Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM

Chapter 27

The steam threatens to scorch us as fire rains down on the barrier. "Move them, get them to cover," I command, only to hesitate when I realize I'm speaking to two ambassadors and Helen. Cursing under my breath, I search around us, only to find that we are horribly alone. "Damn it..."

"Tell me what I need to do." Fillipa insists. 

Swallowing back my reluctance, she was our best option, with Helen clinging to Anuetta and the French woman looking like she was on the verge of hysteria. It was only Fillipa who appeared somewhat calm, yet her hands trembled and her eyes brimmed with tears. There was only so much a normal human could take. 

"You will do what I say, exactly when I say it. You can't hesitate, understand?" I snap at her, making her nod hurriedly, yet her eyes kept shifting back towards the beast, blazing fire down upon us. "Hey!" I shout, making her flinch. "Look at me, trust me, ok? Can you do that?"

Fillipa nods once more. 

"Get them back, I need room to move. I can't hold this lizard back much longer."

 "Nic.." Fillipa exhales only to earn the weight of my gaze. 

"Now, Fil!"

She does her best to move the girls out of the way; I fight against the weight of the flames as I'm shoved through the carriage door. My hand feels hot, pushing back against the inferno as if it were alive. I force magic into my palms and refreeze the water as fast as it can thaw.

A fireball flies over my head as the wyrm rears back, redirecting the flame to the blaze that is Penelope. I leap up, "Move, come on." I shout, wincing as I push the small group of women to move quickly. 

But where do I take them? 

Reid waves me down from a couple of carriages back; I rush towards him, only to block the woman as two masked men overtake him. Conjuring a frozen spear, I toss it, piercing one through the neck, only to hesitate as Reid removes the spear and plunges it into the chest of the second man.

Blood coats his face, spraying down the front of his chest as he releases the man's body, extending his hand back to us to accept my burden of keeping these women safe. 

To my relief, none of them scream. 

"What the hell happened?!" I demand, shooting my hand upward to produce another shield as fire blazes overhead. Fillipa throws her arms around me, and I realize all three women were huddled against my body.  Much to their disappointment, they were all taller than me, and my stature lacked the desired effect of 'great protector'. 

"The wyrms showed up out of the ground, soundless as wraiths. These guys weren't far behind, but they seemed to be few in number. I'll take the women to Roksana and Tomas, you need to get out there." He tells me, crowding the women away. "Penelope needs cover and I can't find Verando."

We are surrounded by the eerie soundlessness that follows the echo of a slaughter. I could hear everything and nothing, save for a faint buzzing of panic that comes with battle. My body knew it could be killed, yet my mind focused on keeping the pathways clear so that I could keep my wits about me.

I spin around, searching, my gaze locks in on the top of the carriage. I needed the vantage point; I had to get off the ground. Making a run for it, I use the wind to blast a hooded figure out of my way before aiming my hands at the ground and using the air pressure to lift myself up and onto the roof. 

 Forming a shield of ice that guards my arm, I block a blast of fire from overhead.

Penelope detonates a fireball charge in the dragon's face, bearing down on him as she lands beside me. "Thank god, where the hell have you been? I'm dying over here- is that a hickey on your neck?"