Swallowing her protests, she nodded.
“Raven.” Dominic barked her name out like a reprimand.
“The Council sent him for a reason. We’d be foolish not to use him.” And as much as she wanted to send him packing, she couldn’t refuse. She’d do anything to protect her pack, even team up with Randolph.
They passed through the gates in an uneasy alliance. Whatever she had expected, what she saw when they came to the campus hadn’t been it. In just one day, it had been destroyed, many of its inhabitants massacred, so it now resembled a war zone. Buildings lay in ruins, while deep craters were scattered about like giant wounds in the earth. Bits of gore dotted the grass, body parts mangled beyond recognition.
So much magic had been thrown around that the overly-sweet smell had turned sickly, mixing caustically with the stench of blood and rot. It permeated the air, but did little to cover the sour odor of fear that seemed to taint everything.
Randolph stopped at her side. “Whatever happened here, the witches put up a helluva fight.”
A quiver of doubt shook her. She surveyed her little army. None of them were armed, they were weapons in their own right, but few of them were equipped to handle magic.
When they emerged at the center of the campus, a welcome party waited for them. Heloise stood next to the Prime. “I didn’t want to involve you. I had no choice.”
Raven understood. Heloise had a whole school full of children to protect. That didn’t mean she couldn’t still blame her, though. This fight could’ve been prevented if the witch had just listened. That knowledge, along with regret, darkened Heloise’s eyes.
Raven noted the position of the people who remained standing. Small groups were scattered throughout the campus, all of them looking like they’d been to hell and back. They were filthy, their clothes ripped, their wounds untended and bleeding. A few looked ready to keel over at any moments, but the hatred in their eyes still burned.
Then she noticed a difference in a few of the survivors. With each group, there was a person who still had power.
Traitors.
Most likely bitten and under the control of the one who wielded the wild magic.
“Welcome!” A young wolf, the one in charge of the familiars, strode forward with a bright smile. “I see you received my invitation to join the party.”
Things began to click into place. “You’re in charge.”
His smile turned bitter. “It took me years of planning, but I finally found a way to destroy those who’ve enslaved my people for centuries.”
He seemed so proud of his accomplishments that Raven could only shake her head. “I agree—”
“I knew you’d see things my way.” He practically bounced in his eagerness. “That’s why I wanted you here. With you by my side, we’ll be unstoppable.”
“You’re insane.” His smile dropped away, and his wolf peered out through his eyes. “I agree that no one should be forced into doing what they don’t want, but you willingly entered into this agreement and signed a contract. You’re being paid.”
A snarl twisted his face, his rage a physical presence. “They’ve poisoned you against us.”
“If you want your freedom, war is not the way to go about it.”
“You know nothing about our plight. I thought you were different, but I should’ve known better. You’re an alpha.” He said it like it was a curse. “What would you know of hardship and pain? You’re part of the problem, selling out your own kind for a few dollars.”
Her creature growled in affront, the sound echoing around the campus, loud enough that the few remaining shifters took a step back. “No one forced you sign over your life. You had a choice. Don’t blame the pack if your life didn’t turn out the way you wanted it.”
The shifter stared at her for a few more seconds then waved his arm. “Kill her.”
The Prime took a step forward, and Raven braced herself for an attack. He looked different from the first quick glimpse she’d stolen when he’d screamed past on his bike. He’d aged, his broad frame thinner and banged-up around the edges, like he’d put up a fight before being taken.
A thin line of red encircled his pupils, revealing something inhuman had taken over.
Then he smiled at her, his face losing the dead expression as something sparked to life in him. A chill sliced through her soul. But instead of attacking, he turned toward the shifter. “No.”
“What are you doing? I gave you an order.”
“I don’t take orders from you.”
The shifter blinked, then sputtered. “I’m the one who summoned you. You have to obey.”
While they were distracted, Raven tipped her head toward Heloise, then flicked a glance at a group of children huddled by one of the few remaining buildings. The woman gave a grim nod and inched away from the confrontation. A few of the others understood the gesture and followed suit.
Wild magic thickened the air, and Raven whirled to see the Prime’s smile was sharper now, his teeth more prominent. His patience had grown thin. “No one commands me. I came because it suited my purpose. We no longer need your assistance.”
As if understanding the danger, terror darkened the young wolf’s eyes. “But we are going to free ourselves from the witches.”
The Prime laughed, an unsettling sound that turned her stomach liquid. He spread his arms wide. “I have no need to massacre the witches. They pose no threat.”
“But you killed them—”
“I needed this body, someone strong enough to hold my magic.” He shrugged, as if the deaths were inconsequential. “This was the fastest way to get what I want.”
With those last words, he turned and their gazes clashed. Raven had the sinking feeling that what he wanted had now changed.
The young wolf gained confidence and strode forward, waving a hand at the destroyed campus. “Then why allow all of this to happen?”
“Because I want her.”
The wolf snorted, then nearly choked when he realized the Prime was serious.
