Chapter 6 Blood on the Border
Amara’s POV
The brightness of the light increased. The wolf screamed, cursed. Like snakes enraged by fire, the black veins blazed and curled away from his body. He had two convulsions.
Then he became still.
I didn't breathe.
His eyes cleared slowly. Light green. Typical. They shed a few tears.
He said, "Thank you," in a feeble murmur.
My own eyes pricked with tears. There was no time for me to cry.
There was another scream.
With a thumping chest, I staggered up. There were more. Dozens. Snarling and screaming in agony and rage, twisted wolves hobbled through the flames.
A fighter with a ripped side rushed by me. I took hold of his arm.
"Get to the healer’s tent!"
He didn't dispute.
"Amara!"
It was Rowan's voice this time. When I turned, I saw him with a blade in his hand and covered in blood. His look met mine.
Growling, "Get back," he said. "This isn’t safe."
"I’m not leaving them," I declared. My voice broke.
For a fraction of a heartbeat, his appearance softened. The twisted wolf leaped at him, and he pivoted, slicing through it.
My face was drenched with blood.
Gasping, I staggered back. I had trembling fingers.
"Don’t look away!" Rowan barked. "If you’re going to stay, help me."
I took a deep breath.
A second twisted wolf jumped at me. Its eyes were burning with unearthly fire, and its fangs were black. I held forth my hand to call forth the moonlight.
"Spirits, aid me!"
The light blazed. With a screech, the beast tumbled into a flaming ruin.
Rowan didn't turn around. His blade was a blur as he battled two at once.
"Behind you!" I let out a yell.
Just in time, he turned and stabbed the eye of another beast.
He said, "Focus, Amara!"
My breathing quickened. I channeled the icy silver light by pressing my hands against another dying wolf. This one did not make it. It became limp as it choked, blackness gushing from its throat.
I sobbed.
"Amara!"
Now it was Kian, his eyes wild, piercing the smoke.
I shook my head and gave him a look.
"There are far too many," I said. "I can’t save them all."
He took hold of my shoulders and gave me a light shake. "However, you managed to save one. That is important.”
His look grew softer.
"Don’t lose yourself," he urged softly.
I took a swallow. My lip quivered. I used my sleeve to wipe blood from my face.
"I have to try."
He gave a nod.
With blood streaming from his blade and gasping, Rowan joined us.
"We have to get these people out," he stated.
I gave a head shake. "Some are too far gone."
Rowan's expression darkened. "Then stop wasting energy on them. The people who can be saved should be saved.”
My heart twisted.
Kian gave Rowan a fierce look. "She’s not your weapon to command."
Ignoring him, Rowan looked directly into my eyes. "Please. Try your best. I'll keep them away."
Kian frowned without protesting.
I gave a shaky nod.
I returned my attention to the injured.
I touched a child's chest with my hands. Burned, she sobbed feebly. I felt the moonlight drain me as I channeled it.
"Shh," I said. "You’re safe now."
She relaxed her breathing. Her eyes were wet and wide as she looked up at me.
"Thank you, lady," she said quickly.
I forced a shattered smile.
Kian's admiring and sorrowful eyes observed me. With a trembling palm, Rowan wiped blood from his face and turned away.
The screams continued.
My lungs were scorched by smoke.
I wouldn't stop, though.
I wouldn't allow her to prevail.
"The Hollow Witch". This is what you did.
I clenched my jaw.
I'll stop you. Even if it means my death.
Wiping blood and perspiration from my brow, I forced myself to stand. The smell of charred hair and ash filled the air. Around us, fires roared, illuminating shattered bodies with red light.
With his sword spilling black blood, Rowan strode forward. Anger blazed in his eyes. "Stay behind me!" he yelled after glancing at me.
With a raspy voice, I answered, "I can fight." I meant it, even though my voice trembled.
He breathed heavily as he looked at me. "Avoid being stupid."
Ignoring him, I fell to my knees next to another warrior who had died. The strained gasps heaved in his chest. Like poisoned roots, black veins splayed across his throat.
"Stay motionless," I said.
With crazy eyes, he groaned.
I summoned the moonlight by pressing my palms on him. I felt a surge of cold force. It poured through me, burning my imprint on my wrist. The darkness was burned away as light surged into him.
After letting out a shrill cry, he collapsed.
At the sound, Rowan spun around. "Amara!"
With tears in my eyes, I sagged, gasping for air. "He is no longer there."
Rowan took hold of my shoulder. "Everyone cannot be saved!"
His hand was pushed away by me. "Don't say that to me!"
His lips clenched. He didn't dispute.
The night was broken by another wail. I jerked my head up. In the firelight, shapes moved—eyes like hell pits, twisted wolves with bones sticking through their flesh.
I stumbled to stand up.
With his blade at the ready, Rowan stepped in front of me. "Remain near!"
In a rush, they hurried us.
With a shout, Rowan confronted them directly. Black blood spurted onto the dirt as he slashed through one, then another. I extended my hands, using the moonlight as a shield.
He shouted, "Amara!"
With its jaws wide, one of the beasts leaped passed him.
I threw up my hands and screamed. The light blazed. Burning in silver flames, the creature wailed as it struck the barrier.
However, they continued to arrive.
I gasped in exhaustion. I was quickly running out of magic.
Rowan pressed himself into me. Blood was pouring into his eyes from a wound on his face. "You should stay back, I told you!"
"I'm not going anywhere!" My voice broke as I snapped.
He made a noise that was something between a sob and a roar.
From the side, another beast leaped. It was too late for Rowan to turn.
However, before it got to him—
The creature's eye was struck by an arrow that shot out of the shadows.
With a furious expression, Kian emerged from the smoke. He used his sword to knock another beast away.
"Amara!" he exclaimed. His wide, concerned eyes met mine.
The sight of him nearly brought me to tears.
He came running over and grabbed my wrist. "Are you in pain?"
I lied and said, "I'm fine."
Rowan growled. "Kian, get her out of here!"
Kian didn't pay attention to him. "We won't leave them behind!"
They exchanged scowls. The flames were as ferocious as the passion between them.
However, time was of the essence.
Leaping forward, the largest shadow beast to date loomed over us. Its eyes were only blazing pits, and its horns curled from its head.
The ground trembled with the sound.
Rowan's sword came up. Kian shifted to its side.
"Remain behind us, Amara!" Kian barked.
But I had had enough of remaining behind.
Selene stirred inside of me.
Set it on fire. Get rid of it.
I held up my hands. The moon blazed.
With its claws cutting, the beast surged toward Rowan. Stomping up into its ribs, he dodged. There was a spray of black blood.
It hardly slowed.