Page 80 of Renegade Kings

“We have to use the trees,” I whispered. “I can tap into the magic out here and we can use the trees to thin their numbers.”

As I looked around at the guys, I knew they were about to argue with me. I could see the reluctance on their faces and they didn’t even really understand what I was suggesting. Or potentially how dangerous this could be.

“How do you know it’s safe to use the magic out here?” Maddox rushed out, his gaze darting ahead because he knew there was only so much time we had to debate this. “You said you didn’t know what it was. What if it’s dangerous? What if you can’t control it?”

He was right. All the same questions were flying around my own mind. I had no idea if I could even do what I thought I could. No, actually, that wasn’t right. A part of whatever was growing out amongst the trees had come from me. I was fairly certain that part would work with me, bend to my will. The question was more; could I keep it under control once I pulled it free?

“We don’t have any other choice,” I pointed out. “The Endless are an enemy we haven’t had to face in large numbers before. We don’t know enough about their weaknesses to take down this many. Look, I know this is dangerous, but of the two options, it’s the one I feel best about. At least this way we have a chance.”

And that was all we needed.

A chance.

Nymeria had wanted us here to do something very specific—to save everyone. I had to trust that Fizzle would have said something if we were so off track we wouldn’t at least make it to the end goal. If this whole thing was fate and we weren’t supposed to die yet, then there had to be a way to get through this. And at the moment, this was the only one I could see. Or at least that was the lie I told myself because otherwise I wouldn’t have had the courage to do what needed to be done next.

Dean looked at me with frantic eyes, and I could see the cracks forming in his control. He knew the truth and hated that he couldn’t stop it. That I had to be the one to take this step without him. It was something he’d have to get used to, though. I needed him by my side, not standing in front of me, trying to save me from the world.

With a snarl, Dean’s wolf took over, and he shifted, tearing through his clothes. The wolf locked eyes with me and then nodded. At least a part of him was on board with this. I’d just have to deal with the other half later—if we survived.

“We’ll buy you whatever time you need,” Tank said, pulling me in for a quick kiss before he strode away, shifting into his bear as he went.

I could hear them now. The crunch of leaves on the forest floor and the snapping of tree limbs. It wouldn’t be long before The Endless were upon us. We were about to run out of time.

“You can do this,” Ryder whispered as he reached out for my hand.

I nodded, trying to concentrate on his words and not the sliver of doubt that was trying to work its way into my mind.

“We’re right here beside you,” Maddox murmured, his eyes fixed on Dean and Tank’s animals as he spoke. When he turned to look at me, I saw a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. Maddox was a realist. He could already see what our chances were. “We’ll hold the line as long as we can. I know you can do this Alyssa.”

He kissed me quickly, his hands coming to my cheeks before he rested his forehead against mine, and then, with a frustrated sigh, he turned away.

I didn’t have time to see what he did next, to worry about what would happen to the men who were about to risk everything to give me a chance to do something I’d never even attempted before.

Ryder squeezed my hand once in reassurance, and I closed my eyes, letting my consciousness sink into the magic that surrounded us as the world around me slowly slipped out of focus.

Chapter 29

Maddox

Alyssa closed her eyes, and I felt a swell of magic brush against me before she suddenly collapsed. It was only because my lion was watching her reaction so closely that I could reach out and catch her before she fell to the ground.

Dean growled angrily, shuffling back a step closer with a whimper, not wanting to take his eyes off the danger that was quickly approaching.

“I’ve got her,” I assured him as Ryder dropped to his knees beside me and quickly checked her pulse and her breathing.

I should have done that.

She looked so peaceful right now that it was completely at odds with the situation we were facing and the panic that was now flooding my system.

We needed to get her out of here. Would Tank’s bear be able to carry her when she was unconscious? He was probably her best chance out of all of us. The rest of us could hold the line, buy them as much time as we could.

“Take her! Take her and run,” Ryder gasped out.

Strangely, it was the panic in his voice that had me reassessing the situation. Placing one hand on her chest, I felt the gentle movement of each breath as I turned my attention to the bond we shared.

“It’s okay. She’s doing what she needs to do and we need to give her the time she needs to do it,” I reassured him.

The bond thrummed between us and it settled my lion to feel the connection I didn’t understand nearly enough.