Authors: Trisha Wolfe

Destiny's Fire (34 page)

His face was heavy with exhaustion, but it lit up when my words hit him. We pulled Nick, Lana, and Devon out of the battle and headed toward Mr. Liam. He and the Council members were carrying sacks. This was a good thing.

“You did it,” I said to Mr. Liam as we neared him.

He arched an eyebrow. “Was there ever any doubt?” He smiled, but eyeing the battle behind us, he quickly opened the sacks. “You guys want to distribute these? I’ll take the other bag.”

I grabbed an arm full of sabers. Jace, Nick, Lana, and Devon did the same and we set out. It was hard maneuvering around the fighting as we gave Shythe their weapons, but we managed. Beams lit up, and the dark bloomed with white power. For the first time, I felt we could win.

Jace pulled me toward him. “You have to try the spell again.” His eyes bored into mine. “We can handle this now.
Go
.”

He was right. They all had Feyan power in their hands now. This was the last chance for me to raise the barrier before Drevan sent in the last flank. Reese just had to keep the Feyan back for a little longer, and Jace and the other Shythe had to win this battle. And I had to be strong.

I gave Jace a quick hug, and bolted toward the pier. The text still lay in the grass next to the plaque, and I knelt to pick it up but thought better. I had to quit leaning on crutches and trust myself. I knew the incantation. I knew I had the power. And I knew I had to do this for myself as well as my family and friends. And Reese. Above all, he’d risked and given up so much to protect me. I had to keep him safe. Even if that meant throwing up the barrier that would keep him out.

I took one last look behind me, checking on how the Shythe were fairing. They were pushing the Narcos back…slowly. But they were moving. I began chanting.
I am a descendant of great guardians. I have the strength to do this
.

The barrier shimmered, picking up right where I’d left off. I didn’t have to start all over again. Thank God. I watched as the blue light spread quickly down the pier. I chanted faster, concentrating on my words—my will. Something inside me quivered, and I shook. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and my stomach roiled. I clamped my eyes shut.
This can’t be what I’m supposed to feel…

I wasn’t strong enough…not yet. I summoned my Feyan power—my White Flame. Holding my arms out beside me, I shot beams into the air. I opened my eyes. A white haze surrounded me. I pushed my power out, but whatever spell Drevan had placed over the barrier to guard it wasn’t allowing me to enter.

I screamed, frustrated, and threw my blazing white hands against the barrier. It rippled with power. But the blue shimmer slowly began turning red. Drevan had to be working a spell right now. He wasn’t going to allow me to win.
Damn him.

I thrust my hands flat against the shield, willing with all of my power—my strength—for the barrier to obey me. But he was stronger. My stomach churned, and my legs buckled. Tears streamed down my face as I felt my power falter. I was failing.

As I struggled to release one last round of power against the shield, one of my arms weakened from the strain, and I couldn’t hold it against the barrier any longer. It fell, and I hung my head. But then I felt someone reaching into my pocket.

Panicked, I jerked up. Reese stood beside me. He fished my crystal from my pocket and held it up. “I think you might have to get rid of this first,” he said. Then he tossed it to the ground and stomped on it. The crystal shattered beneath his boot.

“Reese…” My eyes roamed over his face. He was so beautiful in his Kythan form.

He slipped his hand into mine, and his power rushed through me. His eyes stayed on me as I called forth one last blast of power. I could barely see through the blinding glow of my eyes. The dark world around me lit up as I pressed my free hand against the barrier.

In a flash, the shield illuminated, white and celestial. I chanted the ancient spell, words flying from my mouth. The barrier maxed into a bright explosion of white light, and Reese covered his eyes with his arm. The sounds from the battle died as the flash sounded in a muted boom.

For a second, I was blinded by the light, and a powerful feeling surged through me. Then it was dark. Slowly, I began hearing the fight behind me. Reese lifted me into his arms, cradling me to him. As he spun us, my laughter echoed in my still-ringing ears.

“You’re amazing!” he said.

“And you’re here.” I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You stayed. What about the Feyan? And Drevan?”

He cocked his head to the side. “I had more sway than I thought, I guess.” I looked toward the battle. A mob of glowing white Feyan fought alongside the Shythe. “I’m sure that wild thing you just did scared the Narcos pretty good, but I thought I might show up with some back up…just in case.” He winked.

I laced my arms around his neck, pulling him close. “So you’re not leaving me?”

He buried his head in my neck. “Never.”

Then something hit me. I drew back. “You saw that?” I asked, searching his violet eyes. “The white barrier?”

“I think everyone from here to the other side of Maine saw that.” He beamed at me. Then his forehead creased, and he ran his thumb over my neck. “Dez…”

“I’m all right,” I assured him. “But does it look that bad?”

