Page 16 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)

Delta had erased half the valley in his haste to draw blood. The Wolf Shifters transformed into their animal form. I spotted more of them lurking behind rocks to the right and left of Delta’s path, waiting to ambush my packmate.

No doubt Delta understood their location. He was aware he was putting himself at risk. His bloodlust was too strong. Or the magic in the air sent him into madness. Either way, I couldn’t hesitate.

I shifted into my bear form, knowing I would have the size and power to defeat any Wolf Shifter. Running into the valley, I tried to focus on the targets. In my mind, I zeroed in on each of them. I saw their deaths as if they were predestined.

The cinnamon scent hit me hard, and my thoughts instantly shifted to Calla’s safety. I couldn’t allow her inexperience to leave her dead on the battlefield.

Perhaps sensing the warriors’ weaknesses, Koda changed into his dragon form. I heard the deafening sound of his massive wings flapping. Koda took flight, sailing across the valley and creating a shadow over the warriors.

Ignoring Koda, the Sorcerer fired flaming arrows at the three warriors. Even from a distance, I recognized his annoyance at their presence. This ambush was meant for the Bane Shifters, not these three young warriors.

The sisters effortlessly blocked the arrows with their shields. Despite their ease in battle, I felt a surge of rage at how they were in danger. Calla blinded me to everything else. I shifted into a wolf before shifting back into a bear before turning into a monstrosity long extinct in this world.

The air crackled with pungent magic. Everything felt wrong. The sky above the battlefield darkened. The warriors stopped running and now stared confused upward at the heavy yellow clouds. The Sorcerer appeared pleased by their reaction.

The fetching cinnamon magic slammed against the Sorcerer’s ancient incantations. I stopped running, staggering to a stop.

My mind swam with images of creatures below my feet, trapped underground and waiting to break free.

Disoriented now, I looked up at Koda flying toward where several Wolf Shifters hid.

He came down hard on them, clawing open their flesh with his talons.

Their pained howls filled the air, amplified by the foul magic drawing in around us.

Delta stood very still to my right, seeming entranced. He swayed as if he couldn’t bear the weight of his tiger form.

To my right, Koda roared as the Shifters tore into his flesh. He seemed unable to lift his body or coordinate his movements.

Magic swirled around us, trapping me in place. I couldn’t go to Calla or rip the head off the Sorcerer. I felt struck in the eye of a tornado as the magic tightened its grip.

Sensing our confusion, the Wolf Shifters attacked. I imagined Calla torn apart. Her gaze met mine. She was as overwhelmed as I was. We couldn’t battle. Ivitithi’s ancient magic allowed the Sorcerer to erase our training and concentration.

Ignoring everything else, I moved on pure instinct. My gaze left the warriors and zeroed in on the Sorcerer. I wanted him dead. I needed to tear him apart. I longed to make him beg and bleed. Nothing else mattered. Not my packmates or the warriors. I only wanted to destroy this one creature.

My mind still swam, but I could focus enough to erase most of the space between the Sorcerer and me. He saw me coming. His revolting smirk disappeared. Did he already imagine my claws tearing into his flesh?

Afraid now, the Sorcerer backed away as he fumbled with his bag of spells. He tossed one after another at me. The magic seared my flesh, burning and festering, only to be suffocated by my Bane Shifter power.

Feeding my bloodlust, the pain kept me focused. I ran unfazed toward the Sorcerer until Calla’s fearful voice slammed into me.

Coming to a screeching halt, I lost my balance, tumbling forward as my gnarled limbs struggled to control my massive form. I turned back to see Calla, Enya, and Mina encircled by the Wolf Shifters. Delta wasn’t far away, swatting away their attacks yet seeming unable to harm them.

A disoriented Koda flew overhead, dropping down before flapping his wings enough to avoid crashing.

I looked back at the Sorcerer. If he had no head, my senses could return.

Standing up tall, I fixed my gaze on the Sorcerer. Nothing could distract me. I would only see him. Calla didn’t exist. No one did except the Sorcerer and me.

Moving again, I erased the last bit of space between us. He called out to the Wolf Shifters to save him. I didn’t look back to see where they were. I remained focused on my target. Nothing else mattered. Not even the blonde warrior whose voice I heard on the wind.

The Sorcerer removed a small bag from his larger one. This foul spell was enough to burn my eyes. Something black seeped from the fabric. As he lifted his arm to throw, I prepared for the pain.

Rather than send the magic at me, the Sorcerer threw it over my head and toward where the warriors battled and Delta struggled against easy opponents.

I shouldn’t look back. My target was so close, yet I couldn’t help myself. The infernal magic had once again sent my mind spiraling.

Turning back toward where the dark spell was flung, I saw the moment it hit the warriors. A magenta sizzle filled the air, followed by a deafening explosion.

Fiery magic exploded outward. Turning my head, I found the Sorcerer afraid. This wasn’t supposed to happen. As I reached for him, a burst of energy tore through us both.

I heard hollers of pain from my packmates. As he tumbled from the sky, Koda’s wings were ablaze. Delta howled in agony, barely audible over the Wolf Shifters’ cries.

And somewhere in the wails of suffering was my Calla’s voice crying out my name.

Before my form could adjust to the magic ripping through my flesh, the magic shifted. All the power blown outward was sucked right back to the center point.

I felt the magic tear through me again. Every cell in my body was on fire. The Sorcerer stared in horror right before his body disintegrated into black ash.

My gaze searched for Calla, finding her trapped in a whirlwind of fiery magic. Currents of yellow, silver, and magenta swirled around the warriors.

Nearby, Delta struggled, step after step, toward the females. Not for Calla. I thought I heard him calling out to Mina.

Koda dropped to the ground near the circle of magic. I couldn’t see Calla clearly, but she was still alive. Even as the Wolf Shifters turned to ash, the warriors persevered. Forcing my body toward the scorching circle, I saw the females huddled together.

Just before the magic shifted again, I heard Calla in my head, asking about the baby dragon form. I saw her smiling at me. I felt her soft touch on my skin.

A smile warmed my face as the magic exploded again, tearing through my body and wrapping my mind in darkness.