Page 69 of Whispers of Ruin
“Let’s get you back under the protective barrier,” she said.
“No, I’m not retreating from this fight. Besides, I already feel better.”
She didn’t believe him, but before she could argue, the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. The whispers intensified, and judging by the tone of their insidious voices, they were arguing over something.
Some creatures tried to slip back into the trees, but more lightning pierced the night. It struck them dead while Ryker and the others worked to cut off more of the creatures’ escape.
The whispers grew louder, more frenzied, as the emaciated monsters became frantic to flee. Their nonsensical words were hysterical screeches nearly as painful as the screams.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the women ran to and fro as they sought a way out. Kaylia edged Brokk toward the barrier and glanced back at the few remaining witches who stood on the other side, ensuring that anyone who retreated to the bubble could return inside it.
They waved to her, but when she tried to move Brokk, his feet remained planted. “Brokk?—”
“Not until they’re all dead,” he vowed.
His stubbornness would get him killed, but though weakened, he was still too strong for her to budge. But it might not matter as the rays started dancing through the trees, the screeching whispers grew louder, and something started changing.
The sun had the monsters in a flutter of frenzied movements as they ran from Ryker’s men, the lightning, and the sun. Some appendages still shot out, but not as many because the women were… changing.
At first, she couldn’t quite believe it, but as the sun rose higher, she was more certain her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. The creatures actuallywerechanging.
They didn’t burst into flames and die like vampires in the sun’s rays. No, instead of becoming smaller and turning to ash, they were filling out and changing into something less monstrous.
They were also much easier to slaughter as what remained of them was taken out by the witches and Ryker’s men. When one of them ran toward her and Brokk, he pulled away before she could stop him and lunged at the creature.
His hands encircled the woman’s throat, cutting off her air as they tumbled to the ground and he brought her down beneath him. He pinned the woman to the earth with one hand on her throat while he brought the other one forward to place his sword against her neck.
When the blade pierced her skin, blood rose to bead on her pale flesh. The woman didn’t try to fight him off as he leaned over her; instead, she smiled a charming smile that would probably beguile many men.
Brokk’s lips curved into a sneer as he scowled down at the stunning woman beneath him. Despite how hideous the woman had been only minutes ago, Kaylia couldn’t find a single flaw in her delicate features or lush body.
What lay before them now was the exact opposite of the monster who existed only minutes before. Tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks from eyes so green they outshone an emerald.
Gone were the wild tufts of hair once framing her sunken face. In its place was a thick, black mane that shone in the sun.
As the last sounds of battle faded away, Kaylia looked around to discover another woman also remained. She was as beautiful as the first, with a shock of red hair that was more orange in the sun; it spilled down her back in a cascade of spiraling tendrils.
Ryker gripped the orange-haired woman by the neck as he held her above the ground and carried her over to them. The rest of his men and witches gathered closer as the protective barrier came down.
The bodies of the other creatures remained scattered through the woods. Most were caught in their decrepit state, but a few were trapped in a state between desiccated and lush. Only these two had transformed completely.
Gone were the lethal beasts, and in their place were two beauties seeking some way out of this. They didn’t have the same lethalness as their monstrous counterparts; if they did, Kaylia was certain those tongues would be lashing out at them, and their claws were gone.
Ryker shoved the orange-haired woman to the ground beside Brokk. Before the woman could rise, Ryker pointed the tip of his blade at her throat. She lifted her chin while tears streamed down her face.
“Please spare us,” the orange-haired woman pleaded. “We cannot help ourselves. We have no control over what we become.”
As she spoke, tears dripped off her chin. Somehow, the woman was still lovely while weeping so profusely.
Despite her tears and words, her hands roamed over her naked body, clasped her breasts, and moved in an enticing way that made it seem as if she were on the finest bed, instead of the ground with a sword pointing at her throat. Kaylia had no idea what the woman was doing or why… until she looked around.
While the woman moved seductively, Kaylia noticed those surrounding her became slack-jawed and their eyes glazed over. She felt the tug of something close to desire but couldn’t quite put her finger on it, and she didn’t feel anywhere near as enraptured as the rest of her group looked.
What the fuck?
Kaylia glanced toward the witches who had remained behind the barrier as they crept closer; one of them licked her lips. From her position, she couldn’t see Brokk’s face, but the woman behind him smiled as tears slid down her face and her hand slid between her legs.
Someone behind her issued a guttural groan that prickled her skin. Kaylia couldn’t look back; she was too scared of what she would see if she did.