His eyes moved from my neck to my face, tracing my features, and his eyes brightened. “You’re beautiful. Nothing could ever change that.”

My heart swelled, but then I heard heavy footfalls coming toward us. Jace, Lana, Nick, and Devon ran up. “It’s almost over,” Jace said, panting. “The Feyan are taking out the rest.”

He threw his bruised arms around me and hugged me tightly. The rest of them gang-hugged me from the side and behind. We laughed, the tension from the fight melting away. After I disentangled myself from their embrace, they jumped up and down, cheering into the predawn light. I watched my friends in awe.

Reese walked up beside me and took my hand in his. Jace looked over at us. Then he came forward. My heart constricted as both of them stood on either side of me, staring one another down.

Then Jace stretched out his hand toward Reese. “Nice job.”

Reese’s face relaxed into an easy smile. “You, too.”

I looked between them, my heart lifting. I squeezed Reese’s hand and spun us toward the ocean. Then I tugged Jace’s arm, and he turned toward our gaze. “You did it, Dez. And we won,” Jace said.

“No,
we
did it,” I said, giving him a smile. Then my face fell. “But only the battle. We’ve yet to see the war.” I shivered as my eyes trailed after the airships floating off into the distance—the smoke from their Daimler engines puffing dark clouds against the sunrise. “Drevan will be back. He’s not giving up that easy.”

The conversation I’d had with Drevan echoed in my mind. He’d searched too long, gone to too many extreme measures to quit now. I shuddered. Father or not, he was my enemy. But befre we confronted each other again, I needed to understand my power and what it could mean for the Kythan.

“Then we’ll be prepared,” Reese said. He clasped my face between his palms and tenderly pressed his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the kiss I’d thought I’d lost forever. For us, it was only the beginning.

Acknowledgments

When I first began this writing thing, I thought if I ever got a book published, I would have the saddest acknowledgments ever. I was a very lonely writer. Through the years, and many stories later, I have a tremendous list of wonderful people to thank. Which proves no book is ever written by just one person. It takes a small army of loyal friends and family to see it to competition.

Thank you, God, for blessing my life with amazing people and for strength of will to never give up.

My critique partners are the chocolate in my chocolate pie. Tori Scott, Rachel Harris, Shannon Lori-Ann Duffy, and Patrice Michelle. You guys keep me sane, and have taught me so much about writing and friendship, alike. I love you guys big time. The Chirenjenzie girls. Hope Collier, Elizabeth Isaacs, Mindy Ruiz, and Brandi Kosiner, thank you for your encouragement and invaluable input. Your support and friendship mean the world to me. Julie Brazeal at A Tale of Many Reviews, you were one of my first cheerleaders for this book. Thank you for your thoughts and emails and commitment in hosting the blog tour. The YA Bloggers, for your hard work and dedication on the DF blog tour. You rock!

Omnific Publishing for taking a chance on a new writer. Traci Olsen, my publicist, who has become a friend and listens to my crazy rants and chills me out with promises of chocolate and hot book boys. Jennifer DeLucy and Beverly Nickelson, my amazing editing team (ninjas), who transformed my writing into something I can be proud of, and for braving my neuroticism. Elizabeth Harper for her belief in me, and encouraging letters and support. The authors at Omnific. You girls are mad talented and I’m honored to appear alongside you.

I have many people to thank who have beta read, promoted this book, or held my hand and listened to my cries of fury: Brenda Drake, Julia King, Jordan Dane, Jen Wylie, Karen Metcalf, Rusty Fischer, Valerie Fink, Kristi Diehm, Amber Troyer, Tiffany King, Cindy Thomas, Jamie Manning, Stacey O’Neale, Morgan Shamy, and Leigh Fallon, thank you for your encouragement and contribution. The fabulously talented Apocalypsies! Thank you for the mad support. I’m proud to release with you all.

My awesome agent Lauren Hammond, whose fierce loyalty and belief in my work astounds me. Thank you for being in my corner. My brother, Matt, for keeping me from delving too deep with all my seriousness, and for always reminding me to laugh. My son, Blue, for keeping it real and not allowing my book boys to sound “weak”. My granny, Margret, for telling me fantastic stories from her past, and igniting the fire of storytelling in me early on. My husband, Daniel, for financial support so that I could spend every day writing. I love you. Alfred, my father, who’s proud of me no matter what I choose to do in life, and always encourages me to follow my dreams. You’re my inspiration. Debbie, my mother, who reads my stories over and over and over and gives me priceless advice. This book’s ending wouldn’t have been the same without your thoughts. You’re my best friend and my rock.

About the Author

From an early age, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up fantasy worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her fantasy worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself.
Destiny’s Fire
is her first novel.

For more information on Trisha Wolfe and her works, please visit:

www.TrishaWolfe.com

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