Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
A riana’s heart pounded as she stood at Colt’s side. The stark chill of the cavern sent a shiver along her spine even though she wore a thick sweater and jacket. Along the ancient walls, the flicker of shadows cast by her small flame danced and illuminated the runes. The shapes appeared to mock their intrusion. Yet, it wasn’t the darkness or the cold that strained her nerves—it was the malevolent presence that lacked the familiar ancient signature she had encountered with Vilkas.
She scanned the chamber, her gaze locked onto the malevolent glow of the knife resting on the altar. The surrounding air thickened with dark energy, curls of black mist swirling like an ominous enemy. She felt its pull, a sinister call that tugged at her very soul. Her breath hitched. A momentary ripple of fear threatened to take hold. Could she do this? Protect Colt and his pack against whatever evil lurked here? She pushed down any doubts she had and fell back on her training.
Colt’s presence beside her was also a steady anchor, his fierce determination a beacon amidst the shadows. She stole a quick glance at him, noting his rugged features were set with grim resolve, yet his unwavering leadership and strength were evident.
“We need to get to that altar,” she murmured. “The knife’s magic… it’s calling to something or—” She looked around to pinpoint what her senses were telling her. “Someone within the cavern. We have to stop it.”
He nodded. His gaze flickered to Maya, who stood poised with her wards and spells at the ready. Their plan was simple yet dangerous: retrieve the knife, neutralize the rogue pack members, and get out alive.
Ariana steeled herself, drawing on the ethereal blessing given to her at birth. The electric energy buzzed at her fingertips. As Colt signaled for the team to move forward, she whispered to the elements.
The ball of light in her hand grew, and she tossed it into the air, where it formed a broader shield of light around them, pushing back the darkness. The rogue pack flinched, their glowing red eyes narrowed against the brightness, but their snarls grew louder, more threatening. Without hesitation, she summoned her ability to manipulate the elements, concentrating on the air and water surrounding them. The damp, cold air within the cavern swirled and rose into a whirlwind that extended outward. As she channeled her power, the wind increased in intensity and whipped around the chamber, creating a barrier between the team and the rogue pack. Hopefully, it would disorient the enemy.
The rogue pack struggled against the force of the elemental storm, their movements hindered as the whirlwind grew stronger, carrying with it the sting of icy shards formed from the moisture in the air.
Jaxon stepped forward, his muscular frame an imposing force against the backdrop of Ariana’s elemental fury. “Everyone, stay within the barrier! We need to keep them off balance!”
“Agreed,” Colt shouted, as he moved closer to Ariana. “We advance together.”
As the storm raged around them, the team pushed forward, every member moving in sync to match the rhythm of Colt’s directives. The combined efforts of their enchantments and Ariana’s elemental mastery shielded them from the worst of the rogue pack’s attacks. Yet, the malevolent energy in the cavern thickened. With each forward movement, they felt themselves sinking further into its hold. Ariana now held little doubt that someone else was controlling the pack. A demon? She was only familiar with the demons she held as friends, so was unsure what she was sensing.
As they pressed onward, the rogue pack, driven by the dark magic that coursed through their veins, rallied against the elemental storm. Their snarls turned into ferocious roars as they launched themselves at the barrier, claws and teeth bared. The first wave of attackers met the icy shards head-on. Their flesh sizzled as the cold bit into them. But their relentless onslaught continued, fueled by whoever controlled them.
Rhett shifted and leaped to intercept a rogue who lunged at Nova. With the snap of his powerful jaw, Rhett sank sharp canines into the other wolf’s neck and with a quick shake, sent the attacker reeling back into the storm, where the icy shards tore into him with renewed fury.
“Take that, you piece of shit!” Nova yelled, as she dodged another assailant. Her blade flashed as she countered with a strike that left the rogue wolf howling in pain.
Gage moved with a lethal grace, appearing to search for vulnerabilities in their enemies’ defenses. He darted in and out of the fray, striking with precision, his blows amplified by the strength of his wolf. Each hit sent rogues crashing to the ground. Their forms convulsed as the dark magic within them rebelled against the pack’s resolve.
