“Fuck!” I growled as she crumbled to the floor.
Take Olivina to safety!I commanded through the bond.
Right then, we were one. One team, one side, and I was going to do my best for them all. I shielded her as the fucker raised his hand and sent a huge wave of fire straight towards me. Something about this power was different. Whatever it touched would disintegrate instantly. I grabbed the bleeding witch and rolled over, but immediately another wave followed. I was ready for the impact, raising my sword in defence when I was shoved aside roughly.
Alpha!I turned as Carmen’s wolf stood where I was moments earlier, and, right before my eyes, her body became a burnt carcass. I felt the bond break, my heart thudding as the burnt wolf crumbled to the ground. The fire was so powerful that she hadn’t even shifted to her human form, burnt and frozen in wolf form. A flare of rage flashed through me to every corner of my body. Carmen, she had been by my side from the fucking start. No matter what, she was always there…
My eyes flashed red, the taste of blood strong in my mouth as I shifted, dropping my weapon and launching myself at the monster. Not caring about the blasts of fire, Liam fell in step next to me. His aura was raging around him like a huge shield, and he focused it towards the Djinn. His eyes blazed as he threw him back with a huge wave of blue fire. The intensity sent waves across the entire grounds. I wondered how he and Kiara would work together in battle. That one would be pretty impressive to watch if ever the time came.
I saw Scarlett run forward, her fur glowing under the setting sun. This was it, our last fucking chance.
Liam was thrown into the air. He shifted mid-throw, landing on his paws and growling at the fucker before he and Rayhan lunged at the so-called fucking Crimson King. I saw Darien move towards Maria from the corner of my eyes. Her guards weren’t around… which meant she had managed to get them to leave her.
Fuck. My heart clenched, knowing what was to come. Scarlett and I moved at the same time as I foughtthe storm of emotions that consumed me.
“You will never defeat me!” This time, the voice held no trace of humanity. It was unearthly. I flinched as it grated into my bones.
Splitting pain filled my head, but I still pushed forward, grabbing my sword and swinging it at him. Scarlett managed to throw him to the ground, the flames around him burning into her. I knew she wouldn’t be able to last long, and I was in front of them in a flash.
I heard a witch chanting behind me, knowing she was one of the most powerful ones. Liam’s aura surrounding Scarlett was the only thing keeping her alive as she pinned the man down.
“I will never die!” He hissed, a menacing grin crossing his face. “Never.”
“That’s about to fucking change,” I growled. My claws came out, and I plunged my hand into his chest.
“No!”
I froze, my heart thundering as I recognised that voice.
Enrique. Fuck, he shouldn’t be here... why is he here?
The monster beneath me smiled victoriously.
Get him out of here!I growled at Liam through the link. The Djinn could take any one of the Escarra blood as his host instantly, thanks to the deal made long ago. Liam was by his side in an instant, picking him up and backing away, but it meant he wouldn’t be able to hold the shield around Scarlett for long.
“Please don’t kill my padre!” Enrique shouted over Liam’s shoulder as I felt an odd wave of power pulsating around the man beneath us.
“Your father is long gone, kid. He’s only a monster now!” I shouted back, looking up at him.
Our eyes met, and I realised I should never have let him go. The boy I had set free had been broken, but the battered, bruised boy in front of me was… empty. Something told me he was far past the point of being fixed. Like the dying sun behind him, all hope seemed to have gone for him. If I killed his father in front of him…
But I had to, for him and for us all.
Through the sweat, blood, and pain, I knew that no matter what, I had to do this. There was no other way.
The odd pulsating was growing stronger. Was he trying to switch hosts?
“Barriers around the boy!” I thundered, trying to plunge my hand into his chest, but he had something around him that was stopping me. Even with the witch’s power assisting me, I could feel the fire biting through it. Soon, if this fucking continued, I wouldn’t have a fucking hand left.
“He’s mine!” The monster beneath me roared.
“No, he fucking isn’t. You’ve destroyed him already!” I hissed.
“Please, don’t! My padre needs help!” The boy’s distant shouting came. “You said you’d help me!” His cry was heartbreaking, and I knew I’d never forget it…
I’m sorry, kid… I’m fucking sorry.
A menacing growl ripped from my throat, and, using my all, I managed to break through the barrier and tore his heart from his chest. Instantly, one of the witches obliterated it, and both Scarlett and I were thrown back with incredible force as a huge explosion of fire erupted. Above everything, over the roaring of the Djinn, the screams and howls of the fighting wolves… all I heard was the piercing scream of anguish and despair of the young boy who had just lost his father.
