Page 100 of The Starlight Savior

Conor nodded against her. “We’re almost there. Just keep walking.”

Saige tried, but fear gripped her stomach. Would the light of their shield or magic attract the beasts hidden beyond? The kingdom was aware the mist altered animals, but they always believed the wielders and mortals perished. They had no idea what could truly be lurking out there.

Dead branches and crumbling leaves shuffled to her left. Saige swore she heard the sound of feet dragging in tune with their own. Saige’s hip continued to merge with Conor’s as they walked in sync, quicker and quicker. The urge to retreat into her body and rely on Conor to get them safely home flooded her.

But she knew what she had signed up for. Agreed to.

“You need to be ready for anything,” he had said before they left his childhood manor. So she would be.

Saige took a step away from Conor’s side, senses trailing their surroundings. She couldn’t see past the mist, but the barrier around them didn’t block sound. There was something lurking in the foliage beyond.

“Quicker,” Saige demanded, breaking into a run. Conor had no choice but to follow with his barrier of magic. Saige risked crossing through the border of it multiple times, quickening their pace with each heavy breath. In the distance, two lights glowed. The archway to the manor. They were so close—

Crack.

The sound was louder, closer. Saige didn’t hesitate as she stretched her hands out to the left and summoned every bit of light accessible. Her body sang. White golden light flowed through her palms and past the barrier of Conor’s magic. It lit up their surroundings, the heat of her light setting the foliage aflame. The path was lined with large trees, their leaves crumbled and dead. Heavy branches hung low. Dead bushes and plants lit quickly as a blazing white wildfire traveled around them.

“Tonirus help me,” Conor murmured, eyes widened.

A pale and broken body leapt back from Saige’s flames. There were no clothes hanging off its body, but Saige could see it was similar to Sybil. But much larger. Taller and heavier set than even Conor. It retreated back into the distance and concealed itself, but she knew it would intercept them at some point.

Ten paces away, the path ended, greeting a large manor. The archway was tall, two beaming lights of enchanted magic glowing on each end. Using her magic, she lit the edges of the path with fiery balls of light. Each one exploded over dried brush.

“Good idea,” Conor said with a flash of a smile. Saige’s heart clenched at the sight. She never knew there would be a moment where she’d miss the cocky declarations of his joy. But the time spent in his childhood home had brought a side of him she didn’t know. Despair and defeat, a warrior with no clear direction.

Saige lit their way as brightly as she could.

As expected, the creature of the mist was trailing alongside them. It was quick. Something in the ancient curse seemed to alter their bodies in a way Saige couldn’t describe. She had minimal experience with combat and war, but she had seen Conor and Sebastien spar. Niana train. Etrane warriors in Brevil. Nothing moved as quickly as this beast.

A low moan echoed around them. A predator hunting its prey. She was sure there were minimal opportunities to feed when living in the mist and hoped there wasn’t more out there. Saige could fight off one maybe, but not multiple.

“Wait,” Saige murmured. “It’s trying to corner us.”

“What?” Conor sputtered, tripping over his steps. “We’re almost there!”

“The creature—”

Conor’s head swung to the side. “There’s another one?” The lightning around them dampened. He turned back to the path ahead, holding his hands up higher. “It doesn’t matter. We keep going. ”

They were so close to the entrance. Conor still needed to use his magic to break past whatever wards, but he swore he’d be able to do it once they were there. Saige’s heart thundered as they ran under the archway, the light bouncing off the barrier around them. Conor took the steps up the manor two at a time, causing Saige to keep up on his heels.

When they made it to the door, Conor immediately ran one hand over the edges, searching for something. His other hand barely upheld the shield. The patter of quick steps echoed behind Saige. She spun around to see the flash of the pale body creeping towards them from the right side of the front gardens.

“Bastard,” Saige hissed. She knew the thing was hunting them, attempting to corner them to take its kill. The thought of their intelligence sparked again, but Saige pushed it down. Keeping Conor and her alive was the only thing she should be thinking of.

With both palms open wide, her magic burst through the air and lit the dried grass on fire. The creature circled them, avoiding the flames that pummeled towards it. On all fours, it leapt into the air and onto the stone path where the fire couldn’t burn.

Cease it, she demanded her magic. Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of shimmering golden light between her and the creature. Its back was hunched over, knobs of spine protruding from its fleshy back. Black bile oozed from its sharp mouth. Edged nails dug into the stone steps below.

Saige allowed herself to gulp in deep breaths. She tried not to be too surprised at her capabilities. Despite the flash of confidence, there was a seed of doubt lodged in her.

You will fail.

It reminded her of every moment she had let herself and others down. But she hadn’t even had to think about ways to protect her and Conor. It just did it, as if in tune with every breath and thought in her body.

The creature’s black caverns were glued to hers as she retreated. But the protective barrier of her magic only went so far. The creature’s gaze darted back and forth, searching for an opening to slither through.

“Got it!” Conor said behind her, the sound of the door clicking open bringing joy to her ears. Saige turned to see the inside of the manor with golden lined furniture and marble flooring. Saige took a step inside, inhaling the smell of old dirt.