Page 176 of Rising Out of the Darkness
All at once my breath left my body as lightning struck through the both of us. Through the current of fiery light, Alastor’s eyes glistened with fury as he unleashed blow after blow of his dynamis.
The roar that exited my body shook the entire lair. It even caused Alastor to stumble, wide-eyed, before he extended his arm to launch his dynamis again. A flash of light—no, fire—flashed before my eyes.
Will stood in front of me, taking the full blow of the lightning strike. With a grunt, he fell to his knees. Alastor stomped towards us both.
“Remember, you can’t—” Will paused, trying to settle his breath. “You can’t kill him yet.”
The glare that Alastor unleashed on Will could have easily burnt a hole. Will regained his footing just for Alastor to send a right hook to his jaw, sending him crashing back down. My lips twitched up at the sight. Even though Will had just shielded me, it didn’t erase all the rage I had pent up against him for what he had done to Elena.
“Oh, you think this is all funny?” Alastor glanced at the two dead creatures underneath me. He extended his hand and hissed another command.
A scream filled the cave. I watched in horror as Elena flew across the water straight into his clutch. He wrapped his fingers around her neck, and another scream fled her lips as her feet dangled in the air.
“STOP! Leave her alone. Do your worst to me.” I stumbled to my feet and ran towards him. With a flick of his wrist, anotherbolt of lightning thrashed against me, shoving me backwards. Pain assaulted my body, but I didn’t back down. I couldn’t, not until I had her safe inside my arms. Shallow breaths rasped from my mouth as I continued to make my way towards him. Blow after blow of his dynamis knocked against my body.
“Son! Stop!” My father’s exasperated cries echoed against my ears. Ignoring his pleas, I pushed my body further.
Alastor’s eyes began to widen as he took a few steps back. His lips twitched and beads of sweat began to fall down his brow. All at once, his dynamis stopped, halting me dead in my tracks as I paused for a much-needed gasp of air. Alastor’s gaze had shifted…onto my father’s.
“Let’s see who you’ll choose.” Alastor grinned as fear sliced through my gut as I watched him begin to drain the power out of my father.
My eyes locked on my father’s. No words passed between us, just a silent nod and a teary smile. I began my sprint towards Elena, who had already been launched into the air.
No dynamis meant no zephyring. Pushing my body to its limit, I ran with everything I had to catch the woman I loved.
Chapter 73
Elena
Suddenly the air whipped around my face, and a scream ripped through me as I felt weightless as I made a rapid descent.
The gods only knew how our fates would end, and it seemed as though this might be where I met my end.
Faster and faster, I hurtled toward the floor, my heart thrumming so hard against my chest it felt as though it might break through.
“ELENA!”
Declan’s yell shattered against my eardrum at the same time as I collided into his solid body. We crashed into the ground and the sound of our bodies crashing against stone filled the cavern.
Declan groaned in agony and forced me to roll off him. The ache in my chest was unbearable. I must have cracked a rib, if not more. Declan’s breaths rattled in his chest.Hells, he must have punctured a lung.
My swollen eyes barely opened, but it was enough to get a sense of my surroundings.
Declan lay sprawled on the ground, clutching his chest. Both of us were covered in massive amounts of blood and open wounds.
“Don’t think his act of valor will save you, Elena.” The sound of Alastor’s voice made me cringe. A malicious laugh rumbled about the cave as footsteps neared. “I’ve already taken every last bit of Alaric’s dynamis.” The king’s slumped body dangled from the iron chain around his wrist.
Dec snarled, fighting the pain as he pushed himself onto his feet. I thrust my shoulder under his arm and wrapped my arm around his back to steady us both as we faced Lord Grimshaw.
“Youwillboth submit to me.” Blackness had almost taken over the white in his eyes, turning them into two pools of darkness. “I will go after your little Rebellion city.” My eyes widened. “Yes, I know he’s been hiding it from us all these years. I’ll take them. Every. Single. One. Each one will die in front of you both, and I won’t stop until you both submit to me. The power you hold belongs to me, and I will never stop until it is mine once more.”
His words made my mouth become instantly dry. Declan gave my shoulder a squeeze, forcing me out of my spiraling thoughts, reminding me that I was not alone—he was right there beside me, and he always would be.
“Perhaps it’s time to show you exactly what I mean,” Alastor sneered, stretching out his arm. In a flash, Will dangled from Alastor’s hand.
Alastor hissed a string of incoherent words. Declan and I both watched in horror as Will’s body began to transform. Dark claws ripped his boots to shreds as thick black fur sprouted over his flesh. He tossed his head back with a scream that chilled my bones as his teeth grew into ivory fangs.
Will turned his body towards us, his blue eyes still full of flame. “Run!”
