Page 53 of Rejected Forced Mate
Once more, I called my magic forward, and while it was sluggish this time around, it still came. I didn't have much left in the tank, but magic was the only thing the rogues weren't prepared for.
That...and I knew that it would be difficult for Noah to kill his former best friend. So if I had to take on that burden, I would.
Noah turned towards me, and his eyes widened. He started to protest, but I didn't give him a chance. The rogues were almost upon us, and I wasn't wasting any time.
"Protect the others." "Not a chance in hell," Noah growled, but there was no heat in his voice.
I didn't reply. Instead, I closed my eyes, focused on the earth beneath my feet, and let my magic pour forth. The light that came from my hands was less gold this time, and more silvery, but it was effective enough
The rogues slammed against an invisible wall, and I was able to keep them there for a few moments, but I knew it wouldn't hold. My energy was waning, and going on the offense made it worse.
I couldn't keep fighting much longer, but maybe I could mount a defense.
"Noah," I called, pulling his attention away from the fight he was engaged in, "If we can drive them out, I can put up a shield."
He didn't respond, but I felt his approval radiating through our bond.
"I need time," I gasped, pushing my hands out in front of me, "Keep them off me, just long enough for me to cast the spell!"
Digging deep, I started to chant the spell, sweat beading on my forehead, the hum of power sinking into my bones. Noah tried, but there were just too many, and the rest of his warriors were back near the sparring grounds. As the rogues grew closer to me, I prepared myself to drop the shield spell, determined togo down fighting if that was what it took, but right before one of them hit me, they were thrown aside by a small, sandy colored wolf. Then, a sooty wolf came around the other side, nipping at the heels of a rogue that dared to approach me.
In awe, I turned my head to see that the Council house doors were open and the wolves that had been hiding inside were pouring out, shifting onto four legs and joining the fight.
No, not just joining the fight...they were protecting me. Noah's pack...my pack...were putting themselves in danger so I could finish the spell.
My magic was fading, but a new rush of adrenaline had it sparking anew, and as I called the spell forward, a thin shimmer of gold formed in the air above me.
It was a small thing, barely large enough to cover the Council house, but it would hold. Slowly, sweat now dripping down my face, I pushed the boundary of the spell out, and out, and out.
Time slowed, and I lost track of how long I worked, but I could hear the battle still raging around me.
At one point, I heard Joe and the Brokenclaw wolves, and then Noah yelling for them to drive the rogues out. Then, Noah screamed, "Dominic, no!"
The anguish in his voice was heartbreaking, and I cracked my eyes enough to see him strike his old friend down, and the rogue lay still. Noah looked down at Dominic's unmoving body for a long moment, and then his expression hardened, and he led the charge as the pack pushed the rogues back. God, I wanted to go to him, to comfort my mate, but it would have to wait.
I had so little magic left, but it was almost done. My small shield covered almost all of the pack territory, and while it wouldn't last all that long, it would have to be enough.
My eyes closed again, and I finished the spell, my last few words echoing before all was quiet. As soon as the trance of the spell left me, I was swaying on my feet, and when I dragged a hand under my nose to wipe away the sweat, my wrist came away covered in my own blood.
Laughing and delirious, I sank to the ground, the edges of my vision darkening. I could hear footsteps racing towards me through the forest, but they wouldn't make it before I passed out.
But that was okay. I did it. We all did it.
With the last of my strength, I put a hand to my stomach, feeling a small flicker of the baby's energy.
"You're safe," I whispered, "We're safe. You're going to be okay."
The blackness was closing in, and I let it take me, knowing that I'd done my job. I could only hope that Noah wouldn't be too upset with me.
***
I came to in the same infirmary where I had treated the bear attack victims, and I wasn't alone.
My heart sank when I saw that Noah wasn't there, but Leslie was. The physician smiled warmly down at me as she adjusted my IV line while circling the bed.
"Welcome back to the land of the living."
Her tone wasn't alarmed, and that was comforting, but I had to be sure, "Is the—?"
