Chapter Thirty-One
Adalyn was running out of steam. Her body, at the beginning of the fight had stood firm and tall. Now, she seemed unsure of her footing, shoulders slouching, arms wavering. Her arc of majik growing dimmer by the second.
“We must help her!”his wolf demanded, trying to force Wade to allow the shift.
He pushed back against the animal.“Her majik will block you from getting close enough to attack.”
His wolf knew he spoke the truth.“We can’t just stand here and watch our mate die.”
“I know.”
There had to be something Wade could do. If things kept up the way they were, Mariska would kill Adalyn before he had a chance to flash her to safety. If only he had an offensive majik of his own he could use to help his mate. He would gladly add his power to her own, if only it were a possibility.
“Use all you have been given and end this now, my child,”a female voice spoke in Wade’s mind. The voice was one he’d heard only once, yet one he recognized instantly. Freyja’s voice still hummed through his body, adding to his power and resolve to save his mate.
The weapon he automatically reached for was one gifted to him by Odin himself. A weapon so terrifying, he knew without a doubt it would do the job with absolute permanency.
Tyrfing.
As soon as he thought of it, the fiery sword appeared in his hand. The blade would cut through any majik to reach its target.
Wade stepped back and away from Adalyn to ensure the blade remained as far away from her as possible. An accidental scrape of his blade would mean her death. Something he wasn’t willing to risk.
If he used this weapon on his mate’s mother, there would be nothing left of her. No body to bury. No soul to escort to Heaven or Hell.
She would be erased from existence.
Over the millennia, he’d been tasked with escorting souls, he’d only reserved such a harsh punishment for the most wicked. For those who held no hope of redemption. For those so wicked their souls were stained with the blood of their victims.
How many times had Mariska attacked his pack? His mate?
Would she come for them again if he allowed her to escape this day?
Could his blade end the cycle of violence?
Would he regret a decision to let her live if they had children and she attacked again?
“Trust in me, my child.”
That was all he needed to hear.
* * *
“Just a little bit more!”Adalyn poured all of her strength into the fight against her mother. It wasn’t a fight she took lightly. This wasn’t just a little mother/daughter spat where one would give in, and later, both would forgive the misdeeds after a few arguments and missed holiday dinners. Where hurt feelings could be mended, and all would once again be well.
One of them would not walk away from this battle. The only question was who.
Mother or daughter.
Who would be the last woman standing?
Her mate stood sentry behind her. More than likely trying to hatch a plan to save her.
It wouldn’t work.
He was not a witch and could not add to her power. Nor could his wolf penetrate the barrier Mariska had erected around herself.
This battle was hers to fight and hers alone. No one could swoop in to save her. She was either strong enough to defeat Mariska on her own, or she wasn’t. Sadly, Adalyn knew in her heart the answer was the latter.
