Binding Ties The Sentinel Wars - Shannon K. Butcher Page 0,110

to change tactics. He was done with sneaking around. It was time to attack.

Joseph rolled his shoulders and started hacking his way toward his woman.

Chapter 42

Eric and Lyka backed into a corner where the demons could come at them from only one side. She lifted her hand and drew on Joseph’s power with the idea of defense in mind. A shimmering film of pale light appeared around her and Eric, protecting them from the slavering demons.

Some of them were weaponless and clawed at the luminous barrier, but most of them wielded rusty, primitive swords that looked like they’d been banged out in haste. The blades were thick and heavy, and she felt each one strike the wall she’d erected.

“Nice trick,” said Eric.

Sweat was already forming on her forehead. As much as she loved the feel of Joseph’s power running through her, it was exhausting as hell. “It won’t last long.”

“Can you move it?”

She had no idea. “Why?”

“If we can get to the door, we might be able to trap a metric shit ton of these fuckers in here. I’ve had plenty of time tied to this bed to study the place. The doors are solid. It will take them a while to chop through. It’s the only chance I see of getting out of here.”

It was worth a shot. There was a man out there who loved her, and she really wanted to know what that felt like for longer than the time it took her to die.

If Joseph had given her only words, she never would have believed that he loved her, but he’d done more than that. He’d let her in, let her feel what he did. It was beautiful, warm, safe. She’d slipped right inside his thoughts and basked in the glow of his love.

And she really wanted to do it again.

The only way to manage that was to survive, so Lyka mapped a path from the corner where they were trapped to the doorway. They had about thirty feet to cover and several pieces of furniture to go around—no small feat.

She took a step to her left and forced the barrier to slip around to cover Eric’s flank. He was weaving on his feet, doing all he could just to stay upright. If he took a hit now, she didn’t think he’d be able to stand, much less walk.

The shield moved with them, but dragging it was as hard as lifting a bank safe with one hand. She had no idea how she was going to make it thirty feet.

You can do it. I’m with you every step. Joseph’s comforting support settled over her. He was waging battle, slicing his way through a hallway stuffed with demons, and yet he still took the time to ease her worries.

Because he was the prize for survival, Lyka gathered her strength and took another step, then another. Sweat poured off her body and her legs were shaking with weakness, but she kept moving.

Eric started to go down. Lyka grabbed him before he could, but the shield faltered and a rusty blade made it through the hole before she could plug it.

She didn’t even realize she’d been hit until she felt the blood trickle down her arm.

You’re hurt. Joseph’s worry came through loud and clear.

She gritted her teeth as the pain hit her. Keep your nose in your own combat, Theronai. I’m fine.

Her blood excited the demons, making their attacks come at a frenzied pace. With each hit the barrier took, she felt herself wobble, weaken. She really didn’t know how much longer she could keep this up.

As that thought passed through her mind, she felt a rush of power flowing into her. Joseph was pushing it her way, trying to ease her burden.

She was floored by his thoughtfulness, by his care of her. She didn’t know how to repay him other than to keep fighting. Refuse to give up. When this was all over, she’d work on paying off all the debt she was racking up.

No debt. We’re one now.

And they were. She could feel everything he did, hear every thought that passed through his mind. He was with her, in her, his power flowing through her. She’d never felt anything half as intimate as the connection they now shared. It was so beautiful that she had to blink tears from her eyes.

Cry later, kitten. Fight now.

For him, she would. For them.

The conduit between them opened wide, giving her a rush of power. Her skin tingled as it raced