Page 102 of Commanding Flame and Shield
The others all sprinted for stairwells or jumped out of the room to their designated positions downstairs, and I kept my eyes trained on the demon. Only Alec remained by my side, his steady heartbeat like my anchor here as I lashed out.
I pitched my arms forward with all the force they had—one, two, three whips of fire cracked forward. The demon deflected the first two, but the third struck with a branding wound to his shoulder. Dark blood blossomed through his white button up and he hissed with the pain, quickly slipping his arms free of the black suit jacket, which crumpled on the floor.
Thoughts all fluid waves of hatred, pain, and malice, the demon stalked forward, dark power summoning to his outstretched fingers. He hesitated for only a second when I flashed him a cocky wink, mimicking Alec’s irreverence, and then threw up an enormous shield, shoving it forward. He barely leaned into the impact, unfazed, and Alec added his own barrier. Together, we pressed forward, and the demon set his hands against the wall, which sizzled and cracked against his flesh as he leaned into it, snarl on his lips, shoes screeching across the hard floor as they were forced forward. Chaos had erupted below us, and only the visions, and centuries of training kept my feet rooted to the ground beneath them.
At once, Alec and I released our shields, and the puppet stumbled forward. A sickening roar erupted in the basement, and I knew the tormentor beasts had been released. My stomach twisted. The timing had to be so exact to work. So, so exact. I hissed, and we both bared our teeth at the demon. I threw up one more shield to no avail and gave up on the telekinetic attacks.
Alec, recognizing where we were in the timeline, and who we faced, pulled on his water wielding, as flames erupted down my arms. Fear flashed across those onyx eyes before he schooled his expression back into that sneer. The tang of blood and adrenaline shoved itself up my nose. I knew that scent. That fear.
August.
Before I could process what it meant, a wave of black energy pulsed forward, pushing us back a step. Alec held a shield against the darkness, but he roared in pain that was not his own, the bond to his mate tugging on him like a noose. He bellowed, and we moved in unison. Alec threw his rope of water towards the demon’s feet, as fire roared from me in a wall. As the demon whirled to avoid the flames, he was pulled on the current of raging water, feet sliding out from under him. The instant he hit the floor, I threw wind and flame in a fiery tornado. The puppet had just rose to his feet when the fire storm wrapped around him. Too much energy draining to make a jump. Still pulsing my power towards him, I sprinted for the stairwell, ignoring the shriek of agony as the demon was burned alive. I shook off the familiar smell of charred flesh.
We took the stairs three at a time as we made the mad dash for our friends and coven, as the screaming demon was snuffed out. My power happily returned to the well in my chest as we rounded the corner onto the last landing. But that reunion was brief, as icy terror filled the air, chilled and palpable as we skidded to a stop on the long landing.
My heart plummeted.No, no, no.
Shit, shit, shit!Alec roared in his mind, as we took in the thread that had unwoven below our feet. Panic swelled in his chest.Adrastos?He demanded.
I gave one shake of my head and threw myself down the rest of the stairs.
So much worse in real life than the vision, the great beasts’ maws were stained with crimson. Hairless and the size of horses, the great blood wolves had already drawn lifeblood from our ranks. There was no pause to take in who wore their own blood and who wore another’s. Fae clutched her arm around her ribs, a long dagger in her free hand, blood spattered against her face as she snarled at an oncoming monster. The creature dove, and Alec blasted a cannon ball of a shield forward, knocking it backwards.
These tormentors, at least, could be manipulated telekinetically. Marcus, Jason and Damien were moving together, a well-oiled machine, to bring down a demon of their own. My eyes locked on August, whose daggers were both plunged into the chest of one beast, as another lunged for him. I threw a shield forward to collide with the enormous, gaunt blood wolf. The wall was just enough to push him away from his mark, but not enough to bring him down. My canines slid into place as the wolf turned to me, and I ran my tongue over the tip of one before snarling at the hairless demon. It licked its maw, eyes locked on a new target. It lunged.
