Page 10

Nine

Thornix

I circled the ancient ironwood tree, my senses stretched to their limits as I tracked the lingering traces of corrupted magic.

The signs were there, subtle but unmistakable.

Patterns of decay that spoke of deliberate malice rather than natural corruption.

My blood ran cold as I recognized the signature.

"Blackthorn," I whispered, the name bitter on my tongue.

"Who's Blackthorn?" Acacia's voice made me turn. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her bow slung across her back, looking more like a forest spirit than a human in the dappled morning light.

I hesitated, old wounds threatening to reopen. "The leader of the Shadowvale tribe," I finally said. "A wood nymph clan that broke away from our traditional ways centuries ago. They believe in using the forest's power rather than working in harmony with it."

Acacia moved closer, her trained eyes scanning the corrupted patterns I'd been studying. "And you think they're behind the attack?"

"I know they are." I pressed my palm against the ironwood's trunk, sharing its pain as it fought against the lingering taint. "This is Blackthorn's signature. Corruption designed to spread slowly, poisoning everything it touches."

"But why now?" Acacia asked, her hand finding mine. The simple contact sent warmth through my entire being, chasing away some of the cold dread that had settled in my chest. "Why target us?"

"Because of you," I admitted, turning to face her fully. "Or rather, what you represent. A human who can connect with the forest's magic, who fights alongside a wood nymph as an equal? You're living proof that our peoples can coexist and can even grow stronger together."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. "And some people don't want that proof to exist."

"The Shadowvale tribe believes in maintaining strict boundaries between species," I explained, pulling her closer as if I could shield her from the threat with my body alone. "They see our match as an abomination, a threat to their vision of how the world should be."

Acacia's jaw set in that stubborn way I'd come to both love and fear. "Let them come," she said fiercely. "We've fought off worse."

"No," I shook my head, memories of past battles flashing through my mind. "You don't understand. Blackthorn is different. He's ancient, powerful, and utterly without mercy. The attacks we've faced so far were just tests, probing our defenses."

"Then teach me," she said, stepping back to meet my gaze. "Show me how to fight like a wood nymph. I'm tired of being a liability."

"You're not-" I protested, but she cut me off.

"I am," she insisted. "I can shoot a bow and swing a sword, but that's not enough against the kind of magic we're facing. I can connect with the forest now, you said it yourself. So teach me how to use that connection."

I studied her face, seeing the determination there, the strength that had first drawn me to her. She was right, of course. If we were going to survive what was coming, she needed to understand her new abilities.

"It won't be easy," I warned. "Learning to channel the forest's power takes years of practice."

A familiar spark of defiance lit her eyes. "Good thing I'm a quick study then."

I couldn't help but smile, even as worry gnawed at my heart. "We'll start now," I decided. "The first lesson is learning to listen."

I guided her to the center of the clearing, positioning her so she faced the rising sun. "Close your eyes," I instructed, moving to stand behind her. "Feel the forest around you. Not just the trees and plants, but the very essence of life itself."

Acacia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I placed my hands on her shoulders, using our connection to help guide her awareness.

"The forest is more than just what you can see or touch," I murmured. "It's a web of energy, of life and death, growth and decay. Everything is connected, everything has its place in the cycle."

I felt her consciousness brush against mine, tentative at first, then with growing confidence. Through our shared awareness, I could sense her amazement as the forest's true nature revealed itself to her.

"I can feel it," she whispered. "It's like music, but made of light and life instead of sound."

"Good," I encouraged. "Now, reach out with your mind. Find a single thread in that web and follow it."

She frowned in concentration, and I felt her awareness narrow to focus on a nearby sapling. The young tree responded to her attention, its leaves trembling slightly.

"That's it," I said softly. "Now, imagine that thread of energy flowing into you, becoming part of you."

Acacia gasped as the connection formed. The sapling's branches swayed, despite the still air. "It's incredible," she breathed. "I can feel everything. The water moving through its roots, the sunlight on its leaves, even the tiny insects living in its bark."

Pride swelled in my chest, but I kept my voice steady. "Now, try to direct that energy. Start small. Maybe make a single leaf move."

She bit her lip in concentration, and I watched as one sapling's leaves slowly curled upward. The effort clearly strained her. I could feel her muscles tensing under my hand, but she maintained control.

"Enough," I said gently, helping her break the connection. She sagged against me, breathing heavily.

"That was harder than I expected," she admitted.

I turned her to face me, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You did well. Better than most would on their first try."

"But not good enough to face Blackthorn," she said, reading the concern in my eyes.

"No," I agreed honestly. "But it's a start. We'll practice every day, building your strength and control."

She nodded, determination replacing her exhaustion. "What else can you teach me?"

For the next several hours, I guided her through basic exercises in forest magic. She learned to sense corruption, to channel healing energy, to communicate with the simpler forms of plant life. Each success built her confidence, but also drained her energy.

Finally, as the sun set, I called a halt to the training. "Enough for today," I said firmly when she tried to protest. "You need rest."

"We don't have time for rest," she argued, though she was swaying slightly on her feet. "If Blackthorn is coming-"

"If Blackthorn is coming, we need you at full strength," I interrupted. "Pushing yourself to exhaustion won't help anyone."

She glared at me for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Fine. But we start again at dawn."

I pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You're the most stubborn human I've ever met," I murmured fondly.

"Lucky for you," she replied, snuggling into my embrace. "Otherwise, I might have run screaming from all this magic business weeks ago."

I held her tighter, trying to push away the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. The thought of Blackthorn targeting her, of losing her the way I'd lost Willow, it was almost unbearable.

That night, as Acacia slept deeply, exhausted from her training, I stood guard outside our tree-home. The forest whispered warnings of growing darkness, of corruption spreading at the edges of my territory. Blackthorn was coming, and he would bring all the power of the Shadowvale tribe with him.

But this time was different. This time, I wasn't fighting just to protect my territory. I was fighting for something far more precious - the fierce, stubborn human who had somehow become my everything.

I pressed my hand against our tree-home's trunk, feeling Acacia's steady heartbeat through the living wood. I would not lose her. No matter what it took, no matter what price I had to pay, I would keep her safe.

The forest rustled in agreement, and I felt its power surge through me, stronger than ever before. Because now I wasn't just protecting my domain. I was protecting our home, our future, our love.

Blackthorn and his tribe would learn what it meant to threaten what was mine. And if they thought a human mate made me weak, they would soon discover just how wrong they were.