that felt like years as the power zinged and zapped through me. With the slightest nod of her head, she pushed through her terror. Shoved it aside as if it didn’t matter. In that moment, she earned my respect. She settled into the transfer of power. She closed her eyes and dropped her shoulders. Take what you want, but don’t hurt yourself.
What about you?
A soft serene smile pulled at her sexy mouth. That part doesn’t matter. She answered without opening her eyes.
I clenched my back teeth to keep from pulling this strong crazy woman into my arms, crushing her mouth beneath mine.
“Eternal shit on a stick,” Tove called out. “Her allergic reaction. It’s disappearing.”
I moved my gaze to the bend of her arm. Tove was right.
Raising my gaze, I saw Matt move. He waved a hand and had a clear barrier erected between him and my brothers with a quick mutter. His face covered in bright red as he glared daggers into the back of Hollyn’s head.
My instincts roared to life as he leapt for her. I pulled Hollyn’s body into mine. We collided and a soft ‘omph’ puffed against my chest. “NO!” I curled around her and gave Matt my back, sheltering Hollyn’s smaller body with my own.
Something slid through my shirt, deep into my skin.
As my back arched in agony, I loosened my grip on the woman who’d just changed my life.
She tumbled forward as I crumpled to my knees.
“Why?” she screamed.
Her scream was the last thing I heard as the fire seeped through my body stealing my mind.
Chapter 16 – Hollyn
“By the stars, please let this work,” I muttered as I fell to the ground next to Tagan. Guilt wracked my body. I knew I shouldn’t have let him pull on my magic. Magic does nothing but cause pain and sorrow.
“Stella vulnere remedium,” I chanted over and over as I tried to pull even more magic from my body.
Barely a trickle of magic crossed between us. I shook my hands out, prayed to the gods I hated, and laid my palms back on Tagan’s raw and bloody back. “Stella vulnere remedium.” This time I shouted it.
Brilliant light shot from my hands into his body as his ribcage shuddered under my fingers. “Come on. Come on.”
“You have no right sharing your magic with him. With any of these men,” Matt said as he grabbed a fistful of my hair. He wrenched my head back, a knife in his hand. “Your magic belongs to us. The Faithful. We have served and served, all to no avail. The gods have deserted us. And now, you—the Deserter—are wasting your powers on these bastards? No. Not while I’m here watching. If you’re going to share your magic, it will be with me.”
He lowered the blade to my face, cut a hot burning path over my right eye. As he watched the blood, he raised his voice, “Translatio potestatis.” He dropped his knife, slid his middle finger through the hot liquid on my face, and drew a star on his forehead.
The room around us began to shake. Glass rattled in the kitchen. The pans that hung over the massive stove clinked and clanged with the rolling of the ceiling and floor.
I looked at Tove and Thane out of the corner of my eye. They were beating on what looked like solid air. Their expressions were horrified even as rage ate at that emotion. They were trying to get to Tagan.
I’d done this. Brought this horror to them. Destroyed the lives they’d been building. Just so I could get away from the Oaks. It appeared that no place was safe. At least not for me. The least I could do was make sure these men were whole and safe before I left and took my trouble with me.
I banked the magic in my hands, held it inside my skin as I reached up and grabbed Matt’s wrist with both hands. “Quod Restituo dimittere.” I dug my ragged nails into the soft, thin skin of Matt’s wrist. Blood poured from his arm as sacrifice. And the gods must have been listening.
For once.
I felt the direction of magic flow reverse as it flooded through my system. My body grew hot at the influx of power. My head swirled even as my forehead broke out in sweat. I’d never been able to do anything like this in the forest. My power had been less than negligible there. But, by the stars, I was so thankful that I