was because of his kindness that I still had the opportunity to survive.
I can't abandon him.
My eyes caught onto the mutant creatures that were standing at the very edge of the forest. I realized from the slight glint around their collars that this was clearly a no-go zone.
"Loki! Hold on!" I hissed as I reached him. The poor thing whimpered and tried to wiggle away from me as I approached, but he wasn't fast enough.
"This thing has to go!" I snapped and reached for the very collar.
And received the biggest fucking shock in my life.
My scream didn't convey the amount of pain that burst through me and sent me literally flying back until I was gliding through the snow. I gasped for breath and coughed furiously, enough that I spat blood out.
"Fuck..." I groaned. "Alright...that...was fucking...stupid."
Loki whimpered at my statement, and I very slowly sat up to see the multiple burn wounds on my body. They were fighting to heal, which wasn't normal, but that wasn't my priority now.
"Bria...we have to help him," I practically begged out loud while fighting for breath. No shifter in this world deserved such a shock. I wouldn't even wish that on my enemies. No wonder someone like Felicia was able to have control over him.
Being shocked like that a few times would stop your heart.
I rolled onto my stomach, turned my body around, and slowly crawled to him again. I noticed the onslaught of clouds forming in the sky, only confirming that a storm was heading our way. We had to get off this mountain or we'd die before sunrise.
"You have to fight magic with magic. The shocks are magic oriented," Bria explained.
"Now...if only...Aurelia was around," I heaved, and paused in crawling to turn my head and spit out more blood. "Fuck. That...shit literally electrocuted me."
"Willow, you won't survive another one."
I should have been frightened by her words, but no. That wouldn't possibly be Willow style. So, I did what I would do. Laughed my lungs out.
"Then...I better get...a damn award...from Mother...Moon," I breathed as I reached him. Loki whimpered again, trying to move away, but I shook my head.
"Oh no. We're...trying...that again," I panted. "After...a moment."
"WILLOW!"
My body jolted at Viktor's voice in my head, and I groaned at the sudden migraine.
Fuck, Viktor...I just got electrocuted. Can't...you talk a little...softer? Please?
"What?!"
Another groan.
I'm trying not to die! Stop...talking so loud.
He didn't say anything in return and I thought I lost him, but then his words came through. "What magic did you use just now?"
"Magic..." I whispered.
Viktor. How...how...do I take...a magic collar off?
"A magic collar?" He seemed confused by my question but somehow managed to answer, "A magic collar is an exchange. You can't just take one off! You have to take something of value from the individual and use it to make a new contract that overrides the collar. Why?!"
The sudden cracking of bones drew my attention away from my thoughts to see Loki had changed back. He was on his back, fighting for breath, but he now wore only tight black pants. His muscled chest was exposed, but the wounds were as clear as day, even in the depths of the night.
He had multiple wounds, scars, gashes, and odd symbols that looked like they were burned into his flesh. The only place that didn't have some sort of scar was his upper chest where a necklace sat in place.
A white beaded necklace with black fangs.
"This will do," I whispered. "Loki! I'm borrowing this!"
The black covering around his head somehow survived the shift, minus his mask, but his one eye noticed what I was doing as I managed to reach around his neck to undo the clasp of his necklace.
"What...are you..." He trailed off as I quickly put it on, and his eye widened as he took in the sight of his necklace alongside the one I carried with me from Onyx.
Okay! How do I make a contract, Viktor?
"What in the world are you plotting, Willow?!"
Loki's screams made me flinch and I had to move further off him because the collar was shocking him yet again.
No time! I need to take this collar off, Viktor!
He heard the urgency in my voice, so he quickly explained, "Grab a hold of the collar and state, ‘Unbonda La Va Re Free Binda!’"
Unbonda La Va Re Free Binda. Got it!
"Hold on, Willow! You can't do it now!"
Loki's gonna die!
"Who the fuck is Loki?!" he screamed. "Willow! You can't use magic until I get to you!"
Well, fuck. Guess I'm about