Chapter 149

Asher’s POV

Steel met claw right in front of me, and I drove forward without hesitation. My muscles burned, but I kept moving, pushing back the invaders one strike at a time.

A body slammed into me from the side, and I twisted fast, knocking him down before he could recover. The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweat, sharp and heavy in my lungs.

My hands tightened around my weapon as another came at me. “Left flank, don’t break!” I called out, glancing just long enough to see my men holding the line. Their faces were tense, but steady. That was enough to keep me focused.

Then something shifted. It wasn’t loud or clear, but I felt it deep in my chest, like a sudden drop that made my breath catch. I froze for half a second, my grip tightening as a strange, unstable energy brushed against my senses.

“Phina…” Her presence felt wrong. Not gone, not weak, but different in a way that made my stomach twist. It was like standing too close to a storm that could break at any moment.

“Focus, Asher,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I forced myself back into the fight. I blocked an incoming strike and pushed the attacker back hard. My heart was beating faster now, not just from the fight.

Her scent cut through everything. Even with blood and dirt filling the air, I could still pick it out, clear and sharp, pulling at me. It hit me harder than any blow, dragging my attention away from the enemy in front of me.

I turned too slowly. A claw grazed my arm, tearing through fabric and skin, and I hissed in pain as I stepped back. “Damn it,” I growled, regaining my stance before it could get worse.

“You’re slipping,” one of the enemies sneered, circling me.

“Not today,” I shot back, lunging forward and taking him down before he could finish his next step. My breath came out rough, my chest tight with more than just the fight.

Something wasn’t right with her. I could feel it now, stronger, louder, like a warning I couldn’t ignore.

“Keep formation!” I called out again, my voice firm even as my thoughts pulled elsewhere. “Don’t wait for me.”

The cold air bit against my skin as I moved, faster now, more focused. I pushed through the chaos, every instinct in me pointing in one direction. “I’m coming, Phina,” I said under my breath, already forcing my way toward where I knew she was.

I pushed forward without slowing down, forcing my way through anyone who stood between me and her. My arms moved on instinct, striking, blocking, clearing a path as fast as I could. “Move!” I barked, my voice rough as I drove an attacker back.

A body crashed into the ground at my feet, but I barely noticed. My focus had narrowed into something sharp and urgent, pulling me ahead. The noise of battle still roared, but it felt distant compared to the pounding in my chest.

Then I saw it. A strange light flickered ahead, cutting through the darkness like a warning I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t fire, and it wasn’t anything natural. It pulsed, bright and unstable, sending shadows jumping across the ground.

“What is that?” someone shouted nearby, their voice filled with confusion.

I didn’t answer. I already knew. The closer I got, the stronger it felt, like walking into the heart of a storm. The air grew heavier, charged, making every breath feel thick and sharp. My skin prickled as the energy brushed against me.

And then I saw her.

Phina stood at the center of it all, unmoving, surrounded by swirling power that cracked and flashed around her. Her eyes glowed white, bright and unnatural, and the sight hit me harder than anything else that night.

“Phina…” I said under my breath, my voice barely steady.

The ground around her trembled slightly, dust lifting into the air as if pulled by her presence. The wind whipped around her in wild circles, carrying the sharp scent of ozone and something burning. She looked powerful.

But not in control. My chest tightened as fear settled in, cold and heavy. This wasn’t just strength. This was something breaking loose.

Then I saw him. Jason stood a short distance away, facing her like he had been waiting for this moment. His posture was calm, but his attention was locked completely on her, like he was studying every move she made.

“You,” I growled, the word leaving my mouth before I could stop it.

Anger flared instantly, hot and sharp, cutting through the fear. He was too close to her, too involved, and I didn’t need to guess what had pushed her this far.

My grip tightened, and I stepped forward, ignoring the way the air fought back against me. Every instinct I had screamed at me to get to her, to pull her out of whatever this was.

“Hold on,” I muttered, my jaw clenched as I forced myself closer. Nothing else mattered now.

The closer I got, the harder it became to move. The air pushed against me like a wall, thick with her power, crackling and wild. I gritted my teeth and forced another step forward.

“Phina!” I called out, but my voice barely reached her through the noise.

The wind howled around her, sharp and loud, carrying dust that stung my eyes. She didn’t respond. Her eyes still glowed, empty and distant, like she was somewhere I couldn’t reach.

My chest tightened at the sight, fear hitting me harder than any blow I had taken tonight.

“Come on,” I muttered, pushing through the last stretch of resistance. My hand shot out before I could second guess it.

The moment I touched her, everything shifted. Her skin was warm, almost too warm, and the energy around her snapped and surged against me. For a second, it felt like it might throw me back, like I didn’t belong there.

“I’m here,” I said firmly, tightening my grip on her hand. “You’re not alone.”

The wind faltered. The wild current around us flickered, its sharp edges softening just enough to notice. The air still buzzed, but it no longer felt like it would tear everything apart.

“Phina, look at me,” I urged, stepping closer despite the lingering heat in the air. My voice lowered, steady and grounded. “Stay with me.”

Her fingers twitched in mine. The glow in her eyes flickered, not gone, but weaker now, like a light fighting to dim.

I held on, refusing to let go, even as the last sparks of energy danced across my skin.

“Breathe,” I told her, softer this time. “Just breathe.”

The wind slowed, dropping from a roar to a restless whisper. Dust settled back to the ground, and the pressure in the air eased enough for me to take a full breath again.

Relief hit me, quick and sharp, but I didn’t let it take over. Not yet.

I stepped in front of her without letting go of her hand, placing myself between her and the threat I hadn’t forgotten. My body tensed, every muscle ready as my focus snapped back to him.

Jason stood where he had been, watching us, his expression harder now. The calm he carried before was gone, replaced by something colder, more calculating.

My grip tightened slightly, not on her, but in resolve.

“This ends now,” I said, my voice low and steady, the anger finally settling into something controlled.

I met his gaze without hesitation, every instinct in me locked onto him. “This is between the both of us,” I said firmly. “Leave her out of this.”