Chapter 43: In the woods.

Should I have listened to my instincts telling me something was wrong, maybe I should have but I didn't, and now we are here after running all the way from the pack house into the deeper part of the woods, we are almost at the territory borders.
"It's been a while since I ran this long" Leila comments as she drapes on her clothes back because she had shifted to her wolf form when we had run earlier.
"I think we should go back" I say with a sigh that has Leila turning to face me.
"Why?"
I do not reply her, instead I say with much more firmness now, "we should go back"
"And why should we do that?" She demands.
Maybe I am being paranoid, maybe nothing is going to happen , maybe it is just an instinct, but in that moment I want to be cautious even if there's really no danger.
I start to speak again, but my words are cut short in my mouth when I hear the creaks in the trees.
We are already standing behind our tree when the first arrow flies past us, hitting the tree next to us and leaving a deep scratch behind.
We are so startled that neither of us moves a muscle as another arrow flies through the air hitting the trunk of the tree that separates us from the forest.
"What was that?!" Leila demands.
I take a quick look around me before answering her.
The woods are silent apart from the sounds of the birds and other animals roaming around and I swear that the only thing that's moving is my heart pounding fast in my chest, which isn' t helping me at all right now, but if you don't mind a slightly exaggerated description for what is happening it is a lot worse than that.
"Something big, and definitely something dangerous." I finally answer.
Leila nods, "I figured out"
"We need to get the hell out of here" I tell her, dragging her hands as we start to sprint through the trees. We're almost out of sight before I hear a loud scream and a flash of orange light hit my shoulder.
Magic. I curse. This is not just a rogue attack, and if this is what I think it is, then this is a Fae attack.
I release my hands from Leila's and stop as I start to feel the intense pain in my shoulder. The magic seems to be spreading up through my arm, and I'm starting to see black spots cloud my vision. I take a moment to gather myself, and then I say to Leila. "Run!"
"What about you?" she asks as her eyes widen at the sight of blood oozing down my shoulder.
"Go! I'll meet up with you in a bit," I tell her.
Leila stares at me a minute longer before nodding and running back to the packhouse as fast as she can. I am thankful that she doesn't argue. The arrow attack has stopped now, but then another blast of magic hits me from wherever and I groan, falling to my knees. This one feels different than last time – the energy doesn't leave immediately as it did when this attack first happened, instead leaving a tingle running across my body. It's like someone stuck ice down the back of my neck, but it's also painful, making me hiss and bite down on my lip to keep from crying out. After a second, the feeling disappears and my vision is clearer. I can only hope that this attack isn't going to last forever.
A sudden crash makes me jump and then an enormous ball of fire slams into the ground right where I am kneeling now.
A voice rings out. "Hello, Princess" it calls out. "How lovely see you again"
I don't move, afraid that moving might make the situation worse.
The voice chuckles and the fire begins to crawl towards me. I try to get away, but I don't know how far behind I am or what direction I should go. I know him, I know the voice. The one man that ruined my family, Fucking Starkev. Turns out I didn't kill him that day on Astrid.
The flames are nearly upon me, the heat searing my skin. I raise my arms over my head to block them from my face as best I can, but even though I can't actually see the flames, I hear their angry snarling as they approach. The flames suddenly grow brighter and I feel something wrap around my waist pulling me backwards. I gasp, not expecting it, but the flames have been extinguished by the time I open my eyes. I turn my head, ready to fight whoever grabbed me, but I realize who it was. Her hair is messy from being pulled into a ponytail. "Hera" She lowers her head and says. "It is an honor to fight alongside you, Princess." I smile.
"You dont have to do that," I mutter, watching as her green eyes light up.
A loud clap makes us both jump and we turn to the source. Standing at our front is Starkev and not only him, but there are also wolves behind him, and to his right is another man dressed in a cloak. The other guy holds the reins of two large horses, their tails swishing back and forth angrily. My heart rate picks up as Starkev raises his hand and I know it will be a battle, one that could very easily end in our deaths. He waves and starts walking towards us, a wide sinister grin on his face as he approaches.
Hera places her palm on my hand and squeezes. "Focus on your magic, and let go of your fear. Your magic won't work if you are scared." She is repeating the same words Vas always says to me.
