~ Chapter Thirty-Four - Part 3 ~

Damien chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her lips. Before either of them could say anything else, Jacques came rushing into the room. “I’m glad you’re awake, Kat,” he said as he stopped at the foot of the bed. “But we have a serious problem.”
Katalina took several deep breaths as she sat up and pulled all the wires off her. Once she managed to get them off, they all rushed outside to find that Atlas had several witches and warlocks throwing fireballs at them. “Shit,” Katalina swore. “Where are the witches and warlocks?” She demanded as she looked at Jacques.
Jacques shook his head. “They’re all scattered around the field, helping the wounded.”
Katalina shoved a hand through her hair from the braid she had set it in. “Okay,” she looked up at the sky for a minute before sighing in defeat and acceptance. “I need you both to get the witches and warlocks as quickly as possible. Have them help the others first but try to be quick. I’m not sure how long I can hold it.”
“Hold what?” Damien asked in confusion.
Jacques sighed heavily. “The shield that will keep the fire blasts from doing any more damage,” he shook his head. “No witch or warlock has ever been able to hold the shield on their own. However, unlike the gods, Katalina is the strongest being in the world.”
Katalina started walking in the direction the blasts were coming from. “Get the other witches and warlocks,” she said as she stopped in front of an oncoming shot.
As Damien felt his heart speed up in terror, Katalina lifted her hands and created a shield wrapped entirely around all four territories, protecting all their soldiers.
Once she got the shield into place, Jacques walked up to her. “You can’t possibly hold this shield for all of the territories, Kat,” he said with distress clear in his voice.
Katalina looked at him with sorrowful but determined eyes. “If the other territories are like ours, any witch or warlock will be tending to the wounded. I can hold the shield long enough for them to help the wounded and then put up shields of their own.”
“But Kat,” Jacques said in a rough voice. “No one has ever done anything like this before. You don’t know the toll this could take on you.”
Katalina felt a tear slide down her cheek. “I have to do this. If I don’t, we could lose so many lives,” she sniffled. “Call the other territories and have them collect their witches and warlocks as quickly as possible.”
Jaques swore to himself as he pulled out his phone and started calling the other territories.
While Jacques was doing that, Damien moved to stand beside Katalina. “Are you sure you can do this, little dove?” He asked with concern in his voice and eyes.
Katalina took several deep breaths. “If anyone can do it, I can,” she released an exhausted sigh. “Just get the other witches and warlocks as quickly as possible.”
Damien pressed a quick kiss to her temple before rushing off to gather all the witches and warlocks who could create another shield to replace Katalina’s.
Katalina did her best to keep her breathing even, but the longer she held the shield for all four territories, the harder it became. Finally, seeing as the fighting had stopped for the moment, she dropped the elemental barriers on the safe houses so she could pour more magic into the shield.
Katalina stayed like that for almost four hours before other witches and warlocks came to step in for her. Then, as soon as they had a strong enough shield, she dropped her arms and protective shield, sagging against Damien, who had come up behind her.
Damien wrapped his arms around Katalina’s waist and held her close. “Let’s get you inside. You need to eat and get some rest before the fighting starts again,” he said softly.
Katalina didn’t even have the energy to nod as Damien picked her up and carried her into the pack house. He carried her to the room they used when they stayed at the pack house and laid her in bed. “I’m going to get you some food. I’ll be right back, dove,” he kissed her forehead and rushed to the kitchen.
Damien was quick as he made her one of her favorite speedy meals. He rushed it up to her and sighed when he saw that she was almost completely asleep. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. “Come on, dove. You need to eat before you go to sleep.”
Katalina grumbled as she sluggishly sat up. Damien watched as she tried to eat but couldn’t stand to watch her struggle so much. “Here, let me dove,” he whispered as he took the plate from her.
Katalina tried to refuse but knew that he was only trying to help. She let him feed her until her plate was empty. When Katalina was finished, Damien helped her lie down and get comfortable. Damien took off her shoes and pulled the blanket over her. “Sleep, my dove. I’ll be right here when you wake up,” he promised.
It didn’t take long for Katalina to be sound asleep. Then, when Damien was sure she was sleeping, he stood up and went outside to check on the witches and warlocks holding the shield.
Jacques was pacing around behind the group of witches and warlocks. “How’re they doing?” Damien asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Jacques ran a hand through his hair. “They’re alright, but even with their magic combined, I don’t know if they’ll be able to hold this shield for long. Between the battle we just went through and them healing the wounded, they need to rest. Their energy is draining quickly.”
Damien frowned as he looked around. He got an idea when he saw Benjamin and Axel. “Give me a minute,” he walked over to the two warlocks and tapped Benjamin on the shoulder to gain their attention.
Benjamin and Axel turned to face him with worried faces. “What is it, Damien?” Benjamin asked.
“Is there any shielding spell that would be strong enough to hold the blasts of flame at bay so you and the others could rest?” He questioned.
Benjamin and Axel looked at him in shock before taking a minute to think through all the spells they knew. “Um, there might be, but there’s only one person strong enough to cast the spell,” Axel said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Damien frowned. “Who is it?” He questioned, knowing who it most likely was.
Axel cleared his throat. “Kat,” he said grimly.
Damien groaned as he shook his head. “She’s completely passed out right now. Holding that shield for four hours drained her energy to the last dregs. I don’t even think we would be able to wake her up, no matter what we tried.”
Axel swore under his breath. “Could we do it together?” Benjamin asked Axel. “Would it be possible for us to combine our magic and put the shield up without her?”
Axel frowned as he thought about it for a minute. “Maybe, but even with our magic together, I don’t think we’ll be strong enough to make a shield to last nearly as long.”
“Well, could we make one that’ll last long enough for Katalina to get some rest?” Benjamin asked.
Axel nodded. “Sure. We can create a shield, but it may only last a few hours. If that,” he shrugged. “But it should be long enough for Kat to get the rest she needs to regain her energy. Then when she wakes up, she can create another shield. If we even need one by then.
Benjamin nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
“Okay,” Axel took a deep breath. “I’ll say the spell once on my own you can learn the words. Then we’ll say it together until the shield is strong enough,” he cleared his throat. “Trust me. We’ll know when the shield is ready.”
Benjamin listened intently as Axel recited the spell. Then, when he was sure he knew all the words, he joined in, and together they created a shield that would give them at least a couple of hours of rest. When they were finished, they turned to Damien. “Alright. That should hold long enough for all of us to get some much-needed rest,” Axel said.
Damien gave them a nod. “I have to get back to Kat, but you guys let the others know to eat and get some rest,” he shook his head. “Who knows what Atlas has planned next.”
Damien went back to the room he shared with his beloved mate. He sat next to her and ran his fingers through her hair. He took off his weapons and his shoes before laying down with her, deciding to get some sleep while he could.