Scholar of Magic (Art of the Adept #3) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,197

he lost contact with the silver river of power, which now fell under Will’s control and began ravaging outward from his hands in the direction facing where the other wizard had been. He could feel the power surging through him as it slew and harvested still more power, along with the inexorable need to turn, to continue unleashing it before it destroyed him as well.

Lifting his hands, he sent the power upward into the sky, where it slowly diminished as it crossed miles and miles of open air. The turyn gradually weakened, and eventually he was able to draw in what was left, pulling the spell to a final close. Tired and fatigued, Will sagged, leaving their shared body to Laina’s full control.

Exhausted, Laina Nerrow stood victorious, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. From the outside she cut a magnificent figure. Her hair had long since come loose, and while bits of it were stuck to her face, the rest flowed out behind her. Her dress was tattered and torn, but rather than detract from her appearance, it merely confirmed the heroic struggle she had endured. Darla knelt beside her, head lifted to gaze adoringly up at the woman she loved.

Inwardly, Laina and Will cheered each other, basking in the glow of their mutual success. Most of the vampires had fled the general vicinity of the battle by then, and some people were slowly emerging from their homes, where they had watched while in hiding. A few even cheered.

Laina reached out and lifted Darla back to her feet, and the two of them walked toward where Ethelgren had stood. Will idly wondered what he would do next. His body had been buried alive, so soon he would have to make his goodbyes.

The ground exploded in front of them, and Laina felt a powerful disruption in her link with the earth elemental. Elementals were impossible to destroy, but hers had been finely dispersed in such a destructive way that it would be hours before it could reform. Linus Ethelgren emerged from the crater, levitating on a magical disk that lifted him out and deposited him gracefully beyond the rim of ruined paving.

“You fucking asshole,” he spat. “You just couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”

Good news, Laina reported wryly. Your body is still doing just fine.

They were tired and worn. Laina’s earth elemental was out of the picture, and with a gesture, Ethelgren caught the fire elemental in an odd cage made of flames. He was walking toward them with an evil gleam in his eye.

He’s going to kill us, Laina, Will informed her.

He’s male, she replied, and he’s already shown his weakness. He thinks with his dick. I can handle this.

What does that mean? asked Will, feeling uncertain.

Just watch and try to figure something out. I don’t know how long I can distract him.

The mad wizard stomped toward them, and as he got close his hand lifted, palm facing them. Darla started to move sideways, to circle around, but his hand moved, then changed orientation. He pushed down, and the assassin was flattened against the cobblestones. Laina didn’t move, but her breathing increased as her chest heaved.

Are you starved for air? asked Will.

Shut up and figure something out! she yelled at him internally. Her eyes widened as she watched Ethelgren approach, and then her knees began to fail. Slowly, she sank to the ground, her skirt mounding up around her gracefully. Her chin dipped, but her eyes looked upward at her oppressor, giving the impression of complete defeat. At some point, her dress had slipped off one shoulder, causing a scandalous shift in her décolletage.

When did that happen? Will wondered. Did she do that on purpose somehow?

Focus! she chided him.

Linus Ethelgren sneered down at her, then reached out and seized her hair painfully, jerking her head back. “I should kill you for this,” he threatened, but his eyes kept slipping away, distracted by other regions of Laina’s anatomy.

Will felt a sharp pain as the bastard grabbed their hair, but he was shocked when his sister lightly bit her lower lip, then followed by quickly licking her lips. Her eyes