Magic gathered around the Prime, and Raven knew it was time to strike or it would be too late. “Now.”
Time slowed.
Heloise sent a blast at the man guarding the children, and Raven watched as he exploded into a bright red mist. Then she had no more time to worry about the witches as the area erupted into chaos.
Sensing danger, the young wolf whirled and tried to shift. The process was brutal and slow and much too late. The Prime released a wave of magic, and she watched it hit the young animal in mid-transformation. Instead of shifting into a beast, the process was reversed. The body was ripped apart, and skin and fur pelted everyone in the blast radius.
Some of the familiars bolted, others helped the witches escape or gave chase, she wasn’t sure which, but the majority roared and charged into battle. Her group scattered, meeting the threat head-on. She heard fighting behind her, but trusted them to have her back.
Randolph strode into the chaos, his magic boiling out of him, blasting any of the witches who’d turned traitor, doing what none of her people could.
The Prime turned toward her as if the fighting around them didn’t matter, and she forced herself to step forward. She wasn’t sure she could take him, but she was their best bet.
“I’ve been waiting to meet you for a very long time.”
Raven’s brows furrowed at the stalker-like pronouncement. “What do you want?”
“You.”
“Sorry, but I’m already part of a pack.” She could’ve bitten her tongue when his gaze flew past her to land on her men.
He wasn’t smiling now. “Then I’ll have to remedy that.”
The magic gathered again like a wild storm. She ran toward the Prime, but knew she’d never make it there in time.
Now!
The creature flooded her with power, and she crossed the distance in a flash. Just as she plowed into him, magic burst free and spilled into the air. They rolled, the impact slamming them into the ground
, knocking the breath out of her.
Panic shredded her insides when she realized she hadn’t been in time. She had two choices, protect her pack or herself. Not caring about the consequences, Raven used all her power to gather the wild energy to her. The black swarm slowed, then reversed directions and streamed toward her, but much too late.
A fraction hit Durant’s unprotected back.
He dropped to his knees with a snarl. A black cloud of magic swelled around him, crackling with red lightening. It darted back and forth, trying to gain entrance, but the tattoo on his back prevented it.
It worked for all of a minute.
She watched in horror as he breathed in the black smog. “No!”
She grabbed the connection between them and poured every bit of her power into him. As soon as he felt her, Durant stopped fighting, allowing her to take control. His faith that she would protect him in all things staggered her.
His back bowed as her power flooded him, and she concentrated on strengthening the ward along his back. The tattoo blazed a bright gold, turning molten, reminding her of his beast. It not only repelled the dark magic, but the light banished it. The tiger’s roar ripped through the compound, and the fighting around her stopped while people watched.
Raven rose to her feet, the creature so close to the surface they moved as one. “My pack.”
“Not to worry, there are other ways to kill him besides magic.” The Prime turned to a group of witches standing at the perimeter of the grove. “Take control of the animals. Kill him.”
Rage thickened her blood, and she knew then that the Prime would never stop.
She watched as Durant and the vampire stood back to back, prepared to fight off the attack, but they were severely outnumbered. They had only one course of action. “Run!”
Raven gathered all the electricity in the vicinity, roping the strands around the Prime to form a net, the lines glowing blue with power. With each loop, she gradually tightened the cage around him.
The few shifters still fighting on their side took off running, their speeds incredible. As she watched, magic spilled over the ground and surged in their direction. It nipped at their heels, just seconds away from ensnaring them. The man from the Council was the first to fall to the magic, targeted because he was one of the few shifters present who could actually morph into his animal.
He dropped to his knees and fought it. Fur sprouted along his arms, nails sliced through his fingertips. A roar, part human scream, part beast tore from him, revealing a mouth full of inch long razor-sharp teeth.
“Take out the witches,” Raven shouted to anyone who was close enough to hear.
Dominic turned and trudged toward the witches, each step slower and heavier as he neared the greater concentration of magic. Meaning he was taking the brunt of the spell as well. How long could he last before he, too, was taken?
“Stop wasting time. Stop the Prime.” Randolph sprinted toward the witches, unimpeded by magic. A few of the witches noted the threat and began casting.
She needed to buy them more time to ensure the others got away.
She was no match to the Prime physically or magically.
That meant she had to be smarter.
The Prime touched the cage around him as if amused…until the tips of his fingers came away singed. With a frown, he braced himself, put his hands out before him, and blasted wild magic at his prison.
The walls flexed and bowed, the blue cords turning black as the energy burned out.
She fed the cage more power, but the net wouldn’t last much longer.
Vicious snarls erupted behind her, and a glance showed the vampire engaged in fighting two shifters…and losing. Durant was facing off with a full-grown wolf. He picked up the beast and slammed him into the ground hard enough that dirt kicked up from the impact. Instead of staying down, the wolf rolled to his feet and snarled in challenge. It would be a fair fight if Durant shifted, but he couldn’t risk being in his animal form. As a human against a wolf, he was vastly outmatched.
