Page 208 of Unbound

I can't move. I can't process what's just happened. The dead windborne lies at my feet. Her blood covers me, staining me with the visceral knowledge of what I've just done.

Rain sluices over me, somehow failing to clean the blood from my hands as I stare at what I’ve done. My hands tremble, my vision blurring at the edges. Too much power. I've drawn in too much.

"You'll pay for that with your life," the male windborne hisses, his voice cutting through the storm.

I only have moments left.

Before he can reach me, Typhon's roar shatters the air—not the sound of a mere elemental but the primal scream of an ancient being whose patience has finally snapped.

The ancient water dragon abandons all pretense of restraint. His form swells, blue magic drifting from his body like steam as his scales gleam brighter with blue-white intensity. His wings extend to their full span, casting shadows even through the downpour.

"ENOUGH!"Typhon's voice thunders aloud for all to hear."YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER."

Lightning splits the sky as Typhon launches himself at the windborne's elemental. Not the careful, measured combat of before, but an unleashing of raw, ancient power. Water magic explodes from his jaws in a torrent that would put a hurricane to shame, cutting through the air elemental like a blade through mist.

The attack makes the windborne turn and take notice, forgetting me as his elemental fights for survival.

The elemental tries to reform, but Typhon doesn't give it a chance. He gathers his massive body, then slams down with such force that the ground shudders. Water essence radiates outward in concentric rings, disrupting the very magic that holds the elemental together.

The windborne falters, clearly shocked at facing the unrestrained might of an ancient. His elemental dissolves completely under Typhon's assault, wisps of air magic scattering in the wind.

"Impossible," the windborne breathes, backing away.

Typhon's answer is another devastating attack, his claws slashing through air and rain to pin the windborne to the mud. The assassin uses some kind of air magic to free himself, barely dragging himself out of Typhon’s grip. But Typhon is prowling toward him, deadly and terrible.

As Typhon holds the windborne’s attention, I see Raith's form materializing through the rain. His eyes catch the lightning as he moves with predator's silence behind the distracted windborne. In one smooth motion, he draws his blade across the assassin's throat.

Blood mingles with the rain as the windborne's body goes limp. Again, no stasis. Just death.

I feel relief, but it’s only temporary.

The power I've drawn is too much, burning through me like wildfire. My legs give way beneath me as my vision narrows to pinpricks.

"Nessa!" Raith's voice reaches me as if from underwater.

I sense Raith rushing toward me.

Typhon’s massive form curls protectively above me, sheltering me from the rain.

Lightning flashes once more, illuminating the battlefield in stark relief. Thunder crashes so loudly it seems to shake the world itself.

Then darkness swallows me whole as I collapse into the mud.

Through the tether, I feel Raith's panic as my consciousness fades.

"Nessa!" His voice sounds so far away, drowned out by the pounding rain and rumbling thunder. And then nothing.

39

RAITH

"Nessa!"

I watch her collapse into the mud, her body crumpling like a marionette with cut strings. Through our tether, I feel her consciousness slip away—not the sudden flash of stasis, but something deeper, more dangerous. A void where her vibrant presence should be.

The windborne's body lies motionless beside her, throat cut clean through, his blood mixing with the rain and mud. A necessary death. One I don't regret.

Typhon shudders, his massive form retracting slightly as the strain of unleashing his true power takes its toll. Blue essence still leaks from wounds across his scales, but the ancient water dragon curls protectively around Nessa's unconscious form, wings forming a canopy against the relentless downpour. His teeth are bared and sapphire magic seeps from between them, as if warning off any who would dare get close.

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