“Those won’t hold you forever, witch,” he spat, clawing at the invisible barrier.
I cautiously approached, the man never straying from his target, and could see runes etched into the ground.
Protection Wards.
My eyes instantly zeroed in on the tattoos that littered the woman’s fingers and arms. Unsurprisingly, the tattoos were also runes. Some I could read—like ones for personal protection and minor health—but others were impossible to decipher.
Suddenly, it dawned on me, and I was struck dumb.
She can read runes.And not just the known runes, either.
My magic snuck out of its own accord, my guard down due to my shock over the woman in front of me and wound itself around the snarling and half-feral rebel. In seconds, his body was reduced to ash. I wrestled for control over my power before locking it back down, tight.
The woman just stared at me. No shock, really no emotion registering on her face.
“Did you create these wards?” I finally croaked out.
She rolled her eyes before stepping away from the barrier and retreating to the safety of the inn. Just before the door closed in her wake, I caught a glimpse of the building’s interior. Bodies were huddled together in a mass, whether from fear or fever, I didn’t know.
This is worse than I thought.
“Take her with you.” The blond man’s voice was in my ear, and it was everything I could do to keep my magic in check from the surprise.
I spun to face him. “What did you say?”
“Her,” he said quietly, gesturing at the door. “Take her with you, keep her safe.”
Keep her safe. The Earth Mage’s words echoed in my mind.
“Is that Faylinn?” Her name felt sweet on my tongue, and I was struck again by the thought that I should know who she was.
The blond man smiled cryptically at me before backing away.
“This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go, but she’ll have a plan when I get back,” he said as he backed away from the wards.
I shook off the strange encounter before diverting my attention to the last group of Mages fighting. Many of the rebels fled during combat, most likely when I unveiled my Destruction Magic. I was a powerful Mage, one of the most powerful in Elyria, and my Destruction Magic was unparalleled.
I didn’t use it often, but when I did, there was little hope of survival. You didn’t live unless I activelywantedyou to live.
I set my mouth in grim determination as I neared Lex, Ilyas, Sasori, and Cal. I was pleased to note that Cal still had his full group of Mages, our only losses so far being those in Jax’s group. Lex and his Vessels were reduced to swords and knives at this point, their magic well spent, and many of the rebel Mages were suffering from the same draining.
I grabbed Lex’s shoulder as he saw me approaching.
“Incapacitate the big fucker. He’s coming with us,” I yelled in his ear over the cacophony of battle. He grinned at me, blood splattering his face and hands from where he’d stabbed and slashed at the attacking rebels.
“With pleasure,” he purred.
He grabbed Ilyas’ forearm around the pommel of his sword, and I saw the sticky honey-like magic of Pleasure flare to life in his palm.
Apparently, he wasn’t out of magic.
He directed a jet of it at the Earth Mage, spearing his heart. A look of pure, unadulterated bliss crossed his countenance before he dropped to the ground with a thud. A lazy smile stretched across his scarred face, and I saw his dick start to rise in his pants.
“Please don’t make him touch himself, Lex,” I scolded as I watched the man’s hand drift toward his pants.
“But it’s so fun,” Lex whined, but relinquished his attack on the Earth Mage. “I’m tapped out, anyway,” he grumbled before releasing Ilyas and turning back to where his Vessels were locked in a standoff with two other rebels.
At the sight of their commander falling, the rebels faltered and began warily backing away from our group.