Blood flowed freely from numerous gashes. When the wolf charged, Durant held still, hands loose at his sides, not bothering to defend himself.
She almost stopped what she was doing to help, but she couldn’t risk the Prime going free, or they would all be dead.
She had to trust Durant knew what he was doing.
The wolf launched himself in the air with an impressive bunch of muscles. Durant slid sideways, grabbed the wolf by the neck, keeping his snapping teeth away from his throat. Unfortunately, the wolf still had four legs tipped with lethal claws.
She watched in horror as Durant’s skin was torn to ribbons.
He shook the wolf hard. There was a sharp crack, then the animal fell still.
All of it only took seconds, but she’d aged years.
Determined to stop this before they all died, she poured more power into the strands caging the Prime, funneling raw electricity through her system. She gritted her teeth as it burned through her, feeling like someone had reached under her skin to strip out her veins an inch at a time. It took a physical effort to shrink the cage another few inches, trapping him within a three-foot circle. Even with the influx of new energy, more than half the netting was charred black where the current had been expended.
She went lightheaded and knew she was near the point of no return. She would burn out soon, but refused to relent.
If you have anything, now would be a good time.
The creature snapped its teeth, giving her a sharp nip to her ass for daring to question it, and answered her request. The boost allowed her to shrink the cage another foot.
The Prime hissed in shock as the caged tightened around him. Singed flesh scorched the air. She fought against the impulse to stop the torture.
It was kill or be killed.
“Stop.”
At first Raven thought the Prime was talking to her.
“Stop her.” He renewed his attack on the wall. The structure wavered but held.
But for how much longer? The strain was taking its toll.
Dominic staggered toward her, and she sagged with relief.
He was alive.
“Run.” His order emerged as a croak, forced out from behind gritted teeth.
Dread sank its claws in her gut.
Dominic was being taken over, his wolf was fighting, but there were too many witches. Her heart broke at his struggle, knowing that if he lost this fight, his sanity would snap. She’d gladly give everything she had to save him, but he wasn’t part of her pack.
Any interference on her part might end up destroying him.
With great reluctance, Raven gave the order. “Retreat!”
Durant roared, a beastly sound that shouldn’t have been possible from a human throat. The familiars stumbled back in the presence of the larger predator. He turned, practically dragging the injured Nicholas behind him as they sprinted to the tree line.
Randolph didn’t need to be told twice, disappearing into the trees without looking behind him.
Every muscle in her body trembled under the strain of holding the net strong for so long. The taste of blood filled her mouth. “Dominic—”
“Go!” He roared, then dropped to his knees, the last act of defiance draining him. He peered up at her, his brilliant green eyes glowing with his beast. His smell soured, his natural scent turning to rotten leaves.
She gave the cage one last boost of magic, swallowing against the urge to throw up, then dropped the current. She felt gutted by the loss of power, her insides hollow. She teetered on wobbly legs, and it took three steps before she regained her balance enough to race for the woods.
Dominic followed her with his eyes, panting with the urge to give chase. She prayed that by running, the witches would stop their attack and give Dominic time to gain control, but she didn’t hold out much hope.
Chapter Sixteen
They hurtled through the forest, dodging the trees and branches. Raven followed the others, trustin
g Durant’s nose to lead them away from danger. It didn’t take more than five minutes for her endurance to begin to flag. It was embarrassing, but she was at the end of her rope.
They burst into a clearing to the sound of startled screams. A cluster of witches whirled toward them, their terrified faces pale in the darkness.
All of them were no older than in their teens.
“If you want to live, you better move it.” The rest of her people plowed through the clearing. After a second’s pause, the young group scrambled to catch up.
Durant dropped back to her side. “They’ll slow us down.”
Meaning they would be caught.
“What choice do we have? They’re kids.” He didn’t say anything as he picked up speed, but it did give her an idea. She dropped back, running next to the kids as they struggled to keep up in the dark. “We’re being tracked. Are any of you able to cast and throw them off our trail?”
Raven would do it herself, but she feared the Prime would be able to track her magic. They couldn’t risk it.
The kids were already exhausted and terrified, but one of the younger girls raised her hand. “I can fool the witches but not the animals.”
Raven smiled in encouragement. “Good. The longer we can keep them from catching up, the better. When they reach us, don’t stop, keep running. Let me and mine take care of them.”
When—not if.
The kids’ relief was palpable. The longer they could evade their pursuers, the better their chances of escape. The familiars weren’t the best shifters, but they could win by sheer numbers.
No, the one they had to worry about was Dominic. She dreaded the confrontation. How was she supposed to choose between one of her only friends and her pack?
But if he was determined to kill what was hers, she would have no choice.
Her heart cracked a little, and the creature hummed, offering her a small comfort.
The kids spoke in hushed whispers, then fell silent for a few seconds. “Miss.”
Electric Heat (A Raven Investigations Novel Book 3) Page 16