I brought flames to my fingertips, quickly drawing heat to my skin, the water evaporating as quickly as it soaked me.
“You’re going to have to do better than that.” I brought a ball of flames to my hands.
Keziq’s face paled, the first chink in her armor I’d seen since I’d had the displeasure of meeting her.
I let out a crude laugh. “Is water all you have?” I threw a ball of flames at her.
She dodged it at the last moment, the fire singeing her sleeve.
“What a shame to only have one element.” I threw out another ball of flame, she dodged it but didn’t see the ball of air I sent careening her way. The burst took her to the ground, drawing the air from her lungs.
“You see, I have all four. It appears this fight has gotten unfair quite quickly.” I prowled towards her. She clawed at her neck as I squeezed my hand tighter, further restricting her oxygen.
Her lips moved, but nothing came out.
I loosened my hold so I could hear her last words.
“Your memories showed me one more thing.”
I closed my fist, no longer interested in hearing what she had to say, but then she was gone.
The space she had occupied was empty, nothing but a dent in the snow and dirt remained.
“Luka!” I turned in a circle, trying to see where he and Adreona had ended up.
Keziq appeared out of thin air. She gripped Adreona’s arm. Luka charged at them, but in a flash, they were gone.
“What the fuck,” Luka swore.
“Fuck fuck fuck!” I clenched my fists. “She saw in my memories. She learned about the spell Luciana uses to transport us.Fuck.”
I spun in a circle, the rest of the fighting had stopped, the Dhampirs either dead or having retreated in their master’s absence. “Now they can travel as quickly as we can. They can appear anywhere.”
“It’s better that we have the information, right?”
“I suppose, but—” I screeched to a halt. “The Galtains—do you think?—”
The color leached from Luka’s face. “There’s only one way to find out.”
We tumbled through the magic, landing in the woods outside the Galtain’s cabin.
Whathad beenthe Galtain’s cabin.
Nothing but ashes remained.
I fell to my knees and wept.
45
LENNOX
I didn’t even notice Luka falling to my side at first. My entire body was numb at the sight in front of me.
Of the rubble that had once been the Galtain’s home.
For centuries, it had been their home. Holding their memories.
Their memories—Goddess above—another sob wracked my body. The rest of their family—their children and grandchildren.
