Eclipse: Time Thief (Romantasy)

69. Blood

The pain of the Prophet's spear was one I knew far too well. I didn't let it slow me down. With Nash protected again, I counterattacked with the spear still in me, and managed to cut at least an inch into the Prophet's arm before he stopped the blade with his power.

He ripped the spear free. I crossed the twin blades to slice at his throat, but the spear shot between them, catching the attack.

"Max!"

An arrow lodged into the Prophet's chest just below his collarbone. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nash struggle with another arrow and lose it as he suddenly collapsed onto one knee.

My energy seemed to flow as quickly as the blood from my side. I wouldn't come back this time if I died. There was no way I would fail.

I struck. He deflected. He jabbed. I sidestepped. With each passing moment, our powers waned, until we had to rely upon the blades of mere mortals.

My right blade cut through his forearm. His spear caught my thigh, ripping it open. The pain meant nothing to me. I'd felt so much in my life, had suffered so many times when I looped to my death repeatedly, that I easily ignored the draining of life and power.

I'd gotten so lost in the battle, I almost didn't notice that the shield had entirely dissolved. The Prophet's eyes snapped to Nash.

I defied all of my instincts and instead of protecting Nash, drove both blades forward into the Prophet's gut. His eyes opened wide. Though his power had managed to stop the swords from driving in too deeply, both ends had disappeared in his body.

All my strength went into forcing those blades in deeper.

But instead of the blow taking the Prophet down, I felt his power suddenly swell.

Shit.

I ripped the blades free and jumped between the Prophet and Nash. How could I have forgotten how dangerous it was to kill one of us? The instinct to survive was powerful, especially for a man with his strength.

Blood oozed from his midsection, from the arrow still sticking out from his chest, and the slash against his forearm. He was dying and he wanted us to die with him.

I looked up to the stone ceiling above the Prophet's head. Hope flashed in my chest. If I could surprise him, maybe I could end this before he managed to do any damage.

My eyelids fluttered as I focused on pressuring the stone ceiling above his head.

The entire temple trembled with my power. My own desperation fueled me, so I could gather the remnants of my strength. Searing pain carved through every inch of my body like I was dying all over again.

Rock shook loose and sprinkled all over us. My eyes rolled back in my head. My body went rigid. Power exploded from my body.

I felt the rock give way. Slabs of carved stone right over the Prophet that dropped on top of him. The weight of it slamming against the ground echoed through the temple.

The weakness sapped the strength from my muscles and I collapsed, unable to even catch myself. My head whacked against the ground.

Dark spots popped over my vision. It was quiet.

Nash... What if I'd hurt him?

I moaned and turned my head, shutting my eye against the blood that slid down from my forehead.

Nash sat on his knees, eyes on me. Alive. I'd managed to protect him from myself.

The Prophet...

My arms were useless. I focused to strengthen my muscles but the burning pain blinded me for a moment. The wound to my stomach screamed for my attention while the pain overextending myself with my power flooded my whole form.