AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Natalie
Iran as fast as my legs would carry me, following the sound of fighting and the stench of blood. I knew Lucian and Rumir would be angry, but I wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines. I had no idea how I'd help, and maybe that made me reckless, but my mates were out there.
Both of them, damn it!
They were capable men—more than capable, actually. But still, I was petrified that one of them might get hurt. Lucian had been alarmed the second he realized what was coming our way, and even after Rumir had breathed fire at the thing, it remained standing.
I also couldn’t shake the memory of the vision I’d had at the ball. It came to me the moment that wolf had said that the florkin’s eyes were different, that it may be sick.
Its eyes had been red, just as mine had been in my vision.
There weren’t any diseases in this realm. And though I wasn’t sure this was connected to my vision, my gut was telling me that it might be.
Was that it? Had I seen an outbreak of some kind?
“No, that simply can't be possible. This is the God Realm," I said, trying to reassure myself. But I couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding flooding through my system.
I skidded to a halt when I reached the field. Lucian, Brian, and Rumir were the only ones left fighting the creature.
A group of wounded wolves—twelve I counted—were off to the side, some with visibly broken bones and wounds that would need help to heal. One by one, they teleported while Rumir flew above the creature, his swords slicing at its body whenever it looked down, trying to get at Brian and Lucian, who were clawing away at its legs and sides.
Unfortunately, the florkin’s skin was much tougher than it looked, and each strike it received quickly healed.
Lucian roared and swung his arm, slicing through the creature's tail, but the blow wasn’t enough to sever it completely.
Brian moved swiftly, his body blending into the shadows to deliver the final blow, removing the florkin’s tail altogether. The beast reared up on its back legs, crying out. Taking advantage of the fact that the creature’s mouth was open, Rumir released a scorching flame down the beast’s throat.
All three men were fighting so coordinately, it was almost as if they’d done this before, watching each other’s back at every turn and delivering blow after blow in perfect unison. It was almost beautiful to see.
"Get out of the way!" Lucian yelled, and Brian and Rumir did so without question.
Lucian clapped his hands, creating a powerful pulse that sent the disorientated creature flying backward. Trees were uprooted and the earth crumbled, and I screamed as I flew back as well.
I hadn’t been in range to get the full blast, but still, I hit the ground hard, my ears ringing.
“Natalie!” I heard Rumir’s roar above me, and Brian appeared by my side, helping me to my feet.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed.
But I pushed him away and scrambled to my feet. “Rumir!” I screamed because the florkin was already on its feet. It took advantage of Rumir’s distraction and smacked Rumir to the ground with its paw. I hunched forward as a sharp pain shot through my chest. “No!” I screamed, my wolf howling in agony.
One of Rumir’s wings was bent at an odd angle, his swords thrown in opposite directions.
My ability to mind-link was only a version of telepathy, but still at times, when I was close to someone, I could almost feel their pain. And right now, I could feel Rumir’s pain as if it was my own.
The florkin turned its crimson eyes on me, huffing as it shook its head and bared its teeth. While I'd been feeling concern before, now I was furious. I reached out with my mind, my body acting instinctively.
I'd never mind-linked with an animal before, but there was no time like the present to start. My ears were still ringing, but I was too consumed by anger to hear the voices yelling at me.
How dare that thing hit my mate? My mate!
I wasn't going to lose anyone, not here. Never again. I gasped as my mind collided with the florkin’s, and I staggered backward but held on.
It had no clear thoughts the way a human would, but the incredible amount of rage it was feeling felt unnatural. It was all I could feel—rage and an all-consuming need for blood. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before, but in the darkness within its mind, I could feel a part of it that was unaffected by its anger. That part was in pain, suffering, and dying slowly.
“Let me help you!” I spoke into its mind.
I tried to reach out to it, hoping to pull its consciousness to the forefront, hoping it would gain control. I tried desperately to save the creature from within, but as I reached out, just inches away from it, it was consumed.
