Page 35 of Ashes

Mack stretches his arms out to his sides. Air swirls around him, whipping leaves up from the floor. I never knew he had an affinity too. I always thought he was just a shifter, but now it makes complete sense; he is exactly like air. Sometimes soothing, sometimes rough. Steady. Always there.

When I look at Kole, my blood runs cold. His fingers are splayed. His head tilted back. The trees in front of him shake. Leaves and branches quiver. The ground begins to rumble.

“Nova,” Nico pleads. “Let me go.”

I turn to him. Fire flashes in my eyes. I see it reflected in his.

“Please, let me go. If the Bureau finds me here, it’ll be worse for you. They’ll think you kidnapped me. Please, let me go.”

I stride slowly over to him. I watch him for a moment, then I turn and walk away.

By the time I reach the others, the lawn outside The Hollow is moving. Like there’s an ocean beneath it, trying to break free, it lifts and rises beneath my feet.

The lights in the trees grow closer. Dark figures appear in the undergrowth, staring out at us. I trip and steady myself as a huge tree root breaks free from the earth. At Luther’s side, I exchange a firm glance with him. He doesn’t tell me to leave. I look at his hands, then copy his stance and bring flames into mine.

“Tom, don’t do this,” Mack shouts into the trees.

“It’s too late for that, Mack,” a voice calls back. “Give up the girl. Then we’ll talk. I promise.”

Mack closes his eyes. “Sorry, Tom, I don’t trust your promises anymore.” He nods at the others. Then, before I realize what’s happening, all hell breaks loose.

* * *

Spells hurtle at us from the trees. Agents storm forward. Mack’s legs are clamped together with a restraining spell, but Luther breaks it, and Mack shifts. Now a huge white bear, he hurtles forward and swipes agents off their feet with his mammoth paws.

I copy Luther, throwing fire to meet spells, but then fire comes back at us in return. Three water mage agents hold hands and send a tsunami of water sweeping toward us. Tanner catches it, tries to stop it, but fails and is swept off his feet.

Turning to Tanner, Kole roars and opens a hole in the earth to swallow the water. His power is different. He’s trembling all over. He pulls roots from the earth, forming a barrier around us. Trees fall. The air swirls.

Above our heads, the incessant thunk-thunk-thunk of the chopper never stops.

Cocooned in Kole’s roots, Luther and I create a circle of fire so the five of us are completely enclosed.

“Mack, take Nova to the cabin.” Luther squeezes Mack’s arm. “We’ll hold them off here as long as we can then join you.”

Mack’s eyes flicker as he looks into Luther’s. “Be careful.”

“We will.” Luther turns to Kole. “Make an opening, let them out back.” Then to Tanner, “Can you do something with the river? Distract them?”

Tanner nods. Swiftly, he kisses my lips. I kiss him back, squeeze Kole’s hand. “I love you both.” Then, as something that sounds like an explosion rattles the earth, Kole opens a door in the roots so Mack and I can escape.

We round the corner of the house just as Tanner pulls a huge wave of water from the river and sends it hurtling toward the agents in the trees.

Mack shifts while he’s running. His clothes fall in shreds at his feet. He pauses, dips his head so I can climb onto Snow’s back, then keeps running.

Burying my hands in his fur, I hold on tight. I press my face into his shoulder, squeeze my thighs around his huge bulky body. He roars loudly. Something whizzes past us. A spell. Bright blue. Snow starts to limp. I look down and see a flash of blood on his leg.

“Snow, you’re hurt…” I move my arms forward toward his neck. He groans but doesn’t stop running.

By the time we reach the outskirts of town, he’s slowing down.

The noise of the chopper and the fighting is becoming distant. Snow huffs hard, struggling to catch his breath. “Stop,” I tell him. “Stop here.”

He does as I ask, and I slide down from his back. His leg is bleeding, the fur matted. Snow leans into my chest. He makes a noise that rattles through me. I press myself to him. “Can you keep moving?” I ask, stroking his face.

Snow dips his head to answer me.

“Okay, but I’m walking.” I tilt my head. “And I won’t take no for an answer.”

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