Page 116 of Savage Sacrifice
I want to scream as the pressure grows in my mind, but I don’t make a sound. I can’t.
Trapped, I can’t even see what’s unravelling around me, but I know I can hear the snapping of wolf teeth somewhere. The specifics are lost on me as I frantically try to fight against the invisible restraints holding me captive.
It’s as if the room grows darker around me as my hair glows brighter, and I suddenly drop a few feet. I squeeze my eyes shut,bracing for impact, but it doesn’t come. Dangling in the air, my limbs now horizontal, I capture a full glimpse of the onslaught below.
Wolves race at chanting witches, fighting to help me, while Blaze hovers behind, still restraining Sian, but I see the emotion in his eyes. The inability to hold back much longer as he shoves Sian behind him and darts across the space, straight for Whitmore.
My face pulses, tears filling my eyes as I remain helpless against the growing pressure in my mind. I feel like I’m going to implode when darkness drapes over the room.
It steals my breath, terror coiling through my veins, but this time, I’m not the only one affected.
Witch after cloaked witch drops to their knees, hands slamming against the sides of their heads as they scream. My hair dims a fraction, but whatever spell they’re conjuring is strong now, regardless of their chanting.
The darkness grows, sweeping through the room even though I can’t see it. It’s everywhere. The flames blow out, my hair the only beacon in the room.
I feel his presence before I see him. His outline taunting as he trudges through the space. The war around him parts at his presence, the wolves whimpering at his aura.
The Crow.
MyCrow.
He doesn’t stop until he’s beneath me, his elongated nose tipping in my direction as he glances my way. I feel no fear as he lifts a hand to my face, running a leather-gloved fingertip across my cheek before he turns his attention to the room.
One by one, witches fall at his hands. He races, mere seconds between each one, leaving no stone unturned as he carves his way through each enemy until only Whitmore, Juniper, and Bryony remain.
They gape up at him in horror, still on their knees, hands to their heads, covering their ears with blood splattered across their faces. Their lips part, the cry for mercy on their tongues, but nothing comes out as he rages. His leather coat flicks out to the side, shielding the three of them from my view for a split second, and the moment the material drops again, they’re all gone.
Decapitated.
Limp bodies detached from horror-frozen heads.
He crouches on the floor, taking a moment, and I’m sure I’m going to feel the relief of a breath any moment, when a battle cry rings out from across the room.
Sian.
She charges toward me, intent and determination in every stride, and I know without question that I’m her sole focus.
She’s moving fast.Toofast, and as her nails dig into my neck, I let my eyelids start to fall, accepting the inevitable since I can’t fight back. The next touch doesn’t come as her hands fall away, a high-pitched scream filling the air along with a snarl.
I pry my eyes open to find a wolf ravaging her remains with a ferocity I can’t comprehend. The second Wylder leans back with blood-stained teeth, my hair dims, and I collapse to the floor.
The touch of leather breaks my fall as I look up at the terrifying mask that has haunted me until now. Sucking in a lung full of air, my vision blurs as my body falls lax, and as I seek the darkness, only one thought remains in my mind.
Guard the light.
Guard the light.
Guard the light.
39
POLARIS
Adelicate touch sweeps over my cheek, swooping into my hair, my name nothing but a breath from their lips before the motion is repeated. It beckons me from the darkness, pulling me toward the light, lulling me to the surface as I pry my eyes open.
The dimly lit walls of the witches’ basement don’t greet me this time, but the sun. Squinting, my gaze settles on the man holding me in his arms, but he looks different.
A soft smile ghosts my lips as my gaze finds his, and relief glistens in his blue and green marbled pools.
