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“Do your worst, crone,” I challenged Zahara boldly, clutching Sera’s hand in mine. “Your venom cannot touch what is eternal.”
Zahara’s nostrils flared delicately at the insult, fury blazing in her frigid eyes. But her composure swiftly returned, a mask of genteel civility once more.
“Such discourtesy, Rhys.” She sighed with mock regret. “I take no pleasure in your pain, misguided though you are. But the girl’s bright spirit has clearly clouded your judgment.”
Her cutting gaze shifted to Seraphina, softening slightly. “I know you cannot yet grasp this, child. But better I end you both swiftly here than allow slow corruption of your pure soul.”
Though her words rang poisonously false to my ears, I fought back a pang of fear. What if some small part of Sera was swayed by Zahara’s insidious manipulations? The witch excelled at blurring truth’s sharp edges, as her flawlessLilydeception proved.
But my doubt was short-lived. Seraphina faced our foe squarely, showing no hesitation. “I don’t know how you define purity, Zahara,” she replied evenly. “But right now, your own blackened heart is plain as day. No disguises can conceal it.”
I nearly cheered aloud as Sera skewered the witch’s hypocrisy. At my side, she blazed brighter than any battle magic. United with her indomitable spirit, we were untouchable.
Scowling now, Zahara raised her hands, lethal energy coalescing into crackling orbs. “So be it, stubborn girl,” she hissed. “Embrace oblivion’s peace, since you spurn my mercy!”
In answer, Seraphina and I clasped hands firmly, braced for the coming tempest. But just as darkness threatened to eclipse us, a deafening crack resounded overhead. Zahara barely leapt aside in time to avoid a deadly chunk of debris crashing down where she’d stood mere heartbeats before.
Amidst swirling dust and rubble, three shadows solidified into familiar forms with murder etched on their faces—Jasper, Crow, and… my brother Aleric? They’d come to our aid against the witch.
United as one, we turned with bared fangs to face Zahara’s unleashed wrath. The real battle was just beginning.
CHAPTER32
Sera
A thunderous cracksplit the shuddering air as our allies burst forth, coalescing from swirling dust and shadows into familiar forms, their faces etched with righteous fury. Jasper, Aleric, and Crow now stood shoulder to shoulder with Rhys and me, presenting a united front against Zahara’s unleashed violence.
The witch drew back, pale eyes flashing dangerously as she assessed the unexpected threat. But her moment of doubt swiftly hardened into vengeance.
“So the noble heroes rally together, do they?” Zahara pronounced coldly, venom edging her melodic voice. “No matter. You will all burn just the same.”
With that fell proclamation, she launched a burst of churning violet flame straight at Crow’s unguarded chest. But quicker than thought, Aleric’s granite wings swept up, deflecting the brunt of the magical assault in a screech of sparks.
“Is that the best you can do, crone?” he taunted Zahara boldly. Beside him, Crow shot her defender a fierce grin of approval through the settling haze.
But Zahara merely laughed, the sound grating as chilled steel. “Oh, we’re just getting warmed up, dear boy.”
She extended a hand again, but this time no flashy fireworks materialized. Instead, the very air seemed to congeal, pressing down on us with an awful weight that drove me gasping to my knees. The others also crumpled under the unbearable pressure, cries of shock and pain ringing out.
Through watering eyes, I glimpsed Zahara, smiling coldly as she tightened her occult fist, blood trickling from her nose with the exertion. But our suffering clearly pleased her well enough.
“Beg for mercy and I may end you quickly,” she purred. “Prolong this futile revolt, and you will yearn for death long before I grant it.”
Despite her brazen threat, defiance stirred in my chest. We would never yield to this monster. Beside me, Rhys struggled to rise, veins bulging and claws gouging furrows in the fractured stones beneath us. Seeing my love’s unbroken courage rekindled my own flickering strength.
Together we gained our feet slowly, the world swaying dangerously. But we did not stand alone. One by one, our allies also rose behind us, bloody but unbent before Zahara’s punishing spell. Their loyalty pierced my heart. No matter how steep the cost, we would prevail united.
The witch’s icy eyes widened fractionally, a satisfying crack in her composure. She had expected us to crumble beneath her sadistic power like ash. But we only drew tighter together, an unbreakable circle spurred on by hope.
With a snarl, Zahara loosed another blistering volley, but Jasper deflected the chaos magic easily. His grin flashed wolfish, hazel eyes blazing defiance. Though untrained, his raw power was formidable.
“Our turn, hag,” Jasper growled, his eyes flashing silver with gathering power. Out of this jacket’s pocket, he produced a sphere of pure azure flame between his palms. The air hummed with gathering energy as he molded the magical bomb, tendrils of lightning arcing wildly across its surface.
With a feral cry, Jasper hurled the deadly projectile at our foe. It seared the air, leaving a trail of ozone in its wake. Zahara’s eyes widened in shock, but she was too late to erect a proper barrier. Her hastily whispered counterspell deflected the bomb only partially before it struck her.
She let out a sharp hiss as blue fire engulfed her, electricity writhing across her body like living snakes. The force of the concussive blast drove her back against the wall. Stone cracked under the impact and she slid to the ground, foul curses dripping from her lips.
We had drawn first blood. The taste of victory was intoxicating, but I knew this battle was far from won. Wounded pride would only make Zahara more dangerous. We had to press our advantage before she regained her footing.
