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Chapter Thirteen

R oderick:

T he wave of magic hit my shield with enough force to shake the ground. My diamond flared, wrapping my hand in its brilliant light. Around me, the air crackled with deadly energy as spells collided and exploded. If I’d been a second slower detecting them, we’d have all been dead.

“Don’t hold back!” I shouted, pivoting to reinforce my defenses as another volley of spells tore through the undergrowth. “They’re trying to kill us.”

Tree bark splintered and earth erupted as refracted magic carved furrows in the ground. The pristine medicine wheel site had transformed into a battlefield in seconds. The attackers had used the cover of the terrain to surround us completely.

My siblings responded instantly to my warning. I extended my consciousness through my mage stone, creating a link between us. “Jan and Ignatius, I need you on defense. Darius and Eldwin, take the elves and cover the north and east. Avie, Owen, and I will hit those from the south and west.”

Amid the acknowledgments, Owen’s exuberant “hell yeah!” gave me pause. If he wasn’t our strongest combat mage, I’d have given his assignment to Jan. His bond with Lysandor made him even more powerful, and we couldn’t afford to fight without him, but he still made me nervous.

Thinking of my brother and his mate reopened the wound in my soul where Cinaed’s presence should’ve been. I pushed my pain aside. I’d never mate with him if I died.

Across the clearing, Darius and Eldwin, supported by Ignatius and Hro, fought like the fearsome duo they’d been during the Demon War.

Now, however, their mate bonds amplified their powers beyond anything our enemies could match.

Flashes of pink and blue magic battered the fools trying to breach their defenses.

Several bursts of magic crashed against Ignatius and Jan’s shield in a coordinated attack. I watched in satisfaction as their emerald energy barely rippled under an assault that would have overwhelmed an ordinary mage’s defenses.

There was a lull as our foes surveyed the battlefield, and Avie used their confusion to order a counterattack.

Owen positioned himself near the edge of the wheel, his purple spinel flashing brilliantly as he engaged multiple attackers. His power was undeniable, but he fought with the reckless confidence of youth. It was as if he felt the need to prove he was the strongest combat mage in the fight.

“Owen! Maintain formation!” I called when he pressed forward too aggressively. “They’re trying to isolate some of us.”

He sent a nonverbal acknowledgment through our link but continued to press his advantage. Four enemy mages fell back under his onslaught, and Owen surged forward.

“Owen, stop!” I shouted.

He was so focused, he ignored my warning.

Once he made it a few paces beyond our formation, they sprang their trap.

Two mages swung around the four under attack and assumed flanking positions.

A lance of dark energy struck him from the left.

The moment he turned to face the new enemy, the others hit him with enough force to visibly rattle his shields.

I tried to disengage myself from my fight, but the wizards attacked me with renewed vigor. Even though I’d told everyone not to hold back, none of us used lethal spells.

Another trio of blows struck Owen in his exposed position. His protection flickered, but held. Barely.

Across the wheel, Avie fought three older mages who threw black energy at her in coordinated attacks. She glanced at Owen, but couldn’t help him.

Jan had to protect the non-mages, but he still sent several spells at those fighting Owen. His actions drew renewed attacks on the beings he protected.

Across the wheel, Darius and Eldwin fended off at least half of Blackstone’s cohorts. As good as they were, they couldn’t help Owen in time without compromising themselves and the Great Ward.

When my brother screamed in pain, something inside me snapped. A yell ripped from my throat and I lashed out. Gray tinted the white light from my diamond as my first killing spell flew across the open space. One of the three mages I faced burst into flames and screamed.

His companions glanced at him, shock and surprise on their faces.

Moving in rapidly, I fired new spells at the pair, making them regret ignoring me.

Freed from my opponents, I turned to go help Owen.

Before I could launch a counterattack, dark magic hit my brother’s defenses with enough force to knock him off his feet.

I felt his pain ripple through our link.

“Owen!” Lysandor’s cry cut across the chaotic battlefield.

As Owen tried to clear his head, Blackstone’s followers focused their attack on him.

I erected the strongest shield I could create in front of Owen, not caring that it left me nearly defenseless.

The combined attacks nearly overwhelmed my protection, but it held.

It wouldn’t withstand a second attack, but I’d bought my sibling’s time.

