Page 62 of Destined to the Lycan
The strangest expression settled over his face as he stared at me with an intensity that affected me in a way that I couldn’t put into words. Whatever thoughts fueled it, I rather liked it.
“Iwillsave you, Amara. We didn’t come this far to fail now.”
He spoke those words like a pledge.
“If you’re trying to make me fall in love with you, you’re doing a fantastic job,” I said, deeply moved.
“Good. I’m keeping you, Amara. Nothing, not even death, will take you from me. You are my Twin Flame. I refuse to lose you now that I found you.”
“As I refuse to lose you,” I whispered.
He leaned forward and captured my lips in a kiss filled with hope, devotion, and determination.
We would not be defeated.
Chapter 14
Amara
With much trepidation, I let Remus carry me out of our shelter to the circle in the middle of the plateau. Despite feeling a little weak and weary, I could have walked on my own. But being held in his strong arms, surrounded by his warm body, and listening to the soothing sound of his heartbeat helped lessen my growing panic. Anyway, it could only benefit me to save as much of my energy as possible.
While waiting for nightfall, I forced myself to eat and drink a little. I would need those reserves to help me battle through the venomous bite I was about to request. The little voice at the back of my head was screeching for me to get the hell out of here. Reason told me I should comply, but my stark reality demanded I push forward.
I was dying.
If Ranael didn’t kill me, the poison coursing through my veins would do it in the next day or so. I was only grateful that I wasn’t on the ground writhing with excruciating pain. Accordingto Remus, the pain manifested itself while I slept. A wave of guilt washed over me at the thought of how, even at night. I’d deprived him of any proper rest by having him worrying over me while I tossed and turned in a feverish delirium.
He settled me down next to the circle then turned me to face him. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. No words came out, not that they were needed. His beautiful golden eyes said everything. I gave him a smile meant to be reassuring. The way my lips quivered, I miserably failed at it. I wrapped my arms around his waist, buried my face in his neck, and deeply inhaled his scent.
Remus reciprocated with a bone-crushing hug. I couldn’t say how long it lasted. My guess would be close to a minute, but my heart shouted that it had not been anywhere near long enough. With much reluctance, he released me, cupped my face with both hands, and gave me a deep kiss into which he poured all the affection and devotion he felt towards me. I answered in kind.
“I’ll be waiting nearby,” he said at last, his voice deep with repressed emotion.
“Okay.” I whispered, my throat almost too constricted to speak. “It should be over quickly.”
The deep pain that flashed over his face clawed at my heart. I flinched inwardly realizing how my words could be interpreted in a more ominous fashion. Before I could find a clever way to amend them, Remus gave my cheek one last caress then walked away to the position near our shelter we agreed he would stand watch from.
I stared at his receding back until he was but a few steps from his destination. Taking a fortifying breath, I stepped into the circle after making sure it had not been disturbed. I got on my knees in the center and began reciting the incantation the Weaver taught me while lighting the candles at each point of the pentagram inside the circle.
“Demon Wolf Ranael, son of Lord Marchosias, hear my cry! Oh fierce warrior from the Underworld, come to me, I summon thee! In my great time of need, I beseech thee, come forth and grant me the blessing of your protection.”
I repeated these words, or variations thereof, in a litany. Each time, my voice became steadier and more determined as I shed my fear and embraced the course of action I had embarked on. There would be no turning back. Either this succeeded or failed. But I wouldn’t allow the latter outcome to come to pass because I couldn’t rein in my emotions. The face of my soulmate floating in front of my mind’s eye further strengthened my resolve.
I had almost fallen into a trance when the distant sound of flapping wings finally reached my ears. My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to continue to repeat the summons, focusing this time on the protection part of my plea. A shiver ran down my spine when a long stream of fire shot through the sky. Had I not known that Ranael was a demon wolf, I would have assumed a dragon had just breathed fire. I blinked at the brightness it caused in the dark night sky, only otherwise illuminated by the fattening moon in a sea of stars.
Amazed by the majesty of the giant beast, I fell silent as he flew towards me. He was truly magnificent. Nearly the size of a horse, the wolf had the fluffiest and shiniest grayish brown fur with reddish highlights. The fur along his tail gradually faded into scales leading to the snake head. His feathered wings had an impressive span, and a set of horns adorned his forehead. His eyes glowed an angry red that should have terrified me. But it was the intelligence and the endless wisdom that shone within that retained my attention. Still, the hint of madness in his gaze also couldn’t be ignored.
He glided down the remaining distance to me before landing with the grace of a cat a couple of meters away from me. Plumesof smoke rose from his snout as he emitted a chuffing sound while advancing the few steps separating us. The corner of his mouth quirked up in a menacing snarl, baring a vicious set of fangs and the terrifying razor-sharp teeth filling his maw. He was visibly struggling to resist the urge to leap and maul me. I didn’t know if the magic circle deterred him, or if my protection summons was keeping his rabid side at bay.
“Who dares summon me?” he demanded in an imperious tone.
I shivered, and my skin erupted in goosebumps. For some reason, I had expected him to either take his human form or to speak telepathically to me. After all, Remus couldn’t speak while in his wolf form, so I assumed it would be the same with Ranael. And yet, his mouth hadn’t moved exactly, at least not the way a human’s did to form words. But there was no question I had heard his words through my ears and not inside my head.
His voice was deep, powerful, and like clapping thunder.
Shocked that I could even form words at all, I replied with a steadiness that took even me aback.
“I do, Lord Ranael. I invoke your protection and your aid in my time of need,” I said in a firm but deferent voice.
