Page 143 of Crimson Promises
I paused behind a wide tree trunk, trying to focus on the bond to see if it could give me any advantage over where Ben was stalking me from. Suddenly, I felt drool dripping its way down my back. I whirled around, adrenaline flooding my veins. A cougar was crouched low on a branch, its muscles coiled and ready to strike. I knew I had seconds, maybe less, to act. I backed away slowly, trying not to provoke it, but the cougar had already set its sights on an appetizing meal tonight, and nothing but pure force or speed would get me out of this.
The animal leaped down gracefully from the branch I had the unfortunate luck to stumble beneath. It began to prowl, circling its prey. I mentally scrolled through the lesson Ben had instructed me on earlier. I knew there was no way I could outrun this beast.
I widened my stance and dug my heels into the ground. What I needed was a distraction, something to stun the creature long enough for me to try and get back to the clearing, where I would then dismantle Ben piece by piece by forcing me to participate in this horrendous exercise.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on the energy within me. I felt it surge through my body, a glowing, pulsing force. I willed my power to divide from one large beam into several smaller fractions. On the exhale I let it loose, several bursts of energy shot between the cat’s eyes and through its chest. It growled in protest, and its entire body shook.
The cougar backed up a few feet. This was my chance. I spun around and sprinted as fast as I could. My blood was hammering in my ears. I pumped my arms to try and increase my speed. The pounding of the animal’s paws was giving chase behind me. Coming. Closer. Closer. Closer.
I was the hunter, not the prey. I had to believe it.
A few feet ahead of me, I could see shimmers of the orb. Relief coursed through me. Almost there.
Staring at the clearing for too long cost me my face hit the hard compacted dirt. A tingling sensation spread from the nape of my neck down to the tips of my fingers, making them tremble with anticipation. I scrambled onto my hands and knees when pain ripped through my back. It felt like tiny needles were embedded in my back. I was wrenched forward, forced to lay face first again in the dirt.
I tried to cock my elbows to try and give myself some leverage, but the animal had me pressed to the ground with its paws, their weight insurmountable on my own.Half-angel, my ass.
The animal released a roar, its triumphant battle cry.
Flashes of my dad swirled in my mind. I could at least make peace with the fact that I’d see my mom again.
The cougar grasped my neck and shoulders with the front of its paws, the tips of its claws would sink into my skin at any moment.
That's when I heard the sound of wings beating above me. Ben.Took him long enough.
Ben landed between me and the cougar. His wings flared out to their entire span. The cougar snarled and lunged at the newfound threat to its meal, but Ben was faster. He dodged to the side, then leaped onto the cougar's back, his hands closing around its throat.
This was all his fault.
I watched out of the corner of my eye, mesmerized, as Ben fought for my life. He was unbelievably powerful, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as he struggled with the animal. He didn’t use one ounce of magic.
Finally, with a roar, Ben hurled the cougar away from us. The animal crashed into the tree and landed on the floor so hard that the ground beneath us shook.
Ben cautiously rolled me over, frowning at the claw marks the cougar had left on my skin.
Those wouldn’t stay there long.
Ben gave me a smirk. “Guess my plan worked then, didn’t it?”
* * *
Once we returned to the safety of the clearing, Ben went to sit on a log tucked beneath a veil of willow trees. “You were impressive back there.”
I stalked towards him. The entire walk back, I had been seething with rage. “All you have to say about that entire situation is that I was ‘impressive.’”
“I can provide you with other synonyms such as splendid, extraordinary, notable, superb, remarkable.”
“Not. The. Point.” I pursed my lips together. “You threw me into a situation where I could have been seriously harmed to try and draw out my magic. That is messed up, Ben. Not to mention, I have claw marks on my back!”
He folded himself over so he was gripping the soles of his shoes. His hair fell in his eyes. Usually, I would want to gently brush it away. Now, all I wanted to do was rip the hair follicles from their roots. I was sick of being dragged into situations without my consent.
“No, Aurora, that was exactly the point. A cougar is nothing compared to what Lucifer will be sending next. The magic you have suppressed for the majority of your life needs to have an outlet.” He walked to the outskirts of the clearing, where the light from the orb was still illuminated.
“None of that is through any fault of mine. I had questions, but you told me to ignore them and go about my life as usual.”
“I did say that.” He picked at a piece of rubber that was flaking off the bottom of his Docs. “Was that the right thing to do? Truthfully, I don’t know, but it was the best way I thought to protect you.”
He unfolded himself and scooted down the tree until his back rested against the trunk.