I nod, watching as Starkev advances. The bastard is leauging off with Lycans. They are stronger warriors, and faster as well. But the magic I have is different from most others. The power coursing through me makes my skin burn, and my muscles tighten. "I do not want much from you princess, for now though. All I want is for you to open the portal back to Astrid" he tells me, his tone sounding more menacing by the moment.
"What are you talking about?" I ask, looking straight into his gaze.
"Don't act like you do not know what I am talking about! That night on Astrid, you locked me out and closed off all portals!"
Starkev shouts, his anger apparent on his face.
I did? No, I remember letting out my magic and that was all? If I did though, then that must be the reason for the frozen pool of transition.
I raise my chin at Starkev. "I will not, open the portal!" Even though I might have no idea how to open it again.
He glares at me. "Do not test me little girl! You have no choice."
His hands ignite with a bright green flame.
"Stop!" I shout, pushing Hera aside and raising both my fists.
"What are you doing?!" she shrieks beside me.
"Fighting them."
"Let me help you?!"
"This is my fight, Hera-"
"Your battle is done! Now open the portal!"
She puts her hand on my shoulder and I give her a grateful smile before focusing all my attention back on Starkev.
The flames seem to increase as he gets closer, and the air feels heavier against my skin. I take in a deep breath, focusing on my energy. I snap my fingers and a gust of ice shot from my hands. A small wall of frost surrounds the two of us and I hold my hands together to create another. Starkev and his companions slow to a halt and stare at the ice walls.
"Impressive" Starkev smirks, "but have you ever wondered why the goddess gave me my fire element? Have you forgotten? My element can control and manipulate all that is cold. I can melt down frozen rivers so that they flow in streams and pools. I am the king of fire and your little ice stunt has nothing against my magic,"
I stand still, breathing deeply to calm my racing heart, waiting for the next attack.
Suddenly Starkev's sword appears in his hand and he slices the air in front of me. Sparks fly from his fingertips, and when I glance back at my frozen wall, the ice looks like it has melted.
Starkev chuckles darkly and takes a step forwards. "No matter how strong you think your ice is, it cannot withstand my fire. You will soon learn that" He gestures with the tip of his blade, and another wave of heat blasts towards me. The flames are hot enough that my skin stings painfully.
Operation Ice. Failed. Only that, Ice is not only my element. I control the earth element too, and anything that comes from within it. So I reach out for the energy of the forest around us . With my hands raised, the branches above our heads begin to shake and rain down upon us, blocking the sun from reaching my eyes. The trees close around Starkev and his men, trapping them beneath a thick canopy of leaves and twigs. I lower my arms slowly and watch as the branches and needles continue to fall. I turn around and see Hera standing there. She gives me an encouraging nod.
I see the wolves are starting to advance towards us.
I take a deep breath and look at my ice again. As I focus on the snowflake that forms in front of me it shimmers. Then, in a flash of white light, the ice melts and the snowflakes form again. I watch in amazement as the snowflakes dance around me for awhile, and then, as though being pulled by a magnet, start heading towards Starkev's army of wolves. melting some on their way. I lift my head and send another burst of ice shards flying towards them, freezing them where they stood except Starkev and the cloaked man. I raise my hands once more and the icy shards turn into spikes, sending them flying towards the men. In less than a few seconds they are all lying dead in the snow.
A huge smile spreads across my lips as my magic grows stronger . More of the wolves charge forward and try to attack. I send a wave of ice towards them, causing the trees to bend towards the ground as they hit. One of the wolves breaks free from its bonds and comes charging towards me, teeth bared. Before it reaches me I shoot another wave of ice towards it and it falls, twitching and convulsing as the ice slices it apart from stomach to chest. It stops moving after a few moments, blood pouring from the wound and splashing onto the snowy ground.
There's a loud thump. Looking past the fallen wolf, my eye widen when I see Alec standing there, sword in hand and start approaching Starkev.
"Alec! What are you-" he just shakes his head, cutting me off.
Now it seems like more wolves are appearing and just me cannot handle this all. Starkev finally sees Alec and he busts into a fit of maniacal laughter.
"I see you brought your lover, the Lycan from the prophecy, is it not?"
Now the man in the cloak upon seeing Alec, pulls down his cloak.
"Steven!" Alec grits out.
"It is good to see you again, Alpha Alexander Knight" The man's lip curl up in a smug smile.
"The Alpha King" Hera says. I nod. interesting.
***