Page 119 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“I want to use our joined magic to subdue the females,”she said.“I believe Leanora has some sort of hold on them. If we can subdue them while they’re regaining their strength from a lava strike, maybe we can free them of that hold.”
“They barely have any magic as it is,”I argued.
“I know. Ask them anyway.”
I wasn’t sure what was worse. Potentially leaving my best friends—my brothers and sister—defenseless or killing the thunderbirds.
Already, I had too much of their blood on my hands, especially in the past couple of weeks when I’d hunted and killed without any regard for life. I’d been sure to keep the Guardian of Death busy, but now that I wasn’t bloodlust, Iregretted it. Not once had I stopped to ask for safe passage for any of the thunderbirds I’d killed. While I rarely asked for a peaceful passage into the afterlife for the darker creatures of our realm, I’d always taken the time to pray and honor the thunderbirds. For light to shine eternally on them so they could find the peace they hadn’t found while alive.
With my sword away, I asked my friends to lay their weapons down as well. Although confused, they did as I asked.
“I’m sorry to ask this of you,” I started, watching the flock get closer. “Nalari thinks if we join our magic together, we could subdue the thunderbirds.”
Trusting me despite all the ways I’d failed them, Everly and Brenton nodded while George stood there stunned with his brows furrowed and mouth open.
“Before you agree, know you may deplete the little magic you hold, and it still may not be enough to subdue them,” I warned.
Everly knocked a fist to her chest twice. “I trust you,” she said.
Brenton did the same. “As do I.”
Their loyalty was humbling, and while I wasn’t sure I was worthy of it anymore, I’d do my best to deserve it once more.
“I don’t like this,” George grumbled. “But you have a better shot of subduing them if I’m with you too.”
I nodded my appreciation to him. “If it doesn’t work, I promise to defend you with my life. No harm will come to you.”
“If we see you failing, we’ll sacrifice George,” Brenton added with a wink.
Everly pushed him. Nalari growled. The birds screeched.
They were less than a mile away and gaining on us fast.
“Okay.” I gripped Everly’s and George’s hands while George took Brenton’s.
One of them, probably Brenton by the mischievous smile on his face, swung his and George’s hand in the air. Reluctantly, George smiled. I half expected them to skip off.
Amused, I rolled my eyes.
“Channel your magic to me,” I ordered.
All three of my friends and Nalari directed their magic to me. While I’d absorbed Nalari’s magic before, this was something different. Something more. I shivered at the enormity of it. At the strength it gave me.
I could almost understand Leanora’s hunger for more although I’d never do it at the expense of those I cared about.
Just as one of the bird’s stalled midair and narrowed her eyes at us, I sent our combined magic to her. The burning liquid from her eyes spilled as she shrieked. When the lava stopped spilling, she flapped her wings hard so that she soared higher while she regained her strength. With our magic still on her, her wings grew sluggish as she tried to keep herself upright. She fumbled downward before she caught herself, and with an ear-splitting cry, she flew in circles just above our heads.
I sent our magic to the other two birds. One, another female with a pink face, swooped down, aiming her sharp talons at Brenton. Helpless to protect himself, Brenton watched the bird make her fast descent. An acceptance of the death he was certain would come passed through him to our joined magic. I rejected it, sending our magic toward her. But it was too late and did nothing to slow her down. Before she could hit Brenton, Nalari dove over him and took the bird down with her.
The third bird circled high above us, too high for me to reach with our magic, so I kept my focus on the two I could.
Everly’s magic was the first to weaken. Her face was drawn with a grayish pallor.
I let go of her hand to grip her arm.
“You’re done,” I told her.
George whirled his attention to her and rushed to her. I felt the absence of their magic as George helped her sit down. Brenton clasped his hand with mine, and although I continued to absorb his and Nalari’s magic, I wasn’t sure it was enough.
