Chapter 25 #2
A set of shining obsidian claws grasped on to my left arm, sharpened points tearing into the skin and muscle. I cried out against the burning tear of my flesh. The only thing that kept Starfire in my hand was my years of training. No one would take my sword.
The beast’s other paw reached up and sank into my side, tearing a second scream from my throat.
The three-inch-long nails sliced through the firm muscle of my obliques.
Dark spots clouded my vision. I tried to drag air into my lungs, nearly choking on smoke.
My body begged me to give in to the pain.
“Ophelia!” My friends’ screams sounded so far away, like they came from another place entirely. Here it was just me, the wolf, and the blinding slice of its claws.
The predator rose onto its hind legs, using my body to pull itself up. Each tug burned as it tore my skin further, the beast’s weight ripping into me. In a swooping motion, it pulled me from the saddle, throwing me to the sand.
Somewhere, Sapphire whinnied.
Pain echoed through my body. A thunderstorm of agony that reached every inch of my bones so deeply, I was sure it would destroy me.
No, I swore as I looked into the yellow eyes of the wolf looming over me. Menacing drool dripped from its jaw, closer every second, until those shining obsidian teeth were all I could see. No, I have come this far. I will not crumple.
A strangled roar of determination and anguish broke from me as I rolled toward the beast, cradling my injuries. It snapped its jaw open, aiming for my neck. The flash of shining ebony teeth would haunt me for centuries to come.
I drove my uninjured elbow into the wolf’s snout. The beast let out a stunned yelp, fading into an angry snarl. My fingers curled around Starfire’s hilt. But then, hooves slammed into the wolf’s side, forcing it back.
I breathed a ragged sigh of relief. With an unsteady motion, I dragged Starfire from the dirt and swung her over my body. She felt so heavy in my tired arms, but I swiped across the paw of the wolf—the only part I could reach. Blood splattered me.
As if one, the wolf and I both collapsed into the dirt.
For a moment, I breathed, watched the dust swirl above me, the roar of battle dull in my ears. Then, the air kissed the wounds to my arm and torso, stinging the damaged flesh. I wanted to scream, wanted to cry out against the searing pain.
Hooves pounded beside me, Sapphire’s worried blue eyes gazing down at me. She lowered her head, nudging me to get up. She’d been the only one able to reach me as the wolf attacked. She’d saved me.
“Thank you,” I whispered, dragging a hand down her nose.
But I didn’t have time for anything else.
Growls ripped through the air, weapons and grunts echoing.
My friends were screaming out to me, begging me to rise.
Before they became so distraught that the distraction got them killed, I pushed myself to my feet, leaning on Sapphire.
Holy fucking Spirits, the pain was unbearable.
Wrapping my good arm around my torso and applying pressure to the slices in my side, I somehow swung myself into the saddle, squeezing my thighs as my only source of stability. The world spun. Pain took over my body. Bright red blood seeped from me onto Sapphire’s white hide, and I cringed.
I chanced a look at my arm, the tangled mess of flesh and shining muscles nearly making me vomit. On my side, blood thickened beneath my palm, sticky and warm.
Please, whatever Angels and Spirits are watching, heal me quickly.
I forced my vision to focus on the battle that was still raging. We’d taken out nearly half of the wolves, but each that fell fueled their pack more.
Jezebel took out her last predator and broke away, galloping toward me, spear sheathed behind her back as she lay flat against Elektra.
“Stop!” I shouted over shaking breaths. It made my head spin, but I held up my hand as an explanation.
The sunlight glinted off my crimson fingers, and our eyes met, a thousand unsaid words between us.
Her face paled, devastation crumpling her delicate features: I was Cursed.
She could not approach while my blood flowed.
Her lips formed a tight line, but she nodded, turning on an attacking wolf with renewed ferocity. Enacting her revenge for what they did to me.
“There are too many of them,” Rina shouted, the use of her meager training against the beasts impressive.