“Come to Jaxon, you motherfuckers!” The shifter stood as a blockade, his muscular frame an immovable wall against the tide of rogues. His fists met flesh with bone-crushing force, each blow a testament to his unwavering loyalty and strength.
Colt fought with the ferocity of an alpha protecting his pack. His movements were a blur of controlled violence, each hit no doubt fueled by the burning need to safeguard his family. He met the rogues head-on, his blows precise and devastating. In the dim light, Ariana couldn’t help but be impressed as Colt’s knives flashed like silver lightning. She also noted how he kept a watchful eye on her while she maintained the elemental barrier.
Ariana scanned every corner of the cavern even as she conjured her swirling storm. She kept her breathing steady despite the chaos. The storm she had conjured was made to protect, to disorient. It was a testament to her years of practice with Aidyn over the elements granted to her by Ediva. Yet, the rogue pack members continued their attack even when met with the icy shards, their snarls of determination equally matched by Colt’s resolve and Ariana’s focus.
As Colt fought off two rogues, Ariana spotted another who meant to sneak an attack. In an instant, she called forth the sword her father had forged for her with his own hands. The coolness of the metal and the balanced weight in her grip were a comfort. Her muscles executed the movements that she had honed since she was a girl.
The rogue shifted into his wolf as he jumped in the air, intent on striking Colt down while he was busy fighting the others.
Ariana swung, the blade made contact, slicing through fur, skin and bone until the severed head and body fell to the ground. Colt spun, his eyes wide as he stared at her, blood dripping from her blade.
He gave a nod of gratitude, then went back to fighting.
Moving in unison, they advanced toward the altar where the cursed knife was placed. Every step was a battle—one met head-on by the team. Despite the hostile magic, the pack advanced, their determination carving a path amidst the darkness. Maya, too, contributed by casting protective wards, her chants weaved into the wind as ethereal threads of light further repelled the rogue forces.
Colt’s gaze locked on the knife, its malevolent glow a sinister beacon in the chamber’s darkness. Ariana felt its power reaching out, disrupting the very air with its poisonous allure.
This damned thing , she thought. Was it the root of Vilkas’s torment?
Colt surged forward, his movements a blend of aggression and raw power. Her protective barrier expanded; its intensity flared as she channeled more power through her connection with the elements. Colt wasted no time. He reached out, his fingers brushed the dark surface of the blade. A shockwave of poisonous energy coursed through the cavern.
“Ariana, it’s fighting me!” His voice was a blend of urgency and resolve.
Her gaze narrowed in concentration as she focused on her elemental power, merging it with the protective enchantments.
“Take my hand!” she shouted and as soon as their fingers touched, she flooded him with a warm, calming energy that she prayed would counter the knife’s darker magic. The rogue pack members recoiled. Their snarls turned to howls of agony as the merged power surged through the cavern, pushing back the dark magic that clung to the shadows. It was a battle of wills, a war of light against the encroaching evil.
The blade trembled under Colt’s grip. The runes carved into its length flared with an iridescent light that burned away the darkness. With a final, forceful yank, he tore it from the altar.
The moment the knife left the altar’s surface, the oppressive energy in the cavern surged violently, sending a wave of dark magic that exploded outward. The protective barrier she had around them bent.
“Maya!” she yelled.
“Got it!” The witch threw a blast of magic outward and shored up the barrier.
The cavern quaked, the walls shuddered as the rogue pack members staggered back, their connection to the knife severed. For a breathless moment, silence reigned, the dark mist that once clung to the air dissolved into nothing.
“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Colt growled, as he led Ariana—still holding her hand—and the pack back through the winding passages as the cavern continued to shake.
Ariana let her elemental storm dissipate as they stepped into the wintry sunlight, the brisk fresh air a stark contrast to the cavern’s stifling atmosphere. She took a deep breath before her gaze fell to the blade Colt gripped in his hand. She reached out and fingered the flat steel, and her heart sank.
“This isn’t it,” she said.
Colt’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“This blade, though powerful, lacks the specific malevolent resonance tied to Vilkas’s injury. It’s similar, but the magic signatures don’t match.” Her gaze locked with Colt’s, the shared frustration intensifying their connection. “We need to find the real one.”