Free Mage Magic by Lacey Thorn Page A

whisper of light and knew what he had done. Theron had taken out the three men holding the torches.
    Instincts were key when you couldn’t see your opponent and that would hopefully give them the advantage with the mix of their magics.
    But how many were left? She had no idea. Theron had taken out the three torch holders and one of the four on Thedan. She had taken out two, although only one permanently. So that left the three with Thedan that she wasn’t sure of and two that she had left in play. Of course, both of her two were singed and the leader who’d tried to use her as a shield would only have one hand to use.
    Theron appeared beside her, stepping from shadow and taