Page 39 of Hellish Witch

Growls layered over the pained keening, and I sucked in a breath as several of the pale beasts finally took the plunge. Killian roared, surging to meet the creatures in the water head-on with nothing but his claws and fangs.

A hair-raising howl added to the chaos, and Alpha tore into the melee, his paws of lilac flame bright in the gloom. The hellhound snarled, snapping sharp teeth at bone-kin before they could reach the hellcat. The two fearsome creatures fought on the raised verge, blood and fur flying in their wake.

Killian didn’t even flinch as a bone-kin bit down on his forearm. He angled his head and rammed a horn right through the monster’s glowing eye socket. The beast screeched, releasing the incubus and rearing to get away.

I staggered in the water, fighting my own battle.

Tendrils of violence coiled through me. I gritted my teeth, stuffing the ravenous darkness as deep as I could, willing it to leave me alone. There were even more allies to protect from myself now.

The last beast slid off Killian’s claws, collapsing into the water with a splash. It bobbed lazily as the river carried it off downstream, a wet ball of white fur stained with inky blood.

A hush descended over the night, broken only by the gentle rush of water.

The hellcat yanked her tail stinger out of a downed beast with a squelch and bared her fangs in a smug feline grin. A deepgouge through her foreleg closed before my eyes, her ability to heal herself as unexpected as her appearance.

“Thank you,” I said, unsure what to do with the fact that two near-mythical creatures had saved me and Killian. “I’ll give you both all the cookies and belly rubs you want.”

What was the proper etiquette to thank near-mythical creatures?

Killian inclined his horns at our unlikely rescuers onshore. The ends of his wings glided through the water as he turned to me, silvered eyes sharp as they trailed over me, checking for injuries.

I returned the favour.

My gasp drowned out his relieved breath.

“Fires, Kill. You’re tenderised meat!” I hurried towards him, wading into shallower water until only a pace separated us.

The shadows in Killian’s wings dissipated, retreating like smoke to leave behind white feathers stained red. They were scratched deep, oozing blood in places where the water hadn’t yet reached.

Claw-marks and fang holes pierced his muscular arms. His inked chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, despite the pain from multiple lacerations criss-crossing his skin beneath the shreds of his top.

Unlike at last night’s party, none of his wounds appeared too deep. At least I’d not caused them all this time either.

My hand shook as I ran it through my damp hair, pushing the slick strands back between my stubby horns. “That was close,” I muttered. “Too close.”

Killian smirked, too unfazed by his brush with death. “You’re right. I was about three seconds from shoving you downriver. You’re lucky your furry friends were here to save you the swim.”

I cast him a sour look. “You wouldn’t have dared.”

He shrugged his wings, feigning innocence. “I would have fished you out after I’d dealt with the bone-kin. Your safety is my priority.”

Right. Of course it was.

Because he’d been sent to babysit me by my overprotective brother/uncle/king.

I eyed the hellhound waiting regally onshore. Killian wasn’t the only one on babysitting duty.

“I’m going to heal you,” I whispered, throat tight. I lifted my palm to hover over Killian’s chest, shooting him a questioning look.

The darkness inside me writhed, scenting fresh blood. I swallowed thickly, trying not to panic as saliva pooled on my tongue until I wanted to gag.

“They barely scratched me.” Killian shrugged, the tips of his wings dipping lower in the pink water.

Of course he’d tough it out as usual. The stubborn boar never let me heal him.

No part of me wanted to battle the hungry beast that lived inside me, but for Killian, I would. This wasn’t the first time he’d stepped between me and danger. I owed him more than I could ever repay.

Steeling my nerves, I reached for my magic. Slowly. Tentatively. I felt down for the well of light in my chest. My warm, cosy magic. The one good thing my father had given me.

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