September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(73)

“A shared interest.” Brook’s hateful gaze flicked to me and back to Willow. “They seek to keep her from rising to greater power as I seek to keep Shya from the same. Therefore, a partnership.”

Willow scoffed. “You’re all idiots. The only one that can keep Shya from rising to greater power is Alexa. You all need her. You should be backing her, not trying to kill her.”

Only one vampire dared to speak up. “We won’t be ruled by a hybrid. She isn’t worthy of being called one of us.”

“That’s because she’s not,” Willow snapped. “She’s better than every one of you. That’s why none of you will survive this night.”

Slow, even breaths. I had to make a conscious effort to keep breathing. Every intake of air was agony. I suspected that more than one of my ribs was broken.

Brook wasn’t interested in playful banter. He rushed Willow with a war cry. The impact as they collided produced an earth shattering boom.

It was all the vampires needed. Inspired by the demon’s actions, they came at us again. With Willow preoccupied, Jenner and I were left to defend ourselves.

We stuck together. I was careful to keep Jenner at my back so he wouldn’t accidentally come too close to the dagger. As I swung the deadly blade, I drew hard on the power I shared with Arys. It spilled into me like the breaking of a dam. Opening myself up to it, I felt that familiar rush and heard that white noise in my ears. It felt right, like it was me and I was it. I became one with the inhuman metaphysical entity as it thrummed through my mortal form.

The dagger fell from my grip as the force commanded me. With both hands outstretched before me, I unleashed a torrent of power. It cascaded over each vampire in turn, and like dominoes they all fell before me. Blood gushed from their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. On their knees, some of them clawed desperately at the ground while others attempted to plead for forgiveness of their error. One by one they burst into ash and dust.

As great as my power was, it was only at half-mast without Arys. Drawing on him enabled me greater strength, but it was limited by my weakened mortal frame. Though most of the two dozen or so remaining vampires fell under my assault, not all of them were destroyed.

Jenner fought hard at my side. Many died at his hand, and as crazy as it seemed, he appeared to enjoy the fight. Brook and Willow were still engaged in a battle of wills, throwing one another around with ease. It was nothing more than a distraction meant to keep Willow from coming to my aid. It worked.

I saw Owen on the ground several yards away. He was bloodied and incoherent but alive. If I could get to him and make a circle, I could keep him safe.

That was easier said than done. I couldn’t stop the flow of energy that was coursing through me. When I tried to, I realized with great concern that it was running wild on its own accord. It was beyond my control.

It didn’t take long for my physical strength to fade. My body was not meant for a force this strong to last this long. With every vampire I took down I found it harder to focus, harder even to breathe. The wolf inside rebelled, seeking to break out. I fought back the beast, knowing I had no power in that form.

“Alexa, get up.” Jenner’s hand on my arm brought me back to myself. I hadn’t been aware I was on the ground. “It’s not over yet. I need you. Get up.”

He jerked me to my feet where I swayed, fighting to regain a sense of balance. Blood ran from my nose and a blinding pain smashed my skull behind my eyes. This was it. The moment Shya had feared. The power was going to kill me, and he was going to miss it.

A laugh sounded especially loud in my ears. I was vaguely aware that it was me. Jenner’s face swam into focus. He was bleeding from a gash on his forehead but otherwise looked pretty good.

A dizzy spell shook me and suddenly the ground was rushing up to meet me. Jenner kept me from hitting. Shaking me and shouting, he slapped my face. My eyes rolled back in my head, and I struggled to speak.

“Let go of me,” I gasped. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Before I could be sure he’d heard me, a vampire grabbed him from behind, and he was gone, fighting with an impressive command of both body and power. Never had I envied that until now, when my own mortal limitations threatened to kill me.

Arys’s voice echoed in my head. It hurt to have him there, breaking into my already tortured thoughts. His concern was heavy, but I couldn’t form a clear reply. It would take him a good thirty minutes to reach us. I would likely be dead by then.

The next few vampires that dared to come close enough to deliver a blow of any kind met a dusty end. The power went out from me, needing no direction. It was wild and erratic, targeting anyone who sought to harm me.

Unfortunately, for every vampire I destroyed, a piece of myself died too. As the power grew stronger, I grew weaker. The force needed me as a channel, and I was succumbing to the toll it was taking on me. My vision blurred, and my lungs burned. I collapsed heavily on the ground and prayed death would be swift. Anything to free me from this agony. The stabbing pain in my skull was too much.

Despite having kicked some serious ass, I wasn’t going to win this battle. The rebel vampires in their misguided quest had the advantage by having numbers and bodies that were beyond human mortality. Though there were very few of them left, the damage had been done.

I saw him coming. A dark haired, bearded vampire made his way toward me. Picking up my dagger, he smiled. I could only watch as he raised it high above my head. Cringing, I waited for the blow to land, hoping it would be fast.