Half of the wolves lay slumbering across the heated black sand, but there were still a dozen awake and hungry for our blood.
Their attack paused, and the world around me slowed. Horror tightened my chest as the pack worked with human-like determination, spreading out their ranks and forming a half circle around us. The silver hair on the backs of their necks raised, obsidian teeth snapping.
In the center of their formation, a wolf larger and darker than the rest nearly blended into the sand. It prowled on long, muscled legs, lifting its muzzle to the sky and howling. The others responded, flanking it protectively and echoing the sound.
My own pack’s movement mirrored the wolves, coming to my side. They didn’t bother to inquire after my injuries—they could see for themselves that I was not okay—but four pairs of eyes swept across my torn flesh and leathers. They knew that it would not stop me.
The yellow eyes of the central wolf narrowed at me, appraising an opponent, and I recognized the beast for what it was.
“That one.” My voice was low and strained, but I pointed with my blade, injured arm throbbing as I extended it. “That’s the leader. Take it out, and the rest follow.”
“They’ll never allow us near it,” Jezebel cautioned, eyes locked on the creature.
Before anyone could respond, Cypherion broke from our formation and charged. Not for the leader, but for the right flank of their semicircle. To where three wolves waited for him, hunger in their eyes and growls echoing from their snapping jaws.
The movement was so sudden that all of the wolves looked his way, shifting to where he rode toward certain death at their paws.
“Cypherion, no!” The shriek left my lips before I realized what was happening. Every part of me screamed.
I snapped Sapphire’s reins, and my friends launched into motion beside me. I willed my horse to fly over the earth. Move fast enough to catch him, to help him. Because there were too many wolves—even Cypherion Kastroff could not handle them alone.
But his eyes met mine, and I understood—he did not mean to defeat them. He rode toward those wolves knowing it was likely the last decision he ever made.
The leader, he told me with a flick of his gaze.
It is okay, his sharp nod said.
The determination in his bright blue eyes stilled my heart—not an ounce of fear lingered there.
He’d sacrifice himself for this. Provide a distraction to save us.
We all chased after him, but he barked, “Don’t waste it,” over his shoulder, and we froze.
No, Cypherion could not do this. He could not ride away from us. I would not stand another loss in my life.
But Cyph was fast atop Erini, and none of us would ever stop them in the race to those vicious claws. His sacrifice would be carried out, and I could not stop it. My hesitation would only risk the lives of the friends with us.
Giving into a moment of weakness, I squeezed my eyes shut, attempting to turn off my natural instinct to protect.
Adrenaline pumped through me, my body understanding what must be done, though my mind refused to accept it.
I shut down the reason in my brain, allowing my body to take control.
I hated myself for it, but I could not squander Cyph’s bravery.
I would not waste his sacrifice.
I pulled Sapphire back toward the volcano and turned my back on Cypherion, not watching what carnage came from his diversion. Tears streaked through the soot and blood coating my face, falling into the wind like it would carry them to him in a silent goodbye.
Sapphire and I charged the largest wolf, releasing every ounce of rage that flooded my veins at the thought of my friend giving himself to the pack. My inability to stop it.
My ruined arm pulsed with pain, my side matching it. My Cursed arm throbbed, the affliction a lightning bolt through my skin, but I ignored it all. It was nothing to the ache of Cypherion now tearing through my heart.
Sapphire took three long gallops and leaped into the air, soaring effortlessly over the massive form of the wolf leader.
A tormented scream harsher than a riling storm left my throat as I swung to the side.
My muscles…my wounds…every part of me echoed the roar as I fought with every ounce of strength I had left to stay on my horse, and brought Starfire down.
My blade connected, slicing true and strong across the alpha’s shoulder before the steady presence of Sapphire disappeared.
The last thing I saw as I tumbled to the earth was the body of the giant wolf crashing to the ground. I sighed in relief as my head connected with the earth and darkness swooped in.