I clenched my teeth together.
Tavlor moved and pressed his spine against mine, back to back.
“Any tips before I start blasting them?” I shouted, forming heated magic in the palms of my hands, ready to defend us. I wasn’t sure if he had some strategy, if there was one way to do this that was right.
“Yes,” he said. “Don’t hesitate.”
With that, the first wolf lunged at me.
I lifted my hands and threw the magic at the wolf with all the power I had. He burst into flames as though I’d lit a match to his fur and hit the ground. The wolf let out a pained howl. Birds in nearby trees shot into the sky.
Behind me, I heard the swing of Tavlor’s sword and the sickening crunch of flesh and bone separating. I closed my eyes, rolling my shoulders back as a shudder sped down my spine.
My heart pounded in my chest with the heaviness of an anvil, loud and persistent. I snapped my eyes open. I couldn’t let myself get distracted by sickening noises. If I was going to defend myself, I needed to not get grossed out by the repercussions of a fight.
Two down, two to go, I reminded myself.
We could do this.
I didn’t dare blink as I stared at the wolf pacing back and forth before me. He snarled, flashing his razor-sharp teeth at me, saliva falling down his lips. He was waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce. I needed to be sure I didn’t give him one.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was difficult for me to breathe.
Tavlor was swinging, and grunting, and I assumed he was killing the second of his wolves. I wished his back was pressed against mine. I liked the way it felt, to know I wasn’t alone.
But I had to focus. I had to be able to do this on my own. I needed to take care of myself regardless of whether Tavlor was here or not.
I flared my nostrils, my gaze following the wolf back and forth, back and forth.
They weren’t meant to kill me, I reminded myself. Perhaps they hadn’t expected such a resistance. Perhaps they hadn’t expected Tavlor.
The wolf continued to pace. I had to strike before he did.
I created ice-like magic this time, something that would freeze the wolf in place, and hopefully stop him from reaching me.
Tavlor turned, stepping up beside me.
I risked a glance to his face. Blood had splattered across his cheeks and flecked through his beautiful hair. I couldn’t tell if it was his or the wolves he had killed or both. We were both breathing heavily, though Tavlor was much subtler.
Tavlor lifted his sword. “Would you like me to finish him off? Or would you...?”
I loved the fact that he was asking, not just stepping forward and taking over. I sucked in a deep breath.
“I’d like this one,” I said, nodding once. “Thanks.”
I focused on the size of the wolf’s body and head, measuring the amount of speed and ice required. I wanted to get this right so I didn’t have to do this a second time or a third.
I raised my hands and began to build my magic, the all of a sudden, the wolf turned tail and ran.
I blinked. I had not expected him to flee.
“Don’t let him get away!” Tavlor yelled, pulling me out of my stupor.
I hated to attack someone with their back turned. In fact, it went against everything I stood for and believed in. They were surrendering. I didn’t want to hurt someone who was giving up.
But there was more at stake than the morals I’d created when I’d lived in a safe bubble. If he got away, he could go and get more reinforcements. He could be running to tell others where I was.
I didn’t know and I couldn’t speculate. I needed to take care of him now. This way, I would know. It wasn’t just about me, either. Tavlor was in this with me and could easily get hurt or killed on account of me. I couldn’t let that happen.