Page 77 of Tempting the Fae Lord
Petru shivers, hiding some distance behind her, eyes haunted. His scarlet magic hovers around him, and already a wolf pack, long since dead and rotten, shakes dirt off their fur and gallops into battle.
Willow doesn’t answer Sonja’s questions. She simply advances on her quarry while Farlowe’s magic cleaves a path for her and her troops.
I rush to their aid.
“You!” Sonja directs a burst of magic my way.
I dodge and unsheathe my knives. I can’t use magic without also hitting Farlowe, but Farlowe is struggling. Willow doesn’t seem to notice. She forges ahead while her mage is getting battered with dark magic. Wolves snap at the air around him.
I lunge between them, intent on giving Farlowe a break, but he falls before I make it. The soldiers nearest him keep the wolves at bay, but they don’t die. They keep coming back, teeth gnashing.
A tide of rage-fueled magic knocks Willow off her feet.
The soldiers fall like dominoes under the onslaught. Between Sonja’s magic and the damned wolves, progress is thwarted.
I throw my knives, aiming for her hands. They thud against her shields, useless. So I thrust a wallop of my magic instead. She staggers back a step but doesn’t go down.
Willow regains her footing and charges, sword raised.
Sonja calls for Petru’s help and takes off.
Petru drops to all fours, hands on the earth. The sizzle of dark magic crackles in the air. Bone calling magic. What else will he raise? I don’t want to know.
Out of nowhere, Gale crashes to his side. “Petru, don’t!”
But it’s too late. The earth stirs beneath our feet. Whatever lay dead beneath is now awakened.
“Gale, get to safety!” I yell, but the soldiers are already on their way. They descend upon the tangled pile of man and mage like an avalanche tearing down a mountain.
“Do not harm Gale!” I order loud enough to rattle their bones.
I don’t trust them with Gale. I don’t trust Petru with Gale. If I’m being honest, I don’t trust Gale with Gale.
But my duty demands I subdue Sonja, so I force my attention to the fleeing sorceress.
She’s doubled back, running toward her camp. With every bit of vampire speed, I give chase. The faster I subdue her, the faster I can check on Gale.
I’ve lost Willow and Farlowe in the fray. If they’re in pursuit, I don’t hear them.
Nothing is going to plan. But that’s fine. It’ll be me and her, and I’m done with losing.
“Surrender,” I yell, “and I shall spare your life.”
Her cackling laughter grates on my ears. “You first, Gatekeeper, and maybe I’ll spare your little pet.”
We stare at each other over the ashes from their campfire, two predators circling.
I have it with her. My hands buzz with unspent magic. I take aim and fling a burst at her chest, careful not to make it a killing blow. The plan. Remember the plan. Take her alive.
Her eyes burn silver. She absorbs the blow and sends one back. A bolt of light slashes toward me. I leap and roll away.
With a flick of my wrist, I beckon the creek water and send it rushing at her.
The first wave knocks her off her feet, but she’s ready for the second. Her shields crash down around her.
But they don’t stop there, ensnaring me in her damned magical prison.
In the distance, Gale cries out in pain.
