More to the immediate point, the sword coming toward my chest shudders, then crumbles. Not breaks—crumbles, disintegrating into rust-colored dust that sifts through the attacker's fingers like sand. My own weapon does the same, dissolving in my grip before I can process what's happening.
"What the fuck?" I mutter, echoing the sentiment that’s quickly spreading around the clearing as fights halt, the combatants staring at their empty hands or the piles of orange dust at their feet.
Who, not what,Nyx corrects.
Who the fuck?,I send through gritted mental teeth, already twisting toward where the ripples of magic seemed to originate from. Me and everyone else.
From what I can see, your pet human.
I break into a sprint. Trees streak on either side of me, and a shrill whistle issues some sort of order. I don’t care what it is or who it's for. I don’t care about anything until I finally see Rowan, her slight frame silhouetted against the trees, one hand still outstretched toward a figure now swiftly dissolving into the trees.
I call out for her.
Rowan looks my way, our gazes meeting for a moment across the night forest. Her emerald dress is torn, each shred of silk fluttering in the breeze to tease her perfect form. Perfect yet so so fragile, pushed to the very limit of its capacity. I’ve never met someone who can look beautiful and a shade short of unconscious at the same time. And that isn’t even the biggest trick she’s pulled off in the last five minutes.
“Logan?” My name is a whisper on her lips. She extends her hand toward me.
And collapses.
Chapter 18
Rowan
Reece catches me before I can hit the ground, steadying me on my feet while power continues to course through me. Like lightning trapped beneath my skin. It's so potent it hurts, but the headache I once felt is gone completely. I stare at my hand, then at the rusted powder that once used to be steel.
“Nice trick,” Reece says quietly.
“Goddess help us.” Viera's face is pale as she lifts her chin, her golden eyes flashing between fear and hate. “Goddess help us wipe you from this plane.”
Before I can answer, Viera whistles loudly and shifts into wolf form, her and the other wolves melting into the trees. The retreat is swift and coordinated, the entire cobalt vanishing completely into the forest's embrace before Logan reaches me a few heartbeats later. His powerful frame moves with that predatory grace of his despite the blood streaking his clothes.
"Rowan." My name is a growl on Logan’s lips as he drops to one knee beside me, his hands running over my shoulders and ribs and hips. Reece steps away at once, putting a good two paces of distance between us. Logan’s gaze sweeps over me frantically,cataloging every tear in my dress, every scrape on my skin. “Where are you hurt? What did that bitch Viera do to you?”
“What did Viera do?” a male voice demands. Talyn. He sounds displeased. Or maybe frightened. His patrol flanks him, hands and scabbards all empty of weapons. “What did that alchemist do?”
“More importantly, is she done doing it?” someone else calls.
“She better be,” another one offers.
“Is it even safe for us to let her remain conscious?”
Logan’s nostrils flare, his furious snarl so menacing that even Talyn takes a step away. “Touch her and die,” Logan twists to glare at every warrior still standing. “Is anyone less than clear on that?”
A muscle ticks in Talyn’s jaw. “I think the more salient question is whether the rest of our army has any steel left with which to fight. What the bloody hell did you do,LadyRowan?”
“I…” I sigh and go with one of Ellie’s rules to live by: when all else fails try the truth. “I have absolutely no idea. Viera was about to strike Reece down. I was trying to stop her. Then… dust.” I hold up my hand, still covered in rust colored particles that were once a dagger.
“You’re shaking.” Logan’s hand curls around my wrist gently.
The way the magic keeps pulsing though me, the aftershocks sparking down my spine like live wires, I’m surprised I’m not spontaneously combusting. Every breath I take feels too big, too bright. It’s exhilarating and terrifying and exhausting all at the same time. “I’m fine.”
Of course my traitorous body chooses that exact moment to buckle at the knees. Logan wraps an arm around my back and rises to his feet with me cradled against his chest like I weigh nothing at all.
“I can walk,” I protest as Logan starts back toward the clearing with the ceremonial flame.
“Good to know.” Logan manages to brush a lock of hair from my face while still holding me against him. His heart pounds so hard that I can feel it where our bodies touch.
“So maybe put me down?”
