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“Cerberus Maddox.” The bishop appeared from behind the flaming house. “The Order accuses you of wrongful crimes against your mate, acts of violence that endangered innocent immortals, and the abduction of a claimed female. Surrender now, and we will show you mercy.”
Maddox bared his teeth at the bishop, snarling like a predator possessed. “This is a treat. I dreamed of what I might do should I set eyes on you again.”
The bishop was unarmed. He was either showing extreme courage or extreme stupidity. The Order held back, waiting for Eleazar’s next command.
Maddox tipped his head left then right, the tendons cracking as he pinned the bishop with his ruthless stare and grinned. “There was nothing to dull the pain when you invaded my home, attacked me, stole my mate, and mutilated me. You’d think the body goes numb after the first limb is torn, but no. I remember all of it. Especially you.”
Maddox splayed his fingers wide and pushed his energy at Eleazar, but Eleazar was prepared and deflected the push, sending it right back.
The wave knocked several immortals to the ground. The roar of energy blaring like a locomotive running off the tracks. Delilah covered her head and ducked.
Maddox roared and marched forward, shooting out a hand and compelling a sharp stake into his hand from the broken framework of the house. “Let’s do this the old way.”
The Order marched forward, prepared to protect their bishop. “Lay down your weapon, Cerberus, and we will reach an accord peacefully.”
Maddox laughed. “I choose violence.” His hand shot out, and Christian’s body shot into the flames, propelled by whatever force Maddox possessed.
“No!” Delilah screamed, rushing after her mate, only to stagger back when Christian burst from the burning house with murderous intent darkening his eyes. Scythe at the ready, he roared and charged his father.
The mob echoed Christian’s rage and swallowed Maddox. Metal clanked and voices screamed as flesh tore and bones snapped. Delilah covered her mouth in shock at what these Amish would do when evil threatened their peace.
A horrific masculine howl bellowed from the brawl as screams poured from the melee. The earth shook as squalls spun like tops over the fields, ripping up trees and pulling siding off of the houses. The forest fire spread with wild, uncontrolled power. Then everything stilled, and the flames of both the forest and the house dropped to glowing embers.
A young girl Delilah didn’t recognize stood several feet away, holding her palms open as if pulling the energy of the fire into herself. She chanted in foreign tongues as the blinding light of the fire throbbed, winking and flickering like a lucent firefly brought to life.
“The witch!” someone shouted. “How did she get free?”
The girl’s voice rose with each foreign utterance. Her strength worked like a bubble that trapped and calmed the violent mob, her sorcery strong enough to command obedience of fifty immortals.
A burst of energy rolled forward, knocking them down like pins. Screams and moans cut through the chanting but her intonation never slowed.
“You’re hurting them!” Delilah yelled, then doubled over, taking in their pain as several elders fell to their knees and screamed in agony.
“Delilah!” Christian’s voice cut through the shrieks and cries. He crawled to her, despite his own suffering.
The suffering was so great, all of their afflictions hitting her at once. A thousand knives seemed to stab into her skull as the unbearable pressure built.
Screams erupted in the distance as the females came rushing out of their homes, pained by their mates’ suffering. But Delilah took the brunt, the witch’s spell triggering such agony in her presence that a healing naturally followed. Only Delilah wasn’t strong enough to heal one of them, let alone all of them.
“You must stop!” Christian screamed. “You’re hurting her! The females are innocent!”
One by one, the elders dropped to their knees as their mates shrieked. Delilah lay on the muddy earth, shaking through the onslaught of pain. There was no escaping it. Her mind lacked the discipline to shut off her gifts. Their suffering was too much.
A vicious roar ripped from Christian’s throat as he surged forward, teeth snapping and claws extended. He sprang for the witch, tackling her roughly to the ground, and the pain cut off the moment her words silenced.
The dulled flames came back to life, shooting high into the air as the fires roared in chaotic destruction. Delilah twitched and breathed through the remaining tremors, rain soaking through her clothes and mixing with her tears.
Her head turned weakly as she lay in the cold mud. The world slowed. The violence before her would haunt her to her last breath. They were merciless. Clawing. Biting. Tearing chunks of flesh from the bone. Maddox was at the center of their rage, but he seemed the strongest of all.
Screams sounded a hundred miles away. Blood spilled and cries shattered any remaining illusion of beauty. They were ruthless animals, clawing any threat to ruin.
