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Years of magical knowledge returned to me, mixing with my modern understanding. My power pulsed and swelled, ready to be used in endless capacity.My limit is my imagination. And my imagination is powerful and limitless.
I had struggled in the past with my magic. I didn’t know who I was back then, and yet I’d figured it out. I figured it out again. I knew who I was, and I knew more than I did back then.
I am a healer.
I am a protector.
I am fury and passion and I won’t be tamed.
“Angel, protect Diego,” I ordered through clenched teeth. I didn’t wait to see her react to my command. I didn’t need to. I felt it. I felt that tug Aya told me about, and it said she understood and would comply.
My axe came down on the shifter, slicing into his shoulder when he tried to jump away. Blood sprayed and sizzled, the stench of burning hair filling my nose. The head of my axe, wreathed in golden flame, burned bright as my soul.
I swung my sword, sparkles of gold and black magic flying off toward the shifter backing away from me, and slamming into him like tiny, concussive projectiles.
Water splashed, and Tyr charged out of the lake. My eyes flicked to him, my mind quickly assessing his lack of weaponry. Magic activating again, his wrist glowed, and a magical hand clutching a shield manifested.
Tyr didn’t even blink, charging right for the shifter and slamming the shield into his bleeding face. Tyr followed up with a strike with his fist.
The wolf backed up, snarling and snapping in frustration. I attacked him again with magic, focusing on his puny mind. He would not hurt anyone I loved ever again.
The shifter howled and writhed. He turned on his heels and fled.“This isn’t over. I will end you, false Valkyrie.”
Roots sprang out of the ground suddenly, chasing after the shifter and ultimately missing as he disappeared into the underbrush. I jerked my attention toward the property line, finding Sean standing at the clearing edge, face tight with concentration and eyes glowing. I blinked rapidly, struggling to process the pacifist elf attacking anyone.
My wings folded in and the power in me drained. Suddenly, heaviness weighed on my mind as an emptiness set in where the magic had been. I listed to one side, the sounds around me dulling, and then, everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Astrid
Heaviness pressedagainst my mind and body in all directions. I didn’t like it. I wanted to push it away, but I couldn’t move. That made this feeling worse. Why couldn’t I move? I needed to.
“Something’s different.” Diego’s voice drifted into my mind. “She seems restless.”
I struggled against these strange chains in my mind. I needed to see him. I needed to make sure he was okay.
“Astrid?” he said. “I think she’s finally awake, but something is wrong.”
Awake? Am I asleep?I couldn’t be. I’d never had such difficulties waking up before.
“Have her take this. She’s too drained.”Is that Ùna?
“Is it safe for her to?”
“She’s as conscious as she’s going to be until she recovers enough of her magic. This will speed up the process.”
“Cielo, we’re giving you some tea,” Diego said. “Doesn’t smell great.”
“You’ve had this before in the past,” Ùna said. “It tastes even worse.”
I knew the tea she meant. This was not going to be pleasant.
A pungent scent hit my nose and then the warm taste of grass and refuse assaulted my tongue. If I could gag, I would. My stomach certainly protested as the disgusting liquid slid down my throat.
A wave of warmth flooded through me. My eyes snapped open. I bolted up, coughing and sputtering, my head pulsing with the sudden movement. Angel’s close nose sniffled and poked my cheek, and a large hand I recognized, belonging to Tyr, pressed against my back. It felt warm, like skin touching skin, but that didn’t make sense. I’d worn a T-shirt today.
A tea cup hovered in the corner of my vision, and I immediately pushed it away. “Gods, why does it still taste so bad? Couldn’t you have improved it in all this time?”
