Page 33 of Oracle
We were ready for war now.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
KIRA
Tian had lit a fire within me that burned out all traces of my lingering self-pity that I was harboring. If I continued to dwell on it, it could be the end for everyone, not just me. It was the reality slap I had desperately needed as I pictured the future crumbling to ash in my mind. There was only so long that I could suppress my emotions by losing myself in the flesh of my mates.
We had been running for about half a day now towards our target and would need to stop for a break soon. My wolf’s chest burned with fire, the cold combined with physical exertion depleting energy levels.
Keeping an eye out for the hot springs Lux had mentioned being near here, I silently hoped we would stumble upon it soon. Our muscles needed warmth and our bellies needed sustenance which would be hard to come by in the winter season.
Swinging our attention to the burnt orange wolf with white tufts, I thought of how uniquely beautiful Tian’s wolf was. It reminded me of the coloring of a fox on a wolf’s body, and having him at my side at the front of our charge was soothing.
We had settled on him at my side with the rest of my mates at our rear and our army following, putting the bulk of the potential harm on us. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We had the most experience under our belts with Daimona and the upper-level demons, making it a no-brainer of taking the lead.
Who knew the quiet and calm one would be so dominant?
Lux practically purred the question in my mind, turning my thoughts to being indecent once more. It was too easy to be pulled into it, especially knowing Tian was the last one I needed to cement the bond with.
On top of his display of mental strength earlier. Watching him step forward and gracefully, yet forcefully put the men in their place had been attractive. Not to mention his easy transition into building my own fortitude up. He had such a quiet strength that simmered beneath the surface, constantly providing me with a steady pillar to lean on in my moments of doubt and unease.
There it is! The springs are near.
A large willow tree covered in beautiful layers of fresh powder snow came into view, seemingly standing alone in the middle of this forest. It casts long shadows around it to add to an already drab day with the sun hidden behind the haze of low-hanging clouds. Something about the darkness pulled my mind into the familiar fog of a vision oncoming.
Quickly shifting, I rasped out, “Vision oncoming,” just before I collapsed into the top layer of snow. As my eyes closed, I saw the bright gold eyes of Tian there, giving me strength to face whatever I would see.
It was the strength I needed as I fell directly into a bloody battle and saw all of my mates in a terrain I didn’t recognize, ferociously fighting alongside our army against Daimona and towering upper-level demons. It had to be hell based on the flowing lava rivers I saw, separating territories, it seemed, from the bird’s-eye view I had.
Why wasn’t I looking through my own eyes or from a participating body perspective? Where was I in this equation? This was such a drastic change from how I usually saw visions that it had my head spinning.
A red circle began to glow underneath the center of our army where my mates fought, pulsating and building in speed until it exploded. A scream ripped from my throat as the energy shot from the ground, ruby and black magic coursing up to engulf our people, holding them in a death grip as I watched their mouths hang open and the glow of their souls traveling up their throats.
Their souls were ripped out by the tendrils of magic and immediately all of their bodies dropped to the ground, dead.
They were all going to die.
What magic is this?
“Come to me and find out,”the familiar voice of my enemy murmured as my brain exploded in pain. I couldn’t shake myself from this vision, feeling my brain in the grasps of his talons.
The scene faded, leaving my mind swirling with the sole image of blood red eyes taunting me.
“Join me and I will spare their lives.”
Fighting through the pain, I snarled, “Forgive me if I don’t believe the word of a deranged murderer. With all due respect, Satan, fuck off.”
Kira!
Tian’s voice broke through the veil that hung over my mind and I jerked awake, desperately gasping for breath as I found myself in his arms and submerged in heat.
You’re back. It’s okay. He can’t touch you here.
Lux, what the hell was that power and why wasn’t I there?
My breathing began to slow as my heart found a steady rhythm and I looked around. Realizing I was alone with Tian, submerged in a small alcove of a hot spring in a cave, I sighed in relief.
I’ve never seen that power before. It was never used in the Shadow War.
