Something within my veins thrummed as I called forth the magic from within me.
As I dug deep within myself, time itself slowed to a crawl.
The clouds parted as the afternoon sun shone on me. I felt a stretching within myself as the wind picked up around the clearing. My skin tingled as though it was being pricked by hundreds of needles at once.
Leaves and dirt and debris swirled as a cyclone of air descended upon the four of us.
Hironna cried out as my skin began to glow green. Her tattered wings fluttered as she struggled against her binds.
Her husband’s eyes flashed dangerously as he stepped toward us.
“I am going to kill you,” he growled in Xander’s direction as he bent, picking up a discarded sword that had been lying near his feet, “and then I’m going to play with your whore of a wife for averylong time.” Raithian eyed me lecherously, and I shuddered.
“Over my dead body,” Xander hissed. His fists clenched at his side as a tremor of fury roiled through him. “My wife is not a whore.”
Raising his sword, Xander lunged toward Raithian.
The sound of metal against metal filled the clearing. The two males fought, their swords clashing together over and over again. My breath caught in my lungs as they sparred. They danced together, the larger male soon panting as he fought my fake husband. My hands were still on the trees as the awareness of the earth rushed through me.
Myhhena?I cried out in my mind.
The wind carried her answer to my ears mere moments later.My sisters and I are here, Protectress.
I need your help.
Of course, Protectress.
A wave of power that was unlike anything I’d ever felt before flooded through me. The sudden surge of energy rushing through my veins was overwhelming, and I gasped as I felt my control over my body slip through my fingers.
Part of me knew there had to be a way to manage the raging currents of power rushing through my veins, but I had no idea how to do so. All I knew was I wanted this male to stop. Stop hurting his wife. Stop inflicting pain.
And the magicknewwhat I wanted.
Seconds passed as I stretched my awareness through the forest.
Shall we rid you of this evil human, Protectress?Myhhena asked. I could have sworn her voice sounded almost… giddy in my ear.
Yes,I commanded,do it.
Your wish is our command.
No sooner had the last word echoed in my ear than the ground shook. My eyes widened, my hands still on the trees, as dozens of brown roots burst out of the dirt around the evil human. They wrapped around his feet, dragging him backward.
“What in the seven circles of hell?” Raithian cried out as he fell to the ground. His fingers dug into the dirt, scrambling wildly for purchase. “What kind of sor—”
The horrible male’s words were soon nothing more than a gurgle for air as countless branches, brown and green, burstthroughhis body. Within moments, his corpse was covered in dozens of leafy twigs. Only his boots remained, sticking out of the brambles.
Bile rose in my throat as I stared at the death I had just caused. Another death on my conscience. Another nightmare that would certainly haunt me for the rest of my life.
We are here to serve you, Protectress.Myhhena’s voice echoed through me.
I just… nodded. I was incapable of anything else. The currents of unconstrained power continued to run through me. Inexplicably, it was even stronger than before.
The thrum within my veins increased, and suddenly, I realized my entire body was glowing a vivid green.
My head felt light and my limbs were little more than air as I sank to my knees. The earth softened beneath my feet as I dug my fingers into the dirt.
Somewhere outside of myself, I heard Xander’s voice. He was yelling and calling out to me, but I couldn’t make out his words.