now, though no less resolute. “More will come, drawn by the scent of blood. The hunting party cannot be too far."

I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. A small spark of resolve began to flicker within me. If this magic was mine, I would master it. I would control it.

And I would never let it control me again.

Chapter 9

Dex

The creature’s body lay twisted and still, its blood pooling on the forest floor, soaking into the earth like it belonged there. I couldn’t tear my eyes from Cleo. She stood a few paces away, hands trembling and breath coming in uneven gasps. The faint silver-green glow that had danced at her fingertips had faded, but I could still feel it. A lingering pulse of magic that clung to her like a second skin.

Her magic was raw and terrifyingly powerful. It had ripped through the clearing wildly, yet devastatingly precise in its destruction. The sheer force of it made the air hum, answering her fear with a savage intent that sent a chill through me. I had seen powerful shamans before, but this—this was different. Stronger than I’d ever expected from a human. Stronger than even she realized. And that frightened me. Not because of what she’d done, but because of what she could become.

Her red curls caught the light, a stark contrast to the silvery glow of her power. It was impossible to ignore how much she matched the prophecy’s description. A shaman with untold strength, born to shift the balance of this world. But this… this well of magic was unlike anything I had ever seen. The fact that she was untrained and still alive spoke volumes to her potential,and the danger she posed. Not because of what it had done to the Shadow Hound—it deserved its fate—but because of what it had nearly done to her. Magic of this level was exceptionally dangerous. Beneath my fears, a spark of eagerness burned. If this power could be harnessed, if she could learn control, she might be exactly what my clan needed.

Wiping my blade clean, I sheathed it with care. Cleo hadn’t moved since the fight had ended. Her wide green eyes were locked on her hands as if they belonged to someone else, and her body trembled with the weight of what she’d unleashed. There was something almost ethereal about her in this moment.

“Cleo.” My voice was low but sharp enough to snap her out of her daze. Her gaze jerked to mine, those wide eyes glimmering with unshed tears. I hated the way her lips trembled, hated the vulnerability she showed, and hated how much I wanted to take it away.

My chest tightened as I stared at her, and I knew I should look away, should focus on the dangers surrounding us. But I couldn’t. My eyes betrayed me, dragging over her face, lingering on the delicate pout of her lips, then lower, tracing the curve of her throat and the way her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths. She was a contradiction—fragile and defiant, vulnerable yet impossibly strong. It was maddening.

A slow heat coiled low in my stomach. How could this human, so different from everything I’d known, command my attention so completely? I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze back to her eyes, but the pull didn’t ease. I wanted to touch her, to feel her softness beneath my hands, to chase away that flicker of fear and replace it with something warmer, something that belonged to me.

The realization hit me like a blow. Gods, I wanted toclaimher. Not just for her power, but forher. Now wasn’t the time tothink on this feral attraction between us. I had a clan to protect. A war to win.

She blinked at me, then looked away as if afraid of what she might see in my eyes, her voice a broken whisper. “I didn’t control it... it just happened.”

I closed the distance in a few long strides. Without thinking, I reached out and gripping her arm, grounding her. Slowly, her breathing steadied, and the tremble in her hands eased, but I could still see the shadow of fear lurking in her expression, the uncertainty that came with knowing her own power.

She nodded, but just as I turned to go, her hand brushed against my arm, stopping me. “Wait,” she said softly. “Your shoulder… you’re hurt.”

I glanced down at my shoulder, the sluggish trickle of blood oozing from the ragged edges catching my eye. Luckily, it wasn’t deep. I’d felt the sting earlier but shoved it aside, the rush of adrenaline masking the worst of the pain. Now that the fight was over, the ache crept in, sharp and persistent. “It’s nothing,” I muttered, brushing it off with a shake of my head. “I’ve had worse.”

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