Chapter 19
“I’m going up,” Skylar told Dominique, her pulse racing as Zyaire worked her black magick, towering over Ilsbeth. They crouched behind a boulder, watching Rafe dodge hundreds of bloodied creatures as he barreled toward the witch.
“No. There’s other caves we can hide in. Rafe said to keep you safe and I’m trying to do that.” Dominique tugged her arm.
Skylar shrugged her off, determined to help. “I know what Rafe told you, but he doesn’t get to tell you or me what to do.”
“Even I know he’s Alpha.”
“I’m not a wolf and neither are you. I can’t see from here and I might be able to help. I need a good shot.”
“Sorry but did you see those things out there?” Dominique blinked her eyes wearing a look of disbelief. “Or maybe, did you see the giant-sized witch? Kind of hard to miss her. No, this is a bad idea.”
“Listen to me, Dom. I know you don’t know me that well but I’m asking you to trust me.
I’ve already faced Zyaire. By myself. She threw one of those things in a small prison cell with me, and I killed it.
By myself. I have every reason to be afraid of her.
But something happened to me when I was there.
” I turned into a bird. “I escaped. I survived. And I intend to do the same now. Let’s go. ”
“But—”
“But nothing. Look, I don’t ever plan to be in this situation again, but I’m not a coward.
And neither are you. Yes, I know Rafe asked you to watch over me.
But you need to trust me. Something with Rafe and I, something happened during that time.
I am bonded with him. Do you get what I’m saying?
” Skylar couldn’t be quite sure exactly what had happened to her, but the reality was she’d transformed and flown with the raven.
“Magick is complicated,” Dominique admitted and blew out a breath. “I want the whole truth. Then we go fight. I’m not going into a battle with a human unless I know the source of your confidence.”
Skylar looked into the skeptical eyes of the beautiful vampire. Though Dominique appeared hardened on the outside, she cared for others, had been willing to help Ilsbeth fight her sister, to help Rafe.
“I shifted. I think…I mean I can’t be certain what kind, but I’m fairly sure I flew,” Skylar confessed.
“Now before you say anything, I know it sounds crazy, but there was this small window far above my reach…I got angry, just after shoving the metal into that thing’s eye and…
well, you get the idea. All I know is within seconds I was outside and following the raven. ”
Dominique sighed. “You’re sure you didn’t just bump your head?”
“No, I’m telling you the truth. Why else would I be in the middle of the Mojave Desert completely naked? I didn’t hallucinate. And the ravens? I know it sounds crazy again, but they led me away. They gathered around me.”
“And did you talk to these crows?” Dominique stared at her, impassive.
“The ravens? No. I didn’t talk with them, but I could feel them. It’s almost like they were protecting me. I was flying. What else could I be? I had wings. I’m certain of it.”
“I don’t know. Rafe did say he was not feeling like the bond was broken.
It’s possible the vampire magick did something, maybe it left Rafe but not you.
” Dominique brushed at her face, attempting to restrain a few stray strawberry blonde strands that had broken free of her otherwise perfect ponytail. “Just give me a second to think.”
“We don’t have seconds. We can’t stay here much longer. Those things are going to come into the cave. We’ve got to get out of here and hope they can’t climb.”
“Okay, but if they come after us, you need to stay back. You might have killed one, but it looks like there’re hundreds of them out there. I don’t know what we’re really facing.”
“Let’s get the hell outta here.” Skylar removed her gun from her holster and set off running.
“Behind me.” Dominique moved with preternatural speed, passing her.
Skylar steeled her nerves, determined to survive.
A bright orange sunset nearly blinded her as they emerged from the cave.
She caught sight of the creatures nearly thirty feet away.
She headed toward the rocks above, bouldering over one after the other.
She’d always had keen senses, and she thanked God she’d insisted they leave.
The slope morphed, and she heaved a breath, traversing several steep sections.
Skylar’s lungs burned as she attempted to keep up with Dominique.
With the expert navigation of a bighorn sheep, the vampire climbed the mountain.
She kept close enough to Skylar to offer a hand, helping her navigate over several large boulders.
Dominique ducked behind a section of brush and rolled onto her side. Skylar followed, careful to stay out of the zombie creatures’ line of vision. She adjusted onto her stomach lying flat on the ground and peered over the edge.
“Jesus, I should have taken more spin classes.” Skylar sucked a breath, studying the landscape.
“Good call by the way. Looks like they went into the cave.” Dominique shot her a sly smile. “Oh honey, I’ve gotta give you your props.”
“Those things are kind of hard to forget.” Skylar’s heart raced as Zyaire grew larger, pounding the ball of light with her fists. Ilsbeth continued to mock her, then spontaneously began speaking in a language she suspected wasn’t of this world.
“Look.” Dominique pointed to Greyson who busted through Ilsbeth’s protective shield.
“Where’s he going?” Skylar aimed her gun, following him. “Oh shit.”
“Looks like he’s got some attention. Where’s Kenji?” Dominique asked.
“Over there. On the right.”
“What’s going on with Greyson? Why isn’t he running? He’s got some stalkers.”
Skylar glanced to Dominique who retrieved her dagger. “Nice. Silver?”
“High carbon steel.”
“No gun?” Skylar asked.
“I like it messy.” Dominique pointed again, this time using her knife. “Can you take out those two on his tail?”
“I’ve got this.” Skylar aimed and fired a round straight through its head. A broad smile crossed her face. “Like riding a bike.”
“What is going on with Rafe?”
“Rafe is the prophecy,” Skylar replied, “Whatever must be done, it must be him.”
“You sound like Ilsbeth. Hmm. Who knows. Maybe Ilsbeth siphoned off his magick. She can’t be trusted, you know.”
“She won’t hurt Rafe.” Skylar’s eyes widened as Kenji flew over them, diving toward the open flat. She jumped as the fire spewed from his mouth, igniting at least twenty creatures. “Oh my.”
“Now that’s something you don’t see every day,” Dominique commented blithely.
“I’ve never seen a dragon,” Skylar whispered with wonder. “Rad.”
“I don’t know him that well but maybe I should consider it. It’s been years since I’ve had a dragon.”
“Do you ever stop thinking of food?” Skylar shot her a side eye.
“Who said I was talking about food?”
Skylar gasped as she caught sight of the great wolf darting towards Zyaire. “Rafe.”
“Oh shit. Ilsbeth looks like she’s about to break.” The shield began to dim as Zyaire raised her hands, her eyes rolling back up into her forehead, the whites of her eyes flashing in the last of the day’s sunlight.
The sound of a branch breaking took them off guard, a bloody creature scurried up the rocks toward them. Skylar screamed as it wrapped its slippery fingers around her ankle. It squealed as she kicked at it.
“Not on my watch.” Dominique drove her dagger straight through its neck, slicing off its head. She kicked at it until it rolled off the cliff. “Jesus, that’s disgusting.”
“Told ya.” Skylar began firing one shot after another as the creatures rushed Rafe. “Come on.”
Greyson flashed to Zyaire’s shoulder and lodged his teeth into her flesh. He jumped, using gravity, slicing his fangs clear down her entire back. She flailed in an attempt to dislodge him, her body deflating like a balloon.
“What the fuck?” Dominique’s eyes widened.
Zyaire released lightning from her fingertips, striking Ilsbeth, sending her flying back into the base of the mountains. The High Priestess appeared stunned, struggling to stand. The ground began to shake, a portal opening up in front of the witch’s feet.
“I have to warn Rafe,” Skylar told Dominique, focused on Ilsbeth.
“Absolutely not. I’ll help her. I need you to stay up here.” Dominique jumped to her feet, with her dagger in hand. “I’ll be right back.”
Skylar considered arguing but there was no time. The vampire would remain faithful to Rafe by babysitting her if she didn’t agree to stay put. “Yes. You’re probably right.”
“Keep your head on a swivel and mind your ammo. You might need it to defend yourself.” Dominique pointed her. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
Skylar nodded, feigning agreement. Her heart pounded as she watched Dominique run down the mountain. A blur, she moved with supernatural agility, navigating down to Ilsbeth.
Skylar peered over the cliff and began picking off the creatures one by one until she had exhausted every bullet.
Her pulse raced as she watched Rafe lunge off the ground, his jaws clamped onto Zyaire’s arm.
Like picking off a flea, she tossed the wolf several hundred feet into the desert.
His wolf rallied, growling as it stood glaring at the monstrous witch.
Zyaire flickered in the dusk, her body morphing. Skylar’s heart pounded in her chest watching as a huge eye formed on the back of Zyaire’s head. As the swirling black eye blinked open it set its sight on its target. Rafe.
Enraged, Skylar closed her eyes, focusing on Rafe. My Alpha, she called to him, allowing her mind to reach for his. Though she couldn’t hear his voice, his magick flowed through her.
The calls from ravens echoed in her mind. Danger. Help. In desperation, she prayed they heard her, warning them of her enemy. She stood with her arms toward the heavens, willing herself to fly.
Despite her effort, it didn’t yield a transformation. Frustrated she jumped up and down, adrenaline flowing through her body. Skylar focused on Rafe, igniting her own magick from within.
A guttural scream tore from her lungs, demanding the universe comply. “Please work, please work, please…come on! I need to help him! Now! Let’s go!”
Her anger lit a wick of magick, sparking her transformation. She flapped her wings and took off in flight. She called on the birds, a cry for help.
Rafe and Greyson continued to battle Zyaire, the creatures now attacking. With a roar, Kenji swooped and scorched the earth, temporarily holding them at bay.
In the distance hundreds of ravens swirled in the air, energizing Skylar’s mission. At its precipice there was no other choice. Either she’d help trap this bitch back into the underworld or she’d die trying.