Chapter 28 Thorne #2
I snarl. Drowning in the vision that flashes before me, just like it did on Elodie's first day.
Elodie hisses as Willow’s claws cut across her chest.
Over my dead body does she get to lay another finger on my girl.
Trudging toward them, my muscles clench as I wind my thick, black smoke around the pair of them, ensuring Elodie remains untouched, a beacon in the darkness, channeling all of my anger and rage at Willow. I'm ready to bring her to her knees so Elodie can finally finish her off.
I'm done with this bullshit.
I'm done with the danger.
But before I can make good on my promise, I'm impacted from the right. Knocked clean off my feet and landing with a thud. I snarl, scrambling to stand, only to find Tiran with his full vampire senses activated. His teeth are elongated, his eyes black, and his senses heightened. He’s ready to charge at me again.
I crack my neck from side to side, prepped for him, but I realize a moment too late that I'm not the target of his anger.
Elodie is.
Willow growls, shifting into full wolf form as Elodie clambers to her feet, eyes fixated on the wolf before her, unprepared for the vampire approaching from behind.
“Elodie!” I snarl once again, rage vibrating in my throat as I charge toward them.
My girl takes my warning, turning just in time as Tiran approaches. Her palms slam instinctively against his chest, and I watch as her magic unfolds, dropping him to his knees and weakening his strength as she gains it for herself in one swift move.
Her chest heaves with every breath as blood pours from the open wounds, but it seems they’re not done yet.
Willow launches through the air, and I jump at the same time, aiming for the space between her and Elodie. I make it moments before they collide, and the two of us hit the dirt with a thud. She snaps and snarls in my face, drool dripping down my cheeks as I tug at my shadow magic.
It pulses through my veins, coiling visibly around my arms before it takes aim at her.
My intentions are clear, my anger fueled by the protective instincts I have for my Echo, and I watch as my shadows infiltrate Willow’s body. They shoot up her snout, in her ears, and shadow the amber of her wolf eyes as she whimpers and howls in discomfort.
Falling to my side, on the cusp of death, I’m ready to be the one to take her life, but Elodie cries out from behind.
I let go instantly, rolling to my feet in panic, completely aware she's not yet dead, but disarmed enough for me to see what is causing Elodie such discomfort.
My girl is on her knees before Tiran, his vampire abilities appearing on her instead of him. Her eyes are black and her teeth elongated as her heart races a thousand times a minute.
Her distress isn’t coming from him; it’s coming from herself.
She can't make it stop.
She's taking all of his energy and her body is either fighting against storing it or there's just not enough room for it to hold so much.
Panicked, I do the only thing I can think of.
Darting at the pair of them, I knock them both to the ground, sending them toppling into the grass beside the path.
One of Elodie’s hands remains on Tiran as she whimpers, and I quickly drop to my knees beside her as I bring the other to the soil beside her.
Her fingers splay as she touches the earth and her hysteria quickly melts away.
Despite the shift, her magic continues to funnel from Tiran to the grass beside her, which grows like wildfire.
She's a vessel, more than just a scythe, but she can't stop.
I don't know how to help her, which leaves only one other choice: end the source.
My lip curls in anger as I accept the challenge without question, rising to my feet swiftly before cutting the two steps toward Tiran as he lies on his side on the grass. His cheeks are gaunt and his eyes are hollowed out.
I shudder at the connection as I wrap my fingers around his head, overwhelming him with my magic, which effortlessly infiltrates him.
His ears, mouth, eyes, and nose are swarmed with the tendrils of my shadows as my eyes close and I wait for the impending tick.
It’s the sweet spot you see in the movies when a trained thief is trying to break into a safe.
This is mine.
The clink vibrates in my mind and I don’t waste any time twisting my hands in a swift motion. His neck snaps like a wilting twig. Releasing him a moment later, I let his body fall limp to the ground, and I’m instantly rewarded with a heavy sigh of relief from Elodie.
I watch in awe as both of her hands hit the ground at her sides, her eyes still tightly shut, the grass blowing in the wind around her until it’s of even length, surrounding her.
She lies on her back, trying to catch her breath, but all I can see are the cuts across her chest.
My anger returns in a heartbeat, but instead of seeking out Willow to put an end to her too, I race back to my girl to help her.
Falling at her side, I crouch by her waist, reaching for my magic once again, only this time, it’s to heal.
Slowly, I ghost my hand across her chest, eliminating any evidence that she was once hurt.
My pulse rings in my ears and uncertainty floors me, but I don't stop until her eyes pry open and her gaze meets mine.
Crimson stains splatter her skin, but the wound no longer exists.
Relieved, I smile down at her, contentment claiming me as I heave a breath, but instead of smiling back at me, her eyes widen in fear as her lips part.
There’s something on the tip of her tongue, but before she can speak, a vice is pressed around my left wrist, quickly snapping behind my back and locking into place alongside my right wrist.
I reach for my magic, but it's not there. All I’m greeted with is the deep baritone voice from behind.
“Thorne Fata, you are hereby detained by The Sanctum for the murder of Tiran Harkon.”