Born of Flames

Chapter 42 ~ Minds Unfettered

    Morana and Tarion moved like a whirlwind, their every strike landing against Rhidian's obsidian talons. They rained down blow after blow, forcing the male to yield his ground or lose his footing, though he seemed to be doing that well enough on his own. He was staggering even in between their attacks, his body twitching as the shadow around him grew continually darker.

    Morana doubled back as Tarion landed his next blow and Rhidian went reeling. He recovered himself almost instantly, but before he could retaliate, shadows pulsed around him and Rhidian threw his head back with a howling scream.

    Morana's eyes widened as the male raked one taloned hand over his own chest, shredding through the leather armor protecting his sternum. Before he could tear into himself again, his limbs locked. Rhidian's scream ended in a choke as something forced him to his knees. A muscle in his neck strained and his wild gaze met Morana's.

    His lips parted and she braced herself, expecting another scream or a dark threat from Astaroth, but to her shock, only one voice spoke. "Free me," Rhidian gasped. "Now, before he fights off the Deimen!"

    His arms spread wide, obsidian talons disappearing. His limbs trembled as though he were fighting to keep them there. Fighting to give her a clean swipe. She didn't waste it.

    Morana thrust Noxbane forward and sliced through Rhidian's flesh in a spray of blood. Whatever control he had over his body vanished as he lashed his arms around himself and began screaming anew.

    "No, no, no!" Astaroth's voice seethed. Darkness spilled through the gaping wound and pooled in the sand. "No!" A shadow-clad arm slid from the wound but continued clawing towards it as though it could pull itself back inside Rhidian.

    Darkness continued to gush out in a writhing mass and with each length of it, the shadows in Rhidian's veins disappeared. The male's arms loosened and his palms splayed in the sand. His whole body shuddered now and his head hung limp as the last sliver of Astaroth's presence slipped from his body. Morana fixed her attention on the black mass as it rose to a dark cloud and its crimson gaze settled on her.

    "That was a mistake, my Lady," Astaroth hissed.

    Morana opened her mouth in a retort, but was interrupted by an unmistakable shriek. "Neeri," she gasped, rounding towards the sound. She was barely aware of Tarion diving behind her, intercepting a blow Astaroth aimed at her back. There was no sign of her friend.

    A guttural cackle pounded through her temples, silencing the sing of Orilight's blade as it defended her. The Deimen is mine, Astaroth's cold voice whispered. She could almost feel his shadows slither against her neck.

    Her blood froze, heart stuttering as she sought out the statue where she'd left Arlon. Above the statue's fallen torso was Neeri's dark head, bent low as she frantically shook a limp form. Her friend cried out again but her pleading words were too faint for Morana to make out.

    Rehema and Lonan were already racing towards the pair, their horror evident in the lethal strokes of their blades as they cleared their path. A kernel of rage ignited in the pit of Morana's stomach and her birthmark blazed brighter. Her blood thawed, then boiled as fire raced through it and flames sparked at the tips of her fingers.

    Noxbane thrummed with energy as the flames spread along its onyx blade and the heavy thumps that had droned in the back of her mind swelled to a deafening boom. She turned, glowering at the demon whose talons were crossed with her mate's sword. Her heartbeat slowed with measured breaths, matching tempo with the approaching footsteps.

    A clamor erupted through her skull, demanding blood and destruction. War and battle. Chaos. White light tinged the edge of her vision and she didn't resist as it swept over completely, honing her focus on what was before her.