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KAYLAN AVILION WATCHED the golden glow as seven shifters surrounded her and her friend, Sierra. She watched her sister, Freya, turn away from her and knew there was no reasoning with her, while her former sister-in-law, Ena, only smiled.
Her breath caught in her throat as the beasts snarled, fangs and talons bared as they advanced towards them. Killing one shifter was hard enough, she’d never had to fight off so many before and she had no idea where her ex-fiancé, Elijah, was. As a shifter himself, he might have been able to help, but she’d lost contact with him after their last encounter.
Her mind automatically reached for out for Elijah. She’d lost track of him after her last attempt to save her sister.
Kaylan and Sierra backed away. Kaylan pulled out one of her knives with one hand and drew magic with the other. What chance did they have? If they were anything like Elijah, they were immensely strong and fast with claws and talons. Magic would only get them so far.
“Freya, don’t do this!” Kaylan said, giving her sister one last pleading look, but knew the plea was futile.
“Goodbye, Kaylan.”
Elijah! The inner cry came out of nowhere as panic made her heart pounded like a drum. She didn’t want to die. Not here. Not now. Not without seeing him again.
Kaylan threw a fireball at the first shifter as he came at her. He winced as it hit him in the chest, but it didn’t slow him down.
Sierra raised her hand. A burst of static shot out from a crystal. Another shifter yelped as he staggered backwards, shaking his head to fight off the effects.
Kaylan would’ve been impressed if she hadn’t been so afraid.
The doors to the hall banged open as a blur of darkness shot into the room. It lunged at the nearest shifter, followed by a loud growl as the shifter slumped to the floor in a pool of blood. It took a moment for her to realise the blur was Elijah.
Her heart leapt and some of the fear melted away. At least now they might have a fighting chance.
Sierra continued stunning their attackers, barely keeping them at arm’s length.
Kaylan, using her flying ability, leapt into the air as another two came at her. Using the height advantage to the fullest, she kicked them both in the head and knifed another one in the back.
Elijah moved as a blur of claws and a flash of golden eyes. His mop of brown curls looked an unruly mess when he stopped to strike one of their assailants.
Ena and Freya were making their escape from the hall. Kaylan flew at them. She wouldn’t let Ena escape so easily. This woman had murdered her family. She knocked the other sorceress to the floor in one swift move, using her power to keep her airborne.
Ena yelped and Freya threw a strike at Kaylan.
She dodged it, throwing the knife at Ena. Ena raised her hand, palm flashing with light as the blade bounced off and she smiled back.
Anger burned through her blood like never before. Anger at her parents’ and brother’s deaths, fury at Elijah being taken away from her by turning him into beast. Kaylan landed, hurling a fireball at Ena.
