Page 50 of A Fate of Ice and Lies (Fated #1)

“I don’t like this,” George grumbled. “But you have a better shot of subduing them if I’m with you too.”

I nodded my appreciation to him. “If it doesn’t work, I promise to defend you with my life. No harm will come to you.”

“If we see you failing, we’ll sacrifice George,” Brenton added with a wink.

Everly pushed him. Nalari growled. The birds screeched.

They were less than a mile away and gaining on us fast .

“Okay.” I gripped Everly’s and George’s hands while George took Brenton’s.

One of them, probably Brenton by the mischievous smile on his face, swung his and George’s hand in the air. Reluctantly, George smiled. I half expected them to skip off.

Amused, I rolled my eyes.

“Channel your magic to me,” I ordered.

All three of my friends and Nalari directed their magic to me. While I’d absorbed Nalari’s magic before, this was something different. Something more. I shivered at the enormity of it. At the strength it gave me.

I could almost understand Leanora’s hunger for more although I’d never do it at the expense of those I cared about.

Just as one of the bird’s stalled midair and narrowed her eyes at us, I sent our combined magic to her.

The burning liquid from her eyes spilled as she shrieked.

When the lava stopped spilling, she flapped her wings hard so that she soared higher while she regained her strength.

With our magic still on her, her wings grew sluggish as she tried to keep herself upright.

She fumbled downward before she caught herself, and with an ear-splitting cry, she flew in circles just above our heads.

I sent our magic to the other two birds.

One, another female with a pink face, swooped down, aiming her sharp talons at Brenton.

Helpless to protect himself, Brenton watched the bird make her fast descent.

An acceptance of the death he was certain would come passed through him to our joined magic.

I rejected it, sending our magic toward her.

But it was too late and did nothing to slow her down.

Before she could hit Brenton, Nalari dove over him and took the bird down with her .

The third bird circled high above us, too high for me to reach with our magic, so I kept my focus on the two I could.

Everly’s magic was the first to weaken. Her face was drawn with a grayish pallor.

I let go of her hand to grip her arm.

“You’re done,” I told her.

George whirled his attention to her and rushed to her. I felt the absence of their magic as George helped her sit down. Brenton clasped his hand with mine, and although I continued to absorb his and Nalari’s magic, I wasn’t sure it was enough.

The thunderbirds seemed to regain some of their strength, so I dug deeper inside me, using more of my magic than Brenton’s as I ordered both birds down. They fought against me, striking at my magic with the might they were known for.

Nalari kept the second bird pinned to the ground, her large talons around its neck. Although it fought her, I knew it would only take one slash of her talons to kill the feisty bird.

“Calm yourself,” she told the bird, with our end of the communication still open. “Be calm. We are your friends.”

The bird struggled, rejecting the magic we pushed into her.

I felt a change, like a sizzle and buzz that spread from the bird to me.

The bird blinked her eyes, and a film I hadn’t noticed cleared.

When Nalari bent her large forehead to the bird’s, the thunderbird stilled and seemed to shudder out a relieved sigh.

Beside me, Brenton swayed, but he gripped my hand tighter when I tried to let go. His eyes were like black orbs. Endless and lethal.

This was the danger in our primal instincts. It was unpredictable. Could make us lethal to ourselves as well as those closest to us .

“Stand down,” I urged.

When his grip only tightened, I jerked my hand away and summoned the snow around me to hold him down. He thrashed against the snow that enveloped him but managed to push past it to tackle me to the ground.

My magic lost its control over the remaining bird, and still stunned and sluggish, it flew away with a final shriek.

It didn’t matter. Not when I had to bring Brenton back to himself.

I pushed Brenton off me, but with his canines out, he bit my arm. When I shoved him this time, it was with my magic and enough snow to pile over him so he couldn’t move.

“Stand down,” I growled, with my canines pulled down.

I wouldn’t fight him, though. I’d restrain him however I could, but not fight him. Not when he wasn’t himself.

He growled back, but his eyes flickered and started to lighten in color.

He angled his face to the side as if he were curious about something.

I waited, watching him as he closed his eyes only to reveal their golden hue when he opened them again.

When he took a shuddering breath, I took one too and willed my mind to steady itself.

After being lost to my primal instincts, I understood. They made us stronger and not care as much.

Our more primal instincts were ruthless, but it was nothing compared to the nothingness it promised us. And every part of me wanted to let myself surrender to them.

By the look Brenton gave me, I knew he felt the same way.