Page 49 of Wind and Water
A wash of Liam’s pride fills me. His voice is soft in my head.You can do this.“You can do anything,” he says aloud.
I think it’s the wonder in his voice more than his belief in me that strengthens my resolve. Killing anyone or anything has never been part of my life. I’m no soldier or warrior. Still, when you threaten those I love, I will defend them.
I form an image in my mind of the demon obliterated. It hurts none of my friends. In the aftermath, I visualize Venora’s pale face as her magic is defeated. “She’s manipulating that thing. She’s using her magic.” I draw myself to my full five feet two inches and focus on the two creatures that have nearly swum to the edge of my water wave. Pulling the water closer to keep them immersed, I focus on Liam’s light—the magic tingles inside me.
This time, as the blue light cuts through, I push the water inside, blending my magic with his. Rainbows shine through the stream, and when it hits the beasts, it doesn’t cut them. Instead, it fills them until they reach their capacity, and light explodes inside them, destroying the dark magic.
A flash of Venora’s face and her shock burst into my mind for an instant. Her already pale skin is almost gray from her evil efforts. A second later, she’s gone from my inner vision.
A cheer rises from the centaurs as Liam pulls me tight into his warm hug. “How did you know?”
Turning in his embrace, I crane my neck to meet his gaze. His skin is pale, and his eyes lack the fire I’ve grown accustomed to. “Know what?”
“How to destroy it?” He brushes my wild curls from my face and tucks several strands behind my ear.
I cup his cheek. “Are you alright?”
“We used a lot of magic. I’ll be fine.” He rests his hand over mine.
Momma runs over and wraps her arms around us both. “I’ve never in my life seen anything like that. Those monsters never had a chance against the two of you joined in battle. I thought my heart would plum jump out of my chest when it became two. What kind of world is this, where a demon can just pop up out of hell and attack good people?”
“The kind where evil is close to winning the battle,” Liam says as he releases me and takes a step back. His shoulders slump, and he turns toward the sun.
“Son, are you alright?” Momma touches his arm, and her eyebrows draw together.
“Magic always has a cost, Birdie. I need to rest for a while.” He struggles to climb the small, dry knoll.
I rush to his side and wrap my arm around his waist.
After a short hesitation, he leans some of his weight on my shoulders. My pulse is racing. “You gave too much.”
“It was necessary.” Even his voice has lost some of its normal strength.
Jadar eases Momma out of the way and takes Liam’s other side. “I will lend you some of my magic to speed the healing process.”
The tick of pressure in Liam’s jaw eases after a moment. “I would be grateful for the help, friend.”
We help Liam sit in the grass where our duffels and backpacks are stacked, and I kneel beside him. “Why didn’t you stop before you gave too much? Why didn’t you ask for help?”
Sitting like a cat at rest, Jadar lowers himself so he can reach Liam. “Your mate is right. You could have taken power from a centaur to supplement your magic.” He places his hands over Liam’s chest and closes his eyes.
My skin tingles with the warm and forceful centaur magic.
Fear of losing this elf tightens in my chest. I’ve fallen in love, true and lasting love, for the first time in my life. I could have lost him today. I could lose him at any moment. Part of me wants to run away and forget any of this ever happened, but that is no longer an option. I won’t abandon Liam, these centaurs, or Domhan.
A tiny voice echoes in my mind, warning me that one day, I’ll go home to Texas, and my heart will break into a million pieces, just like those demons exploded with too much light magic.
After a minute, Liam’s skin brightens, as do his eyes.
Jadar pulls his hands away. He grins. “The rest the sun will restore.”
Shaking Jadar’s hand, Liam says, “Thank you.”
I had been so focused on Liam and my worries that I never noticed that several centaurs, including Corell, gathered with concern for Liam.
Corell nods, and they disperse. Corell says, “We should be safe to rest here for a short while. You can recover your strength while the sun is high.”
Remaining seated, Liam takes slow, even, deep breaths. “One hour. Then we’ll need to move on. The lost lands are full of darkness. We shouldn’t remain this close for too long.”
