Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Echo and Elijah attacked the Blackwoods from behind, keeping Odette and the Webbs at their back.
The air rushed, whipping in bitter stings across Niamh’s cheeks, as she tried and failed to fix her attention on Astra.
The members of the high council worked to bring down the spell protecting the Blackwoods. Seconds before the wolves reached them, an electric tingle shot down Niamh’s spine as their shield failed. The coven braced for impact as the wolves tore through their magic and into the witches and warlocks, who screamed in fear and outrage. Blood sprayed, flesh ripped, and limbs were torn from bodies.
Niamh’s hair rose on her nape and her gaze whipped toward a coven member whose focus was on her. She used her magic to create a shield seconds before a blast of fire-wrapped water collided against her barrier. It shimmered with gold at the impact, and the witch shrieked in fury that Niamh had bested her.
With a ruthless flick of her hand, she sent the witch careening a hundred yards into the sky. She slammed against Astra’s barrier and collapsed, unconscious.
As whimpers and howls lit the air, Niamh watched on helplessly as an enemy warlock used magic to break a werewolf’s neck. Conall’s howl of agony was joined by all of Pack MacLennan.
Niamh had a flash of a vision as their collective grief hit her.
Mhairi Ferguson. The wolf the warlock had killed was Conall’s Delta and an integral member of his pack.
A huge brown wolf exploded in feral rage and ripped the murderous warlock to pieces.
Mhairi’s mate, Brodie.
As much as she could, Niamh and the council members moved through the chaos of battle, trying to protect other wolves from the same fate. Try as they might, they did not succeed, and more wolves met their end. More overwhelming collective grief flooded Niamh’s desperation to get to Astra.
A choking sensation tightened around her throat, and she instinctively clawed at it, eyes flying wildly through the melee of supernatural bodies to find her attacker.
A witch with dark curls. Niamh broke her hold and sent her flying into another witch so hard, their heads whacked together, knocking them out.
Pulling witches and warlocks off werewolves with her fae powers, dousing wolves who had been set on fire, rescuing others being crushed by rings of air and water, Niamh became the ultimate target. Magic whipped and sliced and attempted to crush her. Exhaustion pulled at that golden spirit inside her as she attempted to defend not only herself but others, all on a path to Astra.
A streak of powerful magic blasted past her shields, and Niamh felt an invisible vise wrap around her ribs, trying to crush her. She fell to her knees, gasping in agony as a witch and two warlocks clasping bloodied hands approached with madness in their eyes. There was a blur of movement and then huge jaws clamped the top of the middle warlock’s head. In a gory scene Niamh would never forget, the man’s head was torn from his body and tossed aside with a throw of Kiyo’s jaws.
The crushing sensation eased as Niamh traveled behind the witch to snap her neck, and Kiyo ended the other warlock. Blood coated his dark fur and large white teeth, his eyes wild with his fear for her. Niamh smoothed a hand over her mate’s head, and his ears twitched as he bussed into her.
“Thank you, my love,” she whispered hoarsely before they turned to survey the scene. The grass was muddied with blood and pieces of supernaturals. Insides spilled onto the ground. Moans and whimpers and cries filled the air. All beyond the sight or hearing of the humans beyond Astra’s barrier. Niamh’s unshed tears burned as she took in the unseeing eyes of the dead strewn upon the battlefield.
Her gaze flew to Astra, who was fighting off Fionn and Rose. She swiped a blade over Rose’s arm before disappearing. Thea and Conall had joined Elijah and Echo in battle. Echo was trying to guard Odette and Elijah’s parents, but a warlock had broken past their defenses.
Niamh pulled on her magic to protect them.
But it was too late.
Bill Webb jumped in front of his wife and the child under their protection. The warlock ended his life with a swipe of his hand. A line of blood appeared across Bill’s neck. Wide-eyed, he slumped to his knees, clutching his throat.
“No!” Niamh screamed as memories of her beloved brother Ronan’s death at the hands of another coven slammed through her mind. A golden light blasted out of her, targeting the warlock.
He burst into a cloud of ash.
But it was too late.
Elijah’s father lay upon the ground, gone, as his wife sobbed over his body.
Astra.
Niamh searched the battleground and found her swiping the same blade she’d taken to Rose over the back of Elijah’s neck. Just a nick before she again disappeared. Niamh looked to Thea, Thea who believed she was no longer fae. Sure enough, Astra appeared in front of Thea, causing the wolf to rear back and bare her teeth. Astra dragged the blade across Thea’s side. The female alpha growled and swiped a paw, catching Astra’s leg before the fae disappeared.