Shadow Fate 3: Checkmate: Paranormal Romance Series by Sophie Davis

Author:Sophie Davis [Davis, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dabber & Baehr
Published: 2019-01-27T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Mandy shoved me aside to stand shoulder to shoulder with Doria. The abrupt gesture made my shoulder sing with agony.

Both kitsune held staffs, though I couldn’t say where Doria had pulled hers from. The weapon seemed to just materialize in her hand.

Helena chuckled. “Stand down, kitsune.”

The women advanced as one. There were no silly speeches. No warnings. Nothing. They simply attacked.

“No!” I yelled. Reaching uselessly with my hurt arm, I tried unsuccessfully to restrain one or both of them. The movement wasn’t one I’d made since my injury, and the rotation brought a new level of agony.

“Owww.” The pain was blinding. I clutched my arm to my chest as hot tears filled my eyes.

The kitsune froze mid-step.

Wow. That worked, I thought. Despite the searing sensation in my shoulder, I was kind of impressed that I’d been able to stop them.

But it wasn’t my protest that had stopped the kitsunes’ advance. It was Helena’s magic.

“You are hurt,” she stated, concern creasing her forehead. The nymph beckoned me forward. “Come, child.”

Turning to Bertine, Helena said something in language I didn’t recognize.

Over the objections of my friends, I brushed passed Mandy and Doria to join Helena by the pool of jewel-toned water. There was a traitor at The Colony, but it wasn’t the elderly nymph. I felt certain of that. It was more of a gut feeling than some well-reasoned belief based on tangible proof, but I felt it all the same.

With a touch that felt like a feather brushing past, Helena placed a hand on my shoulder. I still winced, anticipating the pain rather than actually experiencing it. A cool, tingling sensation ran down my arm like rushing water. It didn’t hurt, though pleasant would’ve been an overstatement. Bizarre, I decided. Yes, the sensation was bizarre.

The river nymph nodded and muttered to no one. “As I suspected.”

Without warning, the fingers on my shoulder tightened, Helena’s other hand wrapped around my wrist. She moved so fast, and not just for an old woman. It was quite possibly the worst, most intense three seconds of my life thus far. The popping sound turned my stomach. Bile burned my throat. I gagged but nothing came up. And then, nothing. The pain was gone.

“Be more careful in the future,” Helena advised. “You will need your full strength for what is to come.”

“Um, thanks?” My voice pitched as though asking a question. I cleared my throat. “Thank you,” I declared.

Helena’s gaze swiveled to the kitsunes. “There is no time for a fight. I came only to make sure you pass through the gate safely. I will release you now. But should either of you raise a hand to me again, that day will be your last.”

With a flick of her wrist, Mandy and Doria were able to move again. They both gasped, as though they’d been deprived of oxygen while frozen.

“There’s a traitor at The Colony, someone who warned the gods of Endora’s plans,” Mandy wheezed. Despite Helena’s warning, her tone was accusatory. Still, she didn’t advance on Helena again.

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