Page 136 of Omega Sanctuary

I pushed harder, using the empty space Nikki created, but it wasn't going to work.

We were going to fail, and I would fail the men who swore to protect me.

Kivai came through the hole, his blond hair streaming behind him, riding on an elk.

I cried out with joy and reached out for him.

As he passed the men, he cut out with a staff.

It made impact, and Rune man fell backward.

"Now Zara, redirect," Kivai shouted.

I pulled all the magic around me, using Nikki and Rayth as strength, Asano as stability, and gathered all the magic.

It came to me easily, laughably so. If I hadn't struggled for months, I would have thought that there was nothing to it. I pushed out with my hands, crying out loud as the intensity of emotions threatened to take me with it: fear, and hate, and disgust, and hope, and love.

The world around me glowed gold. This must be what it was like to be the sun, filled with light, so much it spilling out of you.

Energy flowed from me in waves, throwing the men backward, pressing them to the ground. It burned, me and them, until I didn't know how to let go.

Kivai reached us and slide off the elk, wrapping an arm around me. "Stay here, keep her here," he panted.

Kivai's energy washed over me like a caress. My entire body shuddered, from my toes, my ankles, my legs, down my arms into my fingertips, over my belly and breasts, flowing through my hair.

"Kivai," I whispered.

Energy shifted inside me, burning hotter. I dug my fingers into Nikki's wrist, drawing on his energy, using Asano's to stabilize me until I cut off the magic and sealed the portal.

"Is anyone else seeing the glowing shaman dude that came from the portal, or is it just me?" Asano asked right before the world went black.

Iwoke up with great protest. Absolutely everything in my body hurt. I cracked an eyelid open, and the only thing keeping me from sinking back into darkness was seeing Asano's back facing me.

I scooted forward, burrowing my face into his neck. His heartbeat synced with mine, and I wrapped an arm around his waist, wanting comfort and touch more than anything.

Nikki put his arm around my waist. "Are you okay?" He was hoarse and groggy but warm behind me.

I nodded, even though my neck was stiff.

Asano stirred, and I felt it the moment he woke up. "Zara?" He rolled over to face me. "You okay?"

"Yes," I whispered. It was cool and dark in the room, and I wanted nothing more than to lay there forever. But I passed out at a bad time. "The novices okay?"

"Yeah," Nikki said. "The Royal Army came a few minutes after you passed out."

"You're sure you’re okay?" Asano shifted, his voice uncertain. "You were out for days."

"No wonder I'm starved."

"Good," Rayth said from the doorway, holding a tray.

"Rayth," I said, holding my hands out. I wanted him more than I wanted food.

Nikki started to move, but I looked at him. "No. Everyone stay. I want..."

I paused. I didn't know what I wanted. Only that everything felt like too much and I would have been happy here with them forever.

Rayth set the tray on the table and climbed into bed. His spicy scent flooded me, and desire hit me like an arrow. I shivered and pressed up against Nikki. He was hard behind me, and I writhed.

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