Agrios lifts a huge meaty paw, about to slam down on Kira’s head, but Dax is there with his battle ax and horror fills me as he hacks off Agrios arm and ichor sprays in a gushing torrent over Dax, Kira, and Draven. Adrian jumps out of the way just in time, but Thad isn’t so lucky.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” I shout and jump from the SUV with Raven hot on my heels. “This isn’t good. Shit. See what happens when we don’t fight?”
“It’s not the end of the world, B. It will just give them a power boost.” Raven jogs next to me.
I call my whip and slash it along the gaping cut still spewing ichor all over the place, cauterizing the wound. With my sword alight with flames, I cut Agrios’ head from his body. Instead of blood, a bird flies up into the trees, squawking angrily.
Beth, I swear to the gods I’m going to turn that ass pink. You were supposed to stay in the SUV,Jayden growls into my mind.
I had to do something. He was spraying ichor all over the damn place,I respond in his mind.
“You guys okay?” I ask, turning to the others while Jayden, Adrian, and Greyson fight Orios.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen, was it?” Dax points to his face. “This is the ichor you were dosed with. What’s going to happen to us now?”
“You will have to watch your power levels for a while and you may get aggressive and territorial for a little while until you level out.” I wring my hands together.
“This isn’t your fault, Beth,” Draven says, eyeing me warily.
“Isn’t it, though? I’m usually the one front and center. It never should have gotten all over you guys.” I shake my head.
Thad steps forward. “We made the call to go into this battle. We made the call to keep you out of it. This isn’t on you and maybe this will keep us all alive in the final battle.”
Thad reaches out to grip my shoulder but stops himself when he remembers there’s ichor all over him. “Maybe we should find a place to clean this up.”
“Probably a good idea.” I take a step back from them.
“I swear, you are the only person I have ever met who believes more power is a bad thing,” Dax says.
“Um, not the only one.” Raven raises her hand.
“I already knew you were weird, though.” Dax chuckles.
Raven pulls a dagger from the ether and Dax raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back.
“That’s what I thought, brother.” Raven glares at him.
“There should be some bottled water in the bags in the back of the SUV.” I point to the vehicle but Jayden already has them and is striding toward us. “Thanks, baby.”
He tosses the bottles to everyone with a grimace, not wanting to get too close to them either. We have enough power and we honestly have no idea what it will do to us a third time.
I can only hope that this doesn’t negatively impact my friends because I don’t know if I will survive losing anyone. It will destroy me.
