Chapter 35 Sybil #2
The female in front of us turned her gaze on Vivi, her fingers turning black as her nails lengthened into long, sharp claws.
She lunged toward Vivi, her hand swinging toward Vivi’s middle when she twirled gracefully, ignoring Vivi completely, and shot toward me.
I raised my sword, meeting the female’s blow, the shock reverberating down my blade.
I stared, stunned, at the female, who frowned at my sword, as if she wasn’t expecting it to stop her.
The sharp sounds of metal clashing together rang out around me, but I fought the urge to look as the female met my gaze again, sneering.
She rushed forward, swinging toward my head, and I ducked out of the way.
The vampire snarled and gnashed her teeth together before vanishing into nothing.
My fear spiked, making my sword flicker, and I cursed under my breath.
I forced myself to focus, steadying my magic before the blade could disappear entirely.
Once my power was secure, I scanned the area around me, exhaustion crashing over me all at once.
Something wet dripped from my nose, and I brought my hand up, brushing my fingers against the warm liquid.
A smear of blood spread along my fingers, and I quickly wiped it off.
My body was reacting to the strain of using too much magic.
I needed to end this soon, before it got any worse.
Spinning around, I kept an eye out for the female while checking in on the others.
I couldn’t see Kieran or Ezra, but I could feel Kieran’s magic vibrating in the air as the wind picked up, and storm clouds loomed overhead.
Samian and Vivi were okay, Vivi holding her own while Samian had the vampire in front of him tangled in vines.
I pushed back my relief and turned to search for the vampire again, only to come face to face with her.
Gasping, I stumbled back when pain shot across my arm as she disappeared again.
Leaves crunched behind me, and I whirled, grunting as her blow landed.
Her nails clashed against my blade when she stabbed her other hand forward, but I fell away, dodging the attack, twisting as I swung my sword.
My blade caught her across the chest, causing the female to screech.
I winced; the sound was so loud and piercing that my ears rang.
The black veins along her face spread across her face, and she let out another shriek of rage, tackling me to the ground.
I cried out from the impact, my breath coming in sharp pants, my back aching from the painful landing.
The female’s claws tore through the front of my uniform, and I screamed.
Grabbing her wrists, I tried to push her away, but my strength was quickly failing, along with my magic.
I could feel her power sucking mine away.
Panic threatened to take over as my blood roared in my ears.
The female pushed down harder; her teeth coming closer to my neck.
My arms trembled from the exertion, and I yelled out as lightning struck close in the trees behind me.
I heard someone call my name, but I ignored it as I called what was left of my magic to me, forcing it to gather in my hands.
Sharp spikes shot through the female's wrists, and she shrieked while trying to pull away from me, but I held onto her, not allowing her to move. Bucking my hips, I pushed out my legs, throwing her off balance enough to roll on top of her. The spikes along my palm moved together, forming a dagger. The female’s eyes widened before I roared out, using all my strength and magic to shove the sharpened tip through her neck.
I felt the blade pierce her skin, the feel of her blood hot on my hands, staining them black.
I pushed back the nausea that rose while I watched her, my eyes wide in disbelief as she choked on her blood, the life slowly leaving her eyes.
I waited until I was entirely sure she was dead before falling back, my magic winking out as I gulped down large breaths.
My body shook uncontrollably, my muscles too weak to move.
Footsteps rushed toward me, and I turned my head in time to see Samian fall to his knees beside me.
His hands tore at my uniform to check my wounds, but I swatted him away.
“I’m fine,” I said, my voice sounding weak and tired.
“Sybil, you’re bleeding. I need to check your injuries to see if you’re okay.”
“I told you I’m fine,” I grunted, attempting to sit up. Samian cursed, but helped me up, his thumb brushing against my face to wipe the blood from my nose. “I’m good, I promise. Her claws just nicked me, and the rest is from using too much of my magic. But I’m okay. I swear I’m okay.”
Samian sighed, but nodded, his face hard.
I searched over him, finding nothing. He didn’t even look tired—the bastard.
A scream from another vampire sounded in the distance, and I looked, finding Ezra’s sword lodged in the female Vivi was fighting against. Vivi was bleeding on her side, but she seemed fine.
I looked around the clearing, finding the female Samian had fought, but her body looked odd and bloated.
There wasn’t any blood coating her skin.
The sound of a branch snapping pulled my attention away before I could think more of it, and Kieran came out behind some trees.
He had a cut along his left cheek and chest, but he was unharmed.
Relief swallowed me whole, and I tipped my head back.
I was so tired, but I couldn’t stop the smile that rose on my lips.
“I did it,” I breathed. “I was able to defend myself.” I slid my gaze to Kieran, who chuckled at the triumph in my voice.
“I’m still upset with you for not listening to me,” he growled playfully. “You and Amara are two fucking peas in a pod and will put me in an early grave.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” I laughed, but my heart clenched, filling with a fierce determination. With Solaris teaching me how to break this bargain, I refused to let fate take me away from my mates. I would do whatever it took to make sure it never happened.