Mage Magic (8 page)

Her eyes adjusted quickly to the torchlight that lit the men facing them. There were seven men with weapons drawn, spread out in a semi-circle around them. Three others stood just behind the one who’d spoken and were holding torches. As soon as Theron disappeared they were on the move.

“Quick,” the one who had spoken earlier said. “Keep the girl alive. Wilhelm wants her.”

They were upon them before she could get a spell off. She found herself using her Staff as a defensive weapon to keep them at bay. Thedan had four men on him and she knew from his grunts that they were not giving an inch as they tried to take him out of the picture. Three

had headed straight towards her, one of which was the one who seemed to be the leader of the group. He’d given her the advantage though, by letting it slip that Wilhelm wanted her alive. They would go easier on her than her mates.

A cry filled the air beside her. She glanced towards Thedan just in time to see Theron appear behind one of the four men attacking Thedan. Theron buried a blade deep into the man’s side, taking him out of battle. “Help Serenity,” Thedan yelled as he continued to fight.

Blood slicked his arm. She didn’t know if it belonged to him or one of the men he was fighting, or maybe both.

Theron disappeared again and she was snapped back to her battle by a sharp hit to the side of her head. It dazed her for a moment but that moment was long enough for the leader to jerk her to him. The hard press of metal against her throat brought her back and she knew that he held a blade there. Her Staff was on the ground at her feet but she didn’t need it for spells.

She closed her eyes, placed a hand over his as if trying to tug it from her neck, and whispered a spell that was one of her favourites. As soon as the last word left her lips the leader gave a yelp and dropped the now burning-hot weapon from her throat. He stepped back to cradle his burned fingers and palm against his chest.

“What the hell?” he said.

Serenity moved, scooping up her Staff even as more words formed. As she turned there was already a ball of fire in her open right palm and she sent it flying at one of the other two men coming at her. It hit the one she’d aimed at square in the chest, knocking him back to land hard on his ass. He screamed and slapped vigorously at his shirt to put out the flames there.

She moved to face the other one but he was too close. He swung one meaty fist at her, aiming for the same side of her head that had taken the previous blow. She leant back, raising her Staff and using it to deflect the swing. She could feel the power coursing through her veins and it was almost too much to contain. She formed the ball of energy in her right hand and tossed it to him. He did exactly as she expected and caught it, his eyes widening with shock as it soaked into his skin.

Then his screams started. She knew precisely what he was experiencing. As the raw energy she’d formed was absorbed it would be like a lightning bolt or, more accurately, several of them, igniting beneath his skin. She turned her back on him knowing that within mere moments he would be dead on the ground. She should have sent a smaller jolt, just enough to incapacitate but not kill. But then she did have her father’s blood as well as her mother’s.

The torchlight had grown dimmer and now the last torch blinked out and plunged them once more into a veil of blackest night. She vaguely saw Theron in the last whisper of light and knew what he had done. Theron had taken out the three men holding the torches.

Instincts were key when you couldn’t see your opponent and that would hopefully give them the advantage with the mix of their magics.

But how many were left? She had no idea. Theron had taken out the three torch holders and one of the four on Thedan. She had taken out two, although only one permanently. So that left the three with Thedan that she wasn’t sure of and two that she had left in play. Of course, both of her two were singed and the leader who’d tried to use her as a shield would only have one hand to use.

Theron appeared beside her, stepping from shadow and taking her hand. With soundless steps he led the way to Thedan. The three of them eased away, both men keeping weapons at the ready in case of another attack.

“I counted ten,” Theron whispered. “I took four out.”

“I took three,” Thedan said.

“I took one out and wounded two,” Serenity said.

Her mates clearly thought little of killing the men who’d attacked them. She blamed her mother’s influence and blood for the guilt she felt over killing one, and her father’s blood for the regret of not killing them all.

“We’re almost to the castle road,” Thedan assured her. “Just a little bit further and the king’s men will be on guard.”

She nodded. She would have to guard her reactions if someone stepped out, as the last thing she wanted to do was injure or kill an innocent person. But from now on she would not view anyone who chose Wilhelm’s side as innocent. She’d never been a warrior before, never fought any life-or-death battles while living at the temple. Her mother had taught her to respect life, to do no harm. But the time had come for her to embrace the path of a warrior and understand that sometimes the only way to save a life was by taking one.

“What was that?” she whispered, half turning as reality pulled her from her thoughts.

“What?” Thedan softly asked.

She couldn’t explain it. She had a feeling that she couldn’t ignore.

“I don’t…” She shook her head, unable to finish her thought.

She would remember the next few moments for the rest of her life. Thedan tensed beside her and grabbed her arm to pull her behind him. A whistle, that’s what it sounded like, and Theron shoved them, knocking Thedan off balance so that he fell, taking her to the ground beneath him.

Theron’s body jolted as if taking an impact from something. Men flew out of the darkness around them and she knew she was screaming, yet she heard nothing. Theron turned slowly to face her and Thedan. There was a long black arrow buried deep in his chest and Serenity felt it as if it were in hers. She quickly whispered a spell to cast a protective barrier around the three of them. No harm could touch them as long as they stayed where they were.

Thedan bellowed beside her as he scrambled on hands and knees to catch Theron as he fell to the ground. She screamed and crawled to them. Thedan sat, his arms wrapped around Theron, holding him against his chest, their legs sprawled out in front of them. And she could hear Thedan apologising to Theron. He kept telling him he was sorry.

“I’m sorry,” Thedan said, and he and Theron grabbed hands, gripping each other’s palms tightly. “Brother, forgive me?”

“Nothing to forgive,” Theron whispered then started coughing. “Take care of her.”

