Page 86 of Fate Promised

They crouched under a tree and scanned the clearing in the cliff near where the staircase once appeared. The scorched circle now bubbled with green smoke, but in the rain, it hissed and didn’t rise far into the air.

“I think that bird is trying to help us,” Triska said.

Hans pointed.

They’d discussed Juri’s role earlier. He wanted to help destroy Hoyt, but Hans pointed out that Juri didn’t have a vulk’s immunity, or claws, any longer, and he’d be best suited guarding Triska.

Staying behind made him burn inside.

When he was ten, he’d learned he was a vulk. There was no choice involved. At twenty, he’d turned into his permanent form whether he wanted to or not. All these years, he’d accepted it, although he’d kept one part of himself behind, in Ryba. He’d always been proud of being a vulk, and his pack was his new family, but late at night, when he was alone in his den without Triska, without the rest of his family in Ryba … he’d yearned for that life.

Now he was no longer a vulk.

His shoulders set as he gazed through the trees at the cliffs beyond. No. That wasn’t true. He knew exactly who he was. He was a vulk who didn’t believe the vulk walked alone. His claws, his strength, were there to protect Ulterra but also to protect those he loved. Back when he was twenty and his mother was injured, he hadn’t understood that. Or maybe it wasn’t until this exact moment that he truly understood what it meant to be a vulk.

He wanted his true form back. And he wanted Triska.

Fergal shuffled through the underbrush to join them. “I’ve taken out Hoyt’s spell dampening the magic on the island.” The magicwielder’s face was red and sweaty, and he panted. Was he going to be all right? Fergal continued, “Since the necromancers will think the island is still dampening their magic, it will give us an initial advantage. The more you can surprise them and get rid of them, the less magic Hazel and I have to perform. I need as much as possible for later.” He glanced at Triska.

“Hoyt should run out of magic too, right?” Juri asked. “If we don’t surprise him and take him out right away, he’ll run out, won’t he?”

Fergal nodded. “Yes, he will if we don’t allow him to perform any spells where he siphons magic off anyone else. It’s best we destroy him as quickly as possible.”

Hans stood. “Then let’s go.”

As one, the vulk surged forward. Juri remained in the trees with Triska, watching.

Finn and Kyril peeled off to the far side of the cliff with Hazel behind them, and Hans and Fergal circled in the other direction. Hoyt sat by his fire huddled over his lap again, and spotted them first. He leaped to his feet. “Vulk!”

A flash of white light zipped from Fergal’s hand directly at Hoyt. In a sea of sparks, the blast hit Hoyt in the stomach. The necromancer fell backward into his tent, the sticks and scrap of fabric toppling on top of him.

The collapsed tent lit up in emerald flames. “Did Fergal do that?” he asked Triska. Another necromancer yelled and leaped towards Hoyt. Hans whirled and the two locked into combat.

She shook her head. “No.” Juri pulled her back farther into the shadows of the tree.

Hoyt stood, kicking a stick out of his way. He raised his arms, and green flames licked over his skin as he turned to Fergal.

“What the hell is that? Why isn’t he burning?”

Triska clutched his arm. “I don’t know.”

Hoyt’s voice boomed across the cliffs. “Dean Abernathy, what a delight. Oh, excuse me, you aren’t the dean anymore.” The surrounding flames blazed up toward the sky. “As you can see, I have more skill than I did back when you taught me.”

Fergal’s expression didn’t change. “Would we consider necromancy a skill? I’m afraid I’ve thought of it more as dabbling in death.”

Hoyt palmed another ball of magic. “I studied things others didn’t dare.” The necromancer had to be depleting his magic stores, but he didn’t appear fazed.

“I don’t remember you being much of a student.” Fergal sent another arrow of silvery light at Hoyt.

Hoyt grinned and tossed the ball of light. When Fergal’s arrow hit it, the fire encasing Hoyt exploded. A boom shook the trees, and a tide of flame burst across the cliffs.

Juri flung himself to the ground on top of Triska as the plume soared toward him. It scorched over his bare back, leaving a blistering trail. He raised his head. The vulk and Hazel flew backward toward the trees, and across from him, Fergal landed on the bare rock in a fiery heap. He didn’t get up.

Juri leaped to his feet and helped Triska to stand next to him. She let out a cry of dismay. “We need to help!”

“I’m going after Hoyt. Don’t go out there.” They locked gazes. “Don’t go out there,” he repeated.

She shook her head. “I’m going to go help Fergal.”

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