September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(106)

Blood filled my eyes before sliding down my cheeks. Struggling for breath, I coughed, producing more blood. I’d killed several vampires like this. A forced power overload that results in the bursting of the heart. I supposed it was fitting that I would die the same way.

“Alexa, stop,” Arys pleaded. “You have to stop. Now.”

I wiped the blood from my eyes and lips with the back of my hand, doing little more than smearing it around my face. “You have to finish this, Arys.”

Shya was on his knees when I collapsed face first into the dirt and dry grass. So close. I’d come so close to driving him off. I had called more power than ever before, and it still wasn’t enough.

My vision swam as I struggled to look around. Jenner had collapsed near the trees. I couldn’t see Kale, but Jez’s shouts at me to stop rang in my ears. The only one still standing was Gabriel who emanated an unholy power much darker than our bloodline alone.

He had left Shaz unconscious, a pile of white fur amidst the dark of night. Jez rushed to my fallen wolf with a silver dagger in each hand, ready to protect him from further damage.

My grip on the flow of power faltered, and I was forced to let go of my connection to the others. It was just as well. I didn’t want to take them with me.

Gabriel put himself between me and Shya. In a desperate move, I reached out to grab hold of his energy. If I’d been able to bind him to me during Shya’s party it would have been easy to manipulate him now.

“Give it up, Alexa,” Gabriel said. “You’ve got nothing on me.”

I screamed when, with a snap of his fingers, my body was racked with pain. It felt like I was slowly being torn apart. It was obvious that he was buying Shya time to recover. It wouldn’t take long.

Arys seemed reluctant to leave my side, but at the sound of my shriek he launched himself at Gabriel. The two of them became a mass of fists and fury. Though the fledgling vampire thrummed with black magic, Arys had centuries of experience and power. They were evenly matched, throwing one another violently about.

There was no one left standing between me and Shya. His red eyes gleamed with delight. Using the very last of my strength, I pushed to my feet. In my peripheral vision, I saw Willow do the same.

“I enjoy you,” Shya proclaimed. With a flap of wings, he was standing again. “Really, I do. No mortal has ever given me a fight this good. It feels…pretty damn great. What do you say, Alexa? Do you have one more round left in you?”

The fact that I was on my feet was nothing short of a miracle. Breathing was a feat in itself. There was no way I could go another round with the demon. I was done. It was over.

“Don’t die on me now,” he continued, each step bringing him closer. “Not until I have the scroll. How many times have I saved your pathetic life now? Soon the darkness will claim you, and then you will belong to me.”

I staggered like a drunk but didn’t fall. If only I would just die and rob him of his precious f*cking scroll.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Willow was just suddenly there, feeding Shya a series of punches clearly fueled by pure hatred. “You took Christina from me, but you will never have Alexa. I am taking her darkness.”

Surprise crossed Shya’s sharp features. “You would sacrifice yourself for the Hound?”

“That’s right.” Projecting his voice toward the sky, Willow shouted. “Do you hear me? I willingly take Alexa’s darkness.”

Whoever he was speaking to, it wasn’t Shya. There was a flash of bright, white light. It struck Willow in the chest, holding him frozen in place. It happened so fast.

An anguished cry tore from Willow. I watched in horror as the darkness meant for me filled him. One by one the feathers of his wings turned as black as sin.

“No,” I screamed, reaching for Willow as if I could stop what had already begun.

My name was a whisper on his lips when he looked at me with gold-flecked red eyes. Before I could touch him, he was gone, leaving behind only the stench of sulfur.

Tears streamed down my face. I shook with sobs. Not Willow. Dear God, not him. He didn’t deserve such a fate.

I didn’t feel like I’d been saved. Instead I felt very much condemned. Willow had sacrificed himself for me, and I didn’t even have the strength to finish what I’d come to do. I had failed him.

Shya reached for me, and I cringed. Anticipating his vile touch, I prayed it would all happen fast.

A sword burst through Shya’s chest, having been shoved through from behind. Falon stood behind the demon, holding tight to the hilt. Smoke rose from the silver blade.

Shya’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came out. He blinked several times as realization set in.

“Alexa, please,” he pleaded. “We can negotiate. Give me the scroll, and I’ll make you my queen. Anything you want, it’s yours.”

“Go to hell,” I said.

Gaping down at the blade protruding from his middle, Shya pitched forward, nearly crashing into me as he went down on his face.

In a sudden fluid motion, Falon jerked the sword free and swung. The blade whistled through the air before slicing through Shya’s neck, effectively severing his head. Before my very eyes, Shya’s body faded away, disappearing completely. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.

Without so much as a word to me, Falon targeted Gabriel next. He slashed at the young vampire, driving him and Arys apart.