Thedan was still talking but Serenity heard nothing. Theron turned his head and their gazes connected. She saw acceptance in his and was jolted back to when she’d first encountered them on the road from the temple. Thedan had told her they would give their lives for her, but Theron had looked her in the eyes and stated that he
would
die for her. She had replied that she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. It never once occurred to her that perhaps he was foretelling what would happen.

“I won’t let you go,” she said, reaching them. “Do you hear me? I won’t let you go!”

“Love you,” he whispered as she wrapped both of her hands around his and Thedan’s clasped hands. “Love you both.” He smiled softly at her then his eyes slid closed.

“No,” she screamed, surging to her feet.

People were running towards them carrying torches and she realised they had almost reached the castle. She also noticed that the torchlight made it easier to shoot at the newcomers. No sooner had the thought entered her mind than she heard the whistle of more arrows in the air. This time she was ready for them. The anger, the hatred flooding through her body had her power crackling at her fingertips.

She swore she felt the Staff vibrate. A whisper and wave of her hand and the arrows disintegrated in the air. She had no damper on her magic this time, felt no need to control it.

This time she wanted death, craved it for those who wanted to deal it to her and her mates.

She reached out with her mind, eager to lock on to where they hid like cowards in the dark.

But her mind connected with something else instead, someone else instead. Suddenly it was as if she stood in a field of fog. She was alone and then the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen stepped out to stand beside her.

You waste time.

“I waste nothing,” she countered.

You let emotion rule instead of knowledge.

“He is dead!” Serenity screamed.

And?
The goddess questioned.
What is death to someone who wields the power I’ve granted
you?

“What?” she asked.

Can you not feel it buzzing under your skin? Think, Serenity. What limitations do you have?

Her mother’s words came back to her as if she stood on the temple grounds once more.

“They are strong, but when the triad is completed, when you are all together as one, some of your
magic will enhance theirs. Once this occurs nothing can separate you, not even death. Remember that.

The three of you have within you the power to survive even mortal death.”

Will you let him die?
The goddess asked softly as she melted back into the fog.

Serenity came back with a jolt that knocked her down to her knees by Theron and Thedan. It was exactly where she wanted to be. With her right hand she grasped the shaft of the arrow where it protruded from Theron’s chest while her left still held the Staff in line with her body. Another spell and she pulled the arrow free as if it had never entered his flesh, except for the red of the blood that coated the tip. She flung it aside with a cry that would rival any warrior.

“I will not let you die,” she screamed.

Warriors were all around them, but although she could penetrate the barrier she’d formed around her mates, they could not.

“Theron! Thedan!” a woman cried out.

Thedan glanced up. “Rory,” he whispered.

“We will not let him die,” Serenity said again and placed the Staff on the ground beside them. She reached out and took Theron’s left hand and placed it over his chest. Then she grabbed Thedan’s left hand and placed it on top of Theron’s so that their new marks were aligned. Finally she placed hers atop theirs.

There was a glow, a sizzle of magic that quickly escalated to a burning flame. Then she could see it. Her hand began to glow, and that glow spread quickly to Thedan’s and then Theron’s. It kept spreading.

“What is this?” Thedan whispered, awe in his voice.

“Don’t move,” Serenity pleaded.

She could feel the flow of energy between the three of them.
Power to survive mortal
death.
She leaned into them and Thedan slipped his free hand around her shoulders, tugging her even closer. Both of them were careful not to move their left hands off Theron’s.

“I love you,” Thedan murmured.

“I love you too,” Serenity breathed.

“Any love left for me?” Theron asked.

Serenity and Thedan both cried out and squeezed him tightly between them.

Serenity peppered kisses all over his face, moving her hands to touch his chest and any part of him she could. “You’re alive,” she cried, finally letting her lips find his. She breathed him in, tears trailing down her cheeks. She’d lost him. For the briefest of moments he had died, as he’d said he would. “Don’t ever do that to me again,” she said. “Ever.”

“Don’t you see,” he replied. “Nothing can separate us.” He sat up and turned slightly to include Thedan. “Any of us.”

Thedan made no attempt to wipe away the moisture that shone on his cheeks. Instead he pulled Theron to him and hugged his best friend close. “I…” he started to say but Theron interrupted him.

“Nothing,” Theron said again.

The two men nodded and clasped hands.

“Look at that,” Serenity said with awe and turned Thedan’s left hand over, then Theron’s. She turned hers so that they could all see their marks and how they had changed again. The black of Theron’s, the grey of Serenity’s and the white of Thedan’s had all merged and now the three colours were braided together and outlining all three marks.

“The symbol as I saw it in my vision,” Theron said. “The ancient mark used to invoke the power of the goddess.”

“I believe we just did that,” Serenity said laughing.

“I have a feeling this was only the beginning,” Thedan said.

“What makes you think that?” Theron asked.

“I just saw…” Thedan stopped, then blinked and shook his head. “By the goddess, I just had a vision.”

“Welcome to my world,” Theron said and laughed at the bewildered look on Thedan’s face.

Serenity smiled. Her mates were alive and back in harmony. A flash of white caught her eye and she reached out to pick her Staff back up. It was a good thing, too. Because they still had a lot to do.

Chapter Eight

Serenity wanted nothing more than to go to a room and spend a few hours with her mates, but that would have to wait until other matters were dealt with. The three of them had plenty to discuss. Like the way their marks had changed. Like how they had just brought Theron back from death. Or how about what would happen now? But for the moment they were inside, being led to the king’s private office and Serenity had awaited this moment for too long.

The door closed behind them and she let her gaze take in the people allowed into the room. They were all here. Aslan, Aurora, Lynx and Rory. There were others as well, warriors, mates, but none of them could hold her attention the way these four could. These four she’d been waiting her entire life to meet.

“What the hell happened out there?” Rory demanded as she walked over to Serenity, Theron and Thedan.

“We survived,” Thedan said dryly.