The great pony-sized wolf soared forward, onyx eyes locked on me. I whirled, a new thread unraveling in my mind as I fought to stay present. Had to stay present, as the beast was above me, and my blade was plunging, angled up through his ribs to his heart. As the demon collapsed before my feet, another was upon me, gnashing its jagged teeth. A fierce wave of flames erupted from me, and the wolf yelped in pain as it skidded across the floor, engulfed in a bright orange inferno. The building was beginning to fill with smoke, the scream of fire alarms shattering through the rooms above us. Charred flesh grew thick in the air and washed horror into all the onlookers who had fled the building. A wave of icy darkness pulsed through the room, and I knew he was close. His anger palpable as he marched towards the source of the chaos. New threads sliced through me, sucking the remaining air from my lungs in a gasp that caused August, Alec, and Marcus to whirl to face me. Three sets of wide eyes met my own. True terror written there. One. We had one thread left where all of us left that basement alive.
You’ve got this. I reassured them. Just to Jason and Damien, I added,No matter what happens, you get your brother home to those babies. Do you understand me?Their assent was wordless, but I heard it, nonetheless.
The thoughts of the monster approaching us reached my mind. Not Adrastos. But someone close to him. Demonic charge sizzled through the walls as the giant man of Renown lumbered down the hallway. He hadn’t even emerged into the room when he threw his immense, dark power for August. So strong. Too strong. He knew exactly who was upon him.
Half a dozen visions flashed through my mind. Horror threatened to break my focus as I took the one path that would save us all. Holding my breath, I wrapped my shield around myself and leapt into the path of the fatal blow.
FORTY
BROTHERS OF RENOWN
AUGUST
Agony rippled through my side and arm, and I roared. Alvara’s horrible scream tore through me as she absorbed the impact of the giant’s dark blow. But I felt it…
Each terrible inch of pain as her bones cracked with the sheer power of it. His abominable power had cracked through her shield as though it didn’t exist. Through whatever bond had built between us, her pain became my own. That power was meant for me. Horror washed through my body. My heart seemed frozen in my chest, bile rising in my throat.
Despite the pain tearing her apart, Alvara’s mind was calm as the enormous man emerged from the hallway, taunting sneer across his cruel face, and empty obsidian eyes. There was cruelty etched in his very essence. The sheet of inky hair came down to his tattooed shoulders, and the monster wore only a grey tank and black denim pants. As though he were ordinary. He reeked of sin and blood, and...grief. His scent like pine and carrion. Desperation reared its ugly flame in my chest. Why wasn’t she lashing out? Why not strike with those phantom talons and claw into his mind? Was she so badly injured she couldn’t advance?
A humorless laugh, lower than even Marcus’ or Aren’s, rumbled through the room as the nearly gray skinned man took in Alvara, cradling her left arm against her body as she rose back to her feet in defiance. Her teeth gritted with the effort of it. Still, her energy was calm, giving off only the scent of pain, but not of fear. It was a fight against every instinct to not immediately go to her and pull her out of harm’s way.Follow the plan. I would follow the goddamned plan. Marcus and Alec did the same. Their bodies were also shaking with the discipline of it. The latter straining against the pull of his wounded mate behind us.
As her vision had shown, the monster leaned down to grip Alvara’s throat. She let the beast hoist her into the air, no more than a rag doll, onyx eyes meeting emerald on fire. Her mind flashed in strobes, and I realized she’d allowed the assault, to read him. Every inch of his mind and soul. Or at least as much of it as time allowed.
The great beast recoiled in recognition, dropping her back to the ground. But too late. She caught herself with a tiny whimper and smirked up at our enemy. Alvara pulled her shoulders back, despite the arm cradled to her chest, chin raised defiantly. Her smile grew, all teeth, and ferocious, drawn fangs.
“Hello, Agamemnon,” Alvara ground out through those clenched jaws. Her bravado was interrupted by the inability to draw breath. The blow or the drop had broken ribs. Alec filled in the gap, swaggering forward on her opposite side from me with a confidence I was sure he didn't feel.
“How kind of you to share your plan.” Alec chuckled. A cold, mirthless sound. “We’ve been wondering why our healers were falling.”
The briefest flash of surprise crossed the monster’s face, and then his expression tightened.
“It’s already in play, half-breed. There’s no stopping what’s coming for you.”
