Storm Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,65

the air to create a tangled thicket of trees, brambles, and leaves. I hesitate, briefly debating, and then try to skirt around it; at least this way I can put some distance between myself and the others and try to come up with a strategy. But even as I make a break for it, the wall continues to grow, forming a fast-moving blockade that keeps me from crossing the square.

Growling with frustration, I turn around to see Neritous with his hands outstretched, eyes half-lidded almost lazily, as if this is no more of a task than tying his shoes. “Come now, Karma,” he croons. “Where’s the sport in running away?”

“This is all a game to you, isn’t it?” I demand, unable to keep from taking the bait.

“That’s hardly fair,” Neritous fires back. “Especially considering the way you yourself viewed your job as recently as your last birthday.”

That cuts deep, but I allow it to fuel the anger in my chest, hurling a blast of life magic at Kjetli just as he comes tearing up alongside me. It topples him onto the ground, but Ivar lets loose a bolt of his own lightning, and this one knocks me off my feet. Again. I go down hard, my side connecting with a giant chunk of rubble that knocks the air out of me and sends waves of pain through my torso. Even just trying to stand up again hurts; I must have broken a rib. Hell, I’ll be lucky if that’s all I broke. Ivar is coming at me, and I raise my hand to hit him with my magic again, but my stomach drops when I realise how thin the lightning bolts have grown. It’s enough to keep him away, but just barely, and before I know it, he’s closing in. I struggle to stand up, my ribs protesting the whole time, trying to work up the energy for another attack, but I feel utterly drained, like all the life is going out of me. The surge of battle earlier is wearing off, and my powers weren’t going to hold out forever. I’m running on fumes, and there’s no way for me to take them all down when I can barely stand up.

Breathing hard, my whole body trembling, I square my shoulders—at least I can go down fighting—only to be interrupted by a gale-force wind that sweeps Ivar off his feet. Turning to look, I see Storm and Killian sprinting to get to me, their eyes wide with concern and their faces masks of grim protectiveness. Even Killian, with Seth down for the count, seems hellbent on reaching me, and my heart melts a little when I see the look on his face. “Guys—” I yell as they approach.

“Look out!” Killian yells, throwing a burst of his own golden lightning over my shoulder. Whirling back around, I see Kjetli drop to one knee, grunting with pain. Killian charges past me, his golden eyes flashing, and before I know it, he’s on top of Kjetli, blows and magic flying as the two men grapple with each other.

“Get Neritous,” Storm shouts at me. He’s already duking it out with Ivar, their magics colliding in a firework-like explosion from opposite sides of the square.

“But—” I begin.

“Go!” Storm insists. “We’ll cover you!”

I hesitate for a fraction of a second more and then nod firmly, shielding my eyes as I look for Neritous. I know better than to argue, and this is the best chance I’m going to have; I should have known the guys would come through in the clutch. “Enough games!” I shout, extending my arms and stepping forward into the middle of the square. Around me, the battle rages on. “Come out and face me, Neritous.” For a moment, there’s no response, and I wonder if he’s had a change of heart, but then he steps out from behind one of the overgrown trees, sauntering slowly towards me until we stand facing each other.

“I should have guessed you would have your boy toys do your dirty work for you,” Neritous observes.

Gritting my teeth together, I reply, “You mean like you’re doing?”

Neritous laughs, actually laughs, at that. “You really do have a sharp tongue, Karma Kismet,” he remarks. “It’s disappointing things have to end this way. We could have ruled the world together.”

“I’m happy to disappoint,” I retort and then unleash a fresh bolt of green lightning, hoping to catch him off guard. At this point, it’s all I can do since I feel