The Silvia Saga: Boxset

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Dara

No, please don’t be dead. We can’t lose anyone else—not when we’re so close.

Alaric has got burn marks down the side of his right arm and along his cheek. They look terrible. I hold Kayla in my arms. Tears run down her cheeks, and she’s shaking uncontrollably. Blair kneels beside Alaric, checking him over. Alaric moves slightly, his eyes fluttering open. Blair leans back on his knees, offering me a nod. I sigh in relief.

“He’s going to be okay, Kayla, but you need to do me a favour, please?” Blair says, taking Kayla’s hand and pulling her a few steps away from me.

She wipes away her tears and nods.

“You need to get him back to our home and get help for him. He’ll be fine; he’s still with us. But you need to hurry.”

Kayla leans over Alaric, pulling him into a hug. Alaric’s eyes are now open, but he’s sickly pale with sweat running down his forehead. Harlan and Blair help Alaric up. He stands by himself but sways slightly. Kayla moves closer, letting Alaric rest his hand over her shoulder for support.

“Be safe and go straight home for help. The healers will heal him,” I say, pressing a light kiss on her cheek.

“Dara, do whatever it takes to bring that motherfucker down. I will see you back at home,” Kayla says, so sure of herself.

I offer her a tight smile. I know I will do everything I can to save Silvia, but honestly, I don’t know if I will make it out of this alive. But she wouldn’t go if she knew my doubts.

They leave, then I turn back around and find Jolie and Elijah walking toward us. I run over to them and pull Jolie in for a tight squeeze. She’s okay apart from some burn marks that are scattered over her arms. Elijah looks completely unharmed, which I am thankful for. Everyone’s fine so far but I have no idea where Oliver is.

“We need to keep moving. It’s about to get crazy here,” Harlan yells, taking a step around the corner of the castle.

We move past the burnt section of the castle where nothing but flames lick the remaining timber framework. We move around the castle. It looks untouched on the other side, and that’s when I see them, all lined up. The white catches my eye first then my heart starts beating at a million miles an hour. This is it—time to fight till death. Fight to get my Ruby in my hands.

I love you, Dara. Be safe. Blair’s voice fills my mind and I smile. I love you, too, and all of you. Let’s do this.

We charge forward toward the large group of about fifty slayers as one united unit just as a piercing roar fills the air. Oliver pounces out of nowhere, jumping on a group of five slayers and bringing them all down in one swift movement. His claws cut open their necks, drawing so much blood. My distraction costs me as a slayer crashes into me and brings me down to the ground. He lays a couple of punches into my stomach and head. Pain erupts all over me, and my ears ring. I finally snap out of it, laying into him with my fist, and he falls backwards, allowing me a split second to get up. He comes for me again and I quickly pull forth my magic, blasting it toward him. He drops down with a scream.

Jolie joins me. She gives me a tight nod, telling me she’s got my back for what’s ahead.

The guys attack the slayers one by one, and it’s a bloodbath. Two slayers come running at Jolie and me as we advance toward the castle. Jolie grasps my hand and I take a deep breath, pulling my magic within reach. I’m ready to knock some fuckers down.

Jolie squeezes my hand just as the slayers get within arm’s length. I let out a squeal, pushing my hands forward. Magic bubbles up through my chest and explodes from my wrists, hitting my target in the chest. He flies backward, landing a hundred metres away. I watch as his body lays still. Jolie screams my name, but I turn around too slowly, catching a glimpse of white before I fall to the ground. The slayer jumps on top of me, pinning my arms with his knees. I squirm around, trying to knock him off, but his hold is too strong. He lifts up his hands, and the glint of his metallic knife shines macabrely in the afternoon sun.

Fuck, I’m done for. He moves his hand down, slicing the knife against my neck. He pushes in, and blood trickles down my collarbone. My heart pumps hard and sweat moves over my cheeks. This can’t be how I die. I need my Ruby; she’s too close.

The slayer pulls back slightly, glancing around as if he’s nervous. Odd. I use his distraction to my advantage, lifting my hips up. He loses his balance and I push him off me, landing a hard kick into his nuts. He stumbles back, groaning and the knife falls to the ground.

Jumping onto my feet, I find all my warriors finishing off the slayers. Jolie’s up ahead, blasting her magic into three slayers. She looks like a beacon; her white-blonde hair is glowing with her purple magic. I run toward her and reach her side as she finishes the last one off.

“We need to get inside to find Ruby,” I say. Moving past her, I look back to the guys.

“Leave them to finish off the last of them. They’ll join us soon,” Jolie suggests as she takes my arm, pulling me toward the castle.

We move around the edge and stop as we reach the master bedroom’s courtyard. It looks untouched around this side.

Jolie places her hand on my shoulder.“I need to scope it out first to see what’s on the other side.”

She closes her eyes and leans down on her knees, touching the ground where purple magic flickers from her wrist for a second, then she’s back up.

“James isn’t in his headquarters and only four slayers are in the courtyard. Let’s go.” Jolie jumps up, catching the rail of the fencing that surrounds the courtyard. Looking back over my shoulder, I sigh in relief as I see my warriors and Elijah coming our way. I follow Jolie over the railing and onto the balcony. A fist smashes into my stomach just as my feet touch the ground. My breath catches in my throat as I stumble and quickly stop myself from falling to my arse.

I blast the slayer with an electric bolt. He drops to the ground, his body thrashing around. Jolie grunts as she unleashes her magic on three slayers, bringing them all to their knees. Fucking badass.

Harlan, Blair, Declan, and Elijah join us. Blair catches my gaze, and I notice the worry in his eyes. His brows are drawn together, and he’s constantly looking around. He’s back in the one place that haunts his dreams. I place my hand on his shoulder and give it a tight squeeze, trying to make him feel better. Oliver runs over, joining us outside James’s room. He’s still in his panther form. His blazing green eyes meet mine then move toward the door.

It’s time to enter the castle—my home. To take back what’s mine.