Destined (Darkin World Book 2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Wolfrick's shout in Breq's head was heard over the pounding in her ears. Prying open her eyes, she saw the blurred outline of a man looming over her. The glint of reflected orb-light off the dagger's blade clued her in to the real danger.

Gritting her teeth, Breqlynn tried to move out of the knife's path. The fiery lock on her joints made movement impossible. It was small comfort to know Death didn't want her, and she'd be back. Dying so much could not be good for her and the trips. Or Wolfrick, if his last showing was any indication.

So yeah, that was a hard veto on dying.

Still, Breq couldn't do a damned thing to prevent it from happening. The spell didn't only affect her joints, but also her sockets. Her eyes felt as if they'd soon boil down to jelly, causing her to squeeze them closed.

"Twice, I thought you dead." Breqlynn heard the shaman's knees hit the dirt on either side of her. Feeling his weight above her shift as he sat back on his haunches, he continued in a conversational tone, "You will be if I take your head."

Wolfrick let loose a string of curses in Breq's head, but scary demon dude was correct. There was no way Death could send her back if she were missing her head. Wouldn't that just piss him off?

Calming the rising panic, Breqlynn stopped to think. Perhaps if she warmed snow and drew out the water, she could wash away the spell. Then, she could fight and take his head. If that didn't work, she was prepared to try purification through fire.

As the shaman leaned forward and began chanting, Breq focused on enacting her plan. With her eyes closed, it was easier to sense the elements. Balling up snow with air, she quickly heated it to a steamy degree. Bringing it closer, she felt the knife at her throat. It began to cut. Without further thought about its near-scalding temperature, she dumped the liquid onto her chest where the bulk of the shaman's spell had hit.

The black curse didn't wash off.

Not giving herself time to overthink it, Breqlynn directed fire at the cursed spot on her chest. Other than adding more burning sensations to her body, it did no good. Through the original, black-magic-induced-agony, she felt her skin scorch and swore she heard it sizzle. She definitely smelled it char.

Fucking, mother-fucking demon! Breq swore.

Wolf had only managed a few, agonizing steps forward. Not nearly close enough to touch Breqlynn as she died a final time. He could see the blade cut deeper by increments. The sadistic bastard was getting off on her slow, agonizing death as he worked at finishing his evil spell.

Further down the hill, Wolfrick heard the demon spawn twins fighting. Nikos wasn't going to be any help. Frustrated, Wolf pushed another foot forward.

Blood welled around Breqlynn's neck. The tangy, iron scent assaulted Wolfrick's nostrils. His beast wanted to throw back its head and howl, but Wolf was done with that. Pushing his beast further back, he let impending grief fuel his determination.

Silence fell in the valley below. Rolling his eyes to the right, Wolfrick saw Nikos stumble to his feet in the long, dead reeds blanketing the creek. Thanos was nowhere to be seen.

Having also witnessed the vampire's defeat, murder-lust flashed in the incubus-ridden man's black eyes. Without wasting another second he turned back, intent on finishing his mass-murdering spell.

Wolfrick snarled and snapped his teeth. There was little else he could do. The daemon was too far away, not able to travel by shadow because his witch's orbs still lit up the valley.

Drop your magic, Wolf frantically sent in a last bid to save his mate.

Suddenly a large, black mass hit the shaman in the chest, knocking him backward. As the incubus fell, Breqlynn cut the orbs' makeshift light. It couldn't have been Nikos who'd saved his witch.