Page 129 of Pirate Witch

I don’t have time to ponder that mystery, because the Alchemist is already muttering another spell behind me.

Leaving Kier to face Catherine for a moment, I whisper a prayer and raise my own barrier. The Sun Goddess’s magic burns me as I draw it from the charm. It’s fundamentally different to what I’m used to, yet the more I use it, the less I care.

It works, but shatters as Lily’s curse smashes into it. On my back, Fate’s sigil burns, as if it’s trying to distract me. I ignore it.

I’m tempted to just cast a permanent shield, but I don’t have that much power stored in the charm Elsie made for me. Rationing what I have is essential. Why did we think it was a good idea for me to have only one Solar charm?

I block another of Lily's strikes and mutter my own curse back. The magic goes awry as I’m forced to dodge her sword.

Her second curse slams into me, making me cry out. Agony shoots up my spine, and I drop my blade as my muscles spasm.

Opal roars, jumping out of the spirit plane in her huge tiger form and going straight for Lily.

I don’t get a chance to see if she manages to get the upper hand. The Alchemist’s distraction blunts the curse for just long enough that I can break free. Diving for my sword, I flip onto my back and shove to my feet, instinctively heading to back up my familiar, only to be distracted as Kier curses behind me.

My scream must have distracted him, and Catherine has used it to her advantage, disarming him. His sword is on the other side of the room, and there’s a deep, bleeding gash on his arm. The Eagle is mid-swing, about to take his head. Drawing more power from the charm, I fling a shield of Solar power between them.

Catherine’s strike reverberates from the magical construct, shattering it. Before she can try again, I’m between her and my mate. Parrying her second blow with a painful clang that shakes my arms. I can hear Kier behind me, and soon he’s backing me up, his own sword taking over. I spare another trickle of Solar power on a prayer to heal his arm, before turning around to search for Lily once more.

Opal’s body slams into me, knocking me sideways before I can spot the other witch. My familiar’s full weight crushes my body to the floor, and she doesn’t move.

Worry for her is eclipsed by the knowledge that we’ll both die if I stay pinned like this.

I roll back onto the spirit plane, dragging her with me by the scruff of her neck. Once we’re there, I check her over. She’s breathing, but unconscious.

I’m on my own, and from the looks of their two spirits, Catherine and Lily are back to back again, exchanging blows with Kier.

Shit, shit, shit.

I mutter a quick and simple healing prayer, which Elsie taught me, over Opal, but she doesn’t wake. It must be a powerful hex for her to go down like this, and I want to try again, but I’m painfully aware of how little Solar magic is left in my charm and the fact that Kier is out there, fighting alone.

I reappear in the physical plane just in time to see my fae mate parry the Eagle’s blade, only to be caught in the side by Lily’s. The Alchemist puts so much force into the strike that her sword only stops when it hits his spine, almost slicing him in half.

“No!”

I draw my athame, screeching out a curse that knocks both women backwards as I fly to Kier’s side.

Goddess, so much blood.

I don’t have the skills to fix this. Elsie and I covered muscle damage and basic wound mending. Not having your guts cleaved in half. I funnel as much Solar power as I can into him, barely feeling the dry heat beyond the slippery blood that’s coating my skin. I don’t know what I’m doing, but stopping the bleeding is the obvious first step.

The blood flow is slowing, but not fast enough. Kier is fading before my eyes. His hands shake as he feels for the wound, but his eyes are fixed on my face. One of his cold palms catches mine and pushes me away, trying to make me return to the fight, but I resist.

“Immortal.” His voice is thin. “Save yourself…”

His eyes roll, and his head lolls in my arms. A strangled sob breaks free of my throat. He may be immortal, with a high likelihood of surviving such a wound, but that doesn’t mean shit to me right now.

I came into this battle with both Opal and Kier at my side, and now I’m alone.

Lily and the Eagle are already getting to their feet, heading for the door.

If they escape…

No. They don’t get to run away. Not after this.

I swipe an arm across my face to dry my eyes and fling myself into the spirit plane. When I jump back out, I crash into both of them, knocking all three of us over in my rage. It’s such an unexpected move that they both seem to forget about their magic as they turn on me.

We fall into a blur of swords and knives. I can’t keep this up forever, though. Even directing most of my power into my speed and strength sigils isn’t enough to go up against both of them. The Solar bone charm at my waist is draining fast and facing off against two opponents quickly starts taking its toll. Only a minute in and my arm is caught by a stray swipe. Blood spurts, but I’m forced to ignore it.