Thinking Quick
Sienna
Iwipe the blood from my hands onto my pants as I look down at the body that I’ve just dropped to the ground, one of the Indomitable; he looks to be in his mid-twenties – was in his mid-twenties.
I sigh softly as I crouch down and close his unseeing eyes, spotting the mark on his neck. Another mate just lost half their soul.
Even if this is the path they choose, it doesn’t feel good; taking a life never does, and lately I’ve taken several.
The battle is coming to an end; the enemy has been neutralised, and any Indomitable survivors have retreated.
I look around at the pack territory, happy to see that not much damage was done to the buildings.
We managed to keep it to the fields, thanks to Skyla and Royce having been close as well.
The sun is now setting behind the clouds, and shadows stretch across the ground, creating deformed shapes.
The rain pours down; the aftermath of the storm Royce had called.
The field around me is scattered with the dead, their blood staining the ground where they have fallen, an image that will haunt me long after this night is over.
I scan the bodies, searching for any source of life or a familiar face amongst them, my chest tightening with the realisation that someone I know may be amongst them. I lift one of our own and place him to the side, brushing his hair back, and I close his eyes.
“Rest in peace,” I murmur. I knew him. He’s one of the warriors who was on guard at my birthday party.
I wonder how many we lost. How many names will be spoken in low voices later, how many beds will remain empty, how many lives were ended here without mercy.
Victory does not erase the cost of battle. It only leaves us standing long enough to face the next one.
“Orders?” I ask Brock through my Schattensicht. “The east side is secured.”
I wait for his response, but there’s nothing.
“Brock?” I repeat, my brows furrowing. The battle is over. “Brock, come in.”
“Sienna!” Artemis’ distraught scream rips through my Schattensicht. “Brock! Brock’s injured!”
“Shahira! Get to Brock now!” I command as I activate Brock’s location on my Schattensicht, watching the red line that illuminates the path leading directly to Brock.
My wings unfurl behind me, and I take flight.
“On my way!” Shahira answers.
Artemis is trained in medicine, but if she needs magic to help, it must be bad. My stomach turns with unease as I fly through the woods, following the glowing line that is guiding me straight to Brock.
The wind whips through my hair, some of which has come loose from the fight.
Up ahead, I spot Shahira switch to human form beside Brock just seconds before I reach them.
I assess his body, taking in the damage; he’s losing far too much blood, his stomach and chest are ripped open as if someone reached in and tore everything out.
His heartbeat is failing… My stomach twists as I drop to my knees beside him.
“Shahira, the bleeding. Artemis, call in – we need Aunty Kiara!” I say before I begin whispering a spell. Healing isn’t my strongest suit, but I know enough spells.
Artemis stares at me, realising what my words mean. Brock is dying, and unless Aunty Kiara can get here, he may not make it.
She shouts through her Schattensicht, hopefully contacting the right people as I focus on healing the damage to his internal organs. There’s far too much bleeding, even as Shahira, who is on the same wavelength, is doing the same. But there’s just too much damage; his body is shutting down.
“He’ll die if we don’t get help within the next fifteen minutes,” Shahira warns, breaking the news. Artemis stiffens.
“There’s no way she’ll get here fast enough!” she shouts as she crawls over to Brock’s head and cups his face.
“Brock! Brock, baby, get up!”
Fuck, don’t let this happen. “I’ll bring her to him then,” I say, my heart hammering as I break the spell, my heart pounding.
“That’s a long way away,” Shahira whispers, concern in her warm eyes.
“I can do it,” I say as I begin prepping the spell. I have to be able to do it.
“What! No! Don’t stop healing him! What if you don’t make it?! Heal him the best you can; don’t risk his life!” Artemis pleads, grabbing my arm.
I’ve never seen her like this, but when someone you love is dying, I can’t blame her.
“I can do this,” I answer firmly. “Shahira is right; he won’t last if we don’t act, Artemis. I need you to trust me,” I add softly.
She looks at me, hesitating before she nods.
I offer a small smile before I focus on what I’m doing. I have the supplies. I always make sure I’m carrying anything I need, locked away in my collection that I can summon by a simple charm.
I move as fast as possible. “Artemis, ask where Aunty Kiara is, tell her to get outside the pack barriers so I can open a portal.”
Time is running out; I can feel Brock’s life force ebbing away, but even moving as fast as possible, I have to be careful. One careless step and the entire spell will be a waste of time.
Sweat and blood trickle down my neck as I focus, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
“She’s moving to just outside her territory, so you can open a portal directly to the western scout post. She’s there,” Artemis says, her voice hoarse.
I nod before I step back and whisper the spell. Spells like these require precision and the utmost control. Taking a deep breath, I feel my power hum through me.
You got this…
Then the portal opens before us, and I spot Aunty Kiara pacing on the other side; her eyes widen with relief before she races through, her attention landing on Brock. She drops to her knees, her aura glowing around her hands as she places them on his chest, letting her healing power pour into him.
Shahira sits back, but she’s still trying to contain the blood, her heart thudding wildly, and there’s relief in her eyes. She managed to keep him alive, even if it was simply delaying his end, and those precious moments gave us the time we needed.
I let the portal close as a few others hurry over to us, including Renji and Himari. The tension is thick in the air as we wait. Every moment feels so long. I can feel the power pouring into Brock; it’s taking a lot out of Aunty Kiara, too.
“He’s going to be ok,” Aunty Kiara answers the question that no one dares ask, her brow beaded with sweat, her voice strained.
I hope so…
“Do you need strength? I can lend you some of my power,” I say quietly.
She looks up at me, and after a moment, nods.
“Fuck, he’s really badly injured; that means…” Himari whispers as a few warriors also come over.
“We have more wounded, Luna Kiara,” one of them says.
“I’ll heal them, too. Anyone who is critical, line them up first,” Aunty Kiara says.
Artemis keeps her head down, but I can see her body shake with silent tears.
I whisper the spell to transfer energy, placing my hand on Aunty Kiara’s shoulder as I pour my power into her. Only when Aunty Kiara removes her hands from Brock do I stop as well.
He’s still unconscious, and his heartbeat is stronger but still irregular.
“He needs to be moved to a hospital. I’ve done the best I could, but he still needs rest and time. He will be ok, Artemis,” she says softly, placing her hand on Artemis’ cheek. Artemis looks up and nods.
“Thanks to you guys,” she whispers, glancing between Shahira, Aunty Kiara and me.
“Team effort,” I reply quietly.
“Let’s move him,” Aunty Kiara says. Renji nods as he steps forward to carry the body, glancing at Shahira and offering her a small smile before he lifts Brock’s body. Aunty Kiara and Artemis follow.
“If Jayce wasn’t forced to leave, this wouldn’t have happened,” Himari mutters once the warriors move away to continue searching for survivors.
I look at her, my face emotionless, but I don’t have the patience for her attitude right now. “Put yourself to use, Sato. This isn’t a high school playground; it’s war,” I say quietly.
“Keep telling yourself that,” she snorts.
I turn away from her. We don’t have time for this.
“Opening that portal saved his life, thank you,” Artemis says quietly as she steps into the room where we are staying for the night. We’ve moved to the Shadow Wolves Pack, and I have taken a shower, but even then, the memory of the blood staining my hands seems to linger.
“You don’t need to thank me; I’m glad he’s ok,” I reply as I towel-dry my hair.
“She’s right, Sienna; your quick thinking saved him,” Shahira agrees.
Artemis nods in agreement. “She’s right,” she says as she drops onto the bed.
The three of us are sharing a room, while Himari, Allison and Maralai are in a separate room. I’m thankful for that.
Shahira combs her hair, her eyes dark as she remains lost in thought. “This time, we didn’t lose anyone close, but it scares me to think maybe next time we will,” she whispers.
Artemis sits down on the bed, pulls her legs up to her chest, and wraps her arms around them.
“I think the same. Today was such a close call, and because he’s the leader of this division, he thinks it’s his responsibility to protect everyone.
Just like Aunty Raven.” She buries her head in her knees as silence falls.
My heart clenches, remembering that day again. Her body, Jayce, Uncle Liam, Renji, and the funeral. I shake my head when I feel the pain become suffocating and exhale.
“The duties of a leader… They’re never easy,” I murmur.
Duty.
Jayce said he saved me because it was his duty; I want to believe it was more than that… “Get some rest, both of you; it’s been a long day,” I say as I head to the door.
“I’m going to go see how Aunty Kiara is doing.”
They nod, and I leave, shutting the door behind me.
This is Skyla’s home, and although I see the symbols of Helios all over the place, I try to ignore them.
It does feel odd, though; I won’t deny that, especially as the pack members look at me with reverence.
The whispers that I was the wife of Helios are a mark that I will forever have to carry.
That, and the intricate golden sun on the side of my right ribcage – the symbol of a goddess, although that is a title I no longer hold.
The mansion is huge, and it takes me a bit of time to find Skyla, Royce and Aunty Kiara in the lounge.
“Mind if I join?” I ask.
“Come on in; I thought you had gone to sleep,” Aunty Kiara says, looking up tiredly from her coffee.
I shake my head. “No, I just showered. Don’t really feel sleepy,” I admit.
“Coffee, hot chocolate?” Skyla asks. “The staff were about to take some up for you guys.”
“I’ll have hot chocolate,” I say with a smile as I walk over to them, and Royce offers me a small smile.
“Your control over your power has grown immensely,” he says.
“Thanks,” I reply, accepting the mug Skyla offers me, and sit down on one of the armchairs. Only now, as I lean back, does the exhaustion of the day settle into me.
Aunty Kiara looks at me and smiles softly, but it’s the look in her eyes that makes me wonder if she’s thinking about our men in Russia… Although I don’t have the right to call Jayce mine right now.
“Have you seen Grandpa since he left?” I ask quietly.
She nods. “Once, and we talk every few days.”
“You don’t think you’ll go down there?” Skyla asks as she walks over to Royce and takes her seat in his lap, wrapping her arm around his shoulders before kissing him passionately. I look away, blushing lightly.
“I’m needed here; the pack needs running,” Aunty Kiara says, sipping her coffee.
Skyla nods. “And you, Sienna? What about Jayce?”
“I have no right to go,” I say, keeping my voice level.
“Because he’s being a stubborn asshole?” She cocks a brow.
I don’t know how to answer that, so I remain silent.
“How many casualties were there tonight?” Aunty Kiara asks.
Royce sighs as he rests his forehead against Skyla’s shoulder. “Seventeen; it could have been a lot worse,” he admits grimly.
Seventeen, that’s still a lot. “And the enemy? How many did they lose?” I ask.
“Twenty-nine,” Royce answers.
“Great, at least we took more of theirs. The last attack on one of their allied packs was pretty good, too,” Skyla says with a small smirk.
Aunty Kiara sighs. “I truly wish things could be resolved without bloodshed, but I know it’s a futile dream.”
The rest of us nod slowly. She’s right… There’s no hope of settling this without bloodshed. We’ve tried, and now we just meet them in the way they love. In battle.
We sit and chat for a while longer before Aunty Kiara retreats for the night, and I ask Skyla for a word.
“Sure thing, what’s up?” she asks as Royce smiles at us and excuses himself.
I sit forward, fiddling slightly, before I take a deep breath and look directly at her. “I wanted to ask about Jayce… Did he ever mention anything, like what part hurt him the most?” I whisper, looking down at my hands.
Skyla stands up as she walks over to me and crouches down in front of me, forcing me to make eye contact.
“He’s hurt; I guess he felt he wasn’t enough.
But he didn’t really say. That’s something only he can really answer.
But I do know he still loves you…” She trails off before a sly smile that reminds me of the Grinch crosses her face, and she snaps her fingers.
“Yeah, you just got to keep pushing, you know? Break down those walls he’s built. ”
I nod. “That wasn’t what you were about to say…”
She waves her hand. “It was; I just thought of something. So, go get some rest, my gorgeous little demon goddess,” she says, tugging my cheek.
“I don’t trust you,” I say suspiciously.
“No one told you to; now off to bed,” she says, standing up.
I nod slowly, but something tells me she’s up to something. She watches until I reach the door before taking out her phone.
I shake my head. Now what is she up to?
Sighing, I decide to head to bed. Tomorrow we’ll be heading back to the Academy, and there’ll be the mission report to write up as well.