Twin green blasts of different hues struck the group from opposite sides.

Jan struck them with angry emerald energy that caused two of the six to crumple. Avie slashed her peridot mage stone, creating knives of olive-green energy that cut through shields. I’d need to get her to teach me the spell as it proved highly effective.

Using the openings she created, I launched a series of strikes in rapid succession. My concussive balls of white energy struck with the force of metal bullets.

Avie and I sent the two survivors running. Scanning the clearing, at least a dozen of Blackstone’s mages were down. Most were dead or dying. Darius had a hand on Eldwin’s arm, restraining his brother from chasing three fleeing mages.

Behind me, Elspeth had reached Owen and crouched next to him. Her hands glowed with copper-gold fire as she pressed them against his chest. I didn’t see any visible injuries, but she kept her hands on my brother.

“It’s resisting me,” she said in a strained voice. “Whatever they hit him with is refusing to let me heal the damage.”

I nodded to Avie, silently telling her to take over, and knelt next to Elspeth. “I’m not as good as Bart, but I’ve studied dark magic extensively. Tell me what you need.”

“He’s in pain,” Lysandor said. “It’s burning him inside.”

Despite his fear, Lysandor kept his wits and allowed me and Elspeth to help his mate. “Come here,” I said, harsher than I meant. “I can’t find a wound, so I need you to tell me where the magic has taken root.”

Lysandor looked physically ill, a byproduct of his mate bond, and stood rooted in place. Conall put a hand on the younger man’s shoulder.

“I’ve been there, watching my mate get hurt, but we need you to stay calm and help the others save him.” His voice was kind, but firm. “Just show them the general area.”

As if snapped from a daze, Lysandor lurched forward and pointed to Owen’s left side. “There.”

I closed my eyes and scanned the area. A second presence joined mine, and it was old and wise.

“I’m here if you need me,” Darius said softly.

My first instinct was to let him handle this, but if he deferred to me, he must’ve had a reason. Pretending he wasn’t there, I pushed deeper into my brother’s now unconscious body, searching for whatever remained from the attack.

At the edge of my thoughts, I heard Avie taking control of the others. Something prickled my senses, but I couldn’t take my focus off Owen. “The trap isn’t over,” I told Darius. “Whatever the others are doing, they’re in danger.”

“I’ll handle it,” he said, as his thoughts slipped out of my mind.

Delving deeper, I found a microscopic trail dug into my brother’s body. Elspeth had linked her presence to mine, and she followed my thoughts as I tracked the malignant magic. A second later, we came to a black spot pressing against golden energy.

“That is me,” Elspeth said. “I can heal him now.”

Elspeth unceremoniously pushed me out of Owen’s body.

The healing glow around Elspeth’s hands intensified, but she kept her eyes closed.

I heard loud, angry voices behind me. Avie and Darius were in a heated discussion.

My heart told me to stay with Owen, but Elspeth made it clear she no longer needed my help.

Silently, I left my brother to join my uncle and sister.

“I’m not leaving them and that’s final,” Avie said. “They might lead us to Blackstone.”

“They’re more likely to kill you.” Darius had the authority of a thousand years of studying magic.

My sister excelled at her job because she’d stayed focused. Some called her a cold bitch, but detachment was necessary. As this argument proved. “The trap’s still active, Avie.” I waited for her to look over. “Owen’s going to be fine. Take a breath and consider what I said before you respond.”

Her eyes blazed in defiance, but my sister had risen to the top for a reason.

No one was better at keeping their emotions in check while sizing up a situation.

This, however, was personal. Avie had seen Bart nearly die, and then Jan.

Those events shook her, but she’d maintained her composure.

Seeing Owen hurt was different. He was the baby and everyone watched over him.

The silence stretched for another few heartbeats, but I let her get to where she needed to on her own. She blinked, and it was over. “You’re both right. Thank you.”

“As are you, Niece,” Darius said. His stone blazed, and tendrils of blue energy flew across the battlefield. “It might be too dangerous to touch them, but we must still secure them.”

Blue energy encased the enemy mage stones.

From across the circle, pink light drifted across the battle-scarred ground and surrounded those who had fallen.

Two bodies rose, enveloped in Eldwin’s magic.

These were the only survivors. The dead, he sealed in energy, like his brother had done to the fallen gems.