Chapter 55
Panic surged through me, but the guys didn’t show a hint of fear. They moved as if they’d been waiting for this moment all their lives.
Declan and Ronan took off at a run, shifting as they leapt into the air, their black and white dragons taking flight. Cillian wasn’t far behind them, but I gasped as his dragon was revealed. Black with white eyes. A second later, the dragon vanished altogether.
Colt muttered something under his breath.
My gaze snapped to him. “Where did he go?”
He shook his head. “He has a cloaking gift. Extremely rare and extremely powerful.”
“I’m glad he’s on our side,” I mumbled.
Colt kissed me quickly. “Going to shift. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
I nodded quickly, and then Colt was gone, replaced by a multi-colored wolf. I sank my fingers into his fur in reassurance.
Darius and Baldwin shifted, joining Saoirse and Delphine, who were working spells.
Trace and Dash took off to the side of the yard, preparing for where the dark ones would likely appear.
I tested the magic bubbling within me. It was new and different, far more power than I was used to. But I couldn’t seem to grab hold of it.
Panic lit through me. Colt let out a low growl next to me, seeming to sense my unease.
“I can’t control it. I don’t know how.”
He pushed into my side, as if reassuring me that everything would be okay, but I wasn’t so sure.
Golden fire rained down from the sky as Ronan swooped in front of the house.
Howls of pain sounded, and I didn’t miss the shots of venom in retaliation. My heart lurched as I watched the poison sail into the heavens.
A force, I assumed was Cillian, blocked it with a shot of his own, and I let out a ragged breath.
“Now!” Dash shouted.
Dozens of figures rounded the house. They looked part human, part monster. They were pale in the same way Chloe had been, that tar dripping from their teeth. They moved quickly but didn’t seem all there.
I tried again to grab hold of the extra power to funnel it to the guys, but it was as if it slipped through my fingers. I tried harder, giving it everything I had. Still nothing. I tried shoving at it, but it was as if it wouldn’t respond to me at all.
Trace shot out his palms, and purple fire blasted into them, engulfing the dark ones in flames. Dash was on his heels with his green fire, getting the next row of soldiers. But how long could they keep this up if I didn’t give them more? There were too many dark ones to count.
Movement caught my eye, and my stomach plummeted as Damien slunk out from between the trees, his red eyes glowing, Chloe at his side. Colt let out a low growl, his hackles rising.
I went to call out to Trace and Dash for help, but they were doing all they could to fight off the horde of dark ones. Colt and I were on our own.
A grin split Damien’s mouth, revealing his already elongated incisors. “I’ve missed you, Leighton. It isn’t nice to run from one of your destined mates.”
Colt let out another growl, louder this time, and bared his teeth.
My hands fisted at my sides, anger pulsing through me. “You’ve been drinking the drugs again, Damien. The only thing you’re destined for is death.”
He only grinned wider. “I love when you speak sweet nothings to me. Don’t worry, I’ll give you the eternal life of the undead, too.”
Chloe snarled something as tar flew from her mouth. Her eyes had gone completely black.
Damien laughed, low and throaty. “Don’t be jealous, Chlo. You both can have me.”
Bile surged in my throat at the vile thought. I searched my magic, not from the new spell Dash had used, but just for what I’d connected with before. I grabbed hold of one of the silver strands I knew would bring with it Declan’s fire.
But I waited. I didn’t know how many shots we’d have at the two of them, and we needed them to count.
A howl of pain sounded from the sky, and my gaze jerked heavenward. Ronan’s wing had taken a hit, and Declan was trying to stave off the attack so he could get his bearings.
It was a mistake, turning my eyes away from the enemy in front of me for just a second.
Colt howled, and my gaze jerked back just as Damien and Chloe lunged.
Chloe moved faster than any human would’ve been able to, diving for Colt. My fire shot out, clipping her in the shoulder and making her scream in pain.
Colt’s teeth sank into her shoulder, and then he shook her with a force so hard that her neck simply snapped.
Damien let out a feral growl and charged, his fangs poised for Colt’s jugular.
Colt wouldn’t have time to deflect, not in the position he was in now.
I shot out more fire, but Damien threw up some sort of force field, blocking my blows.
And then his teeth sank into Colt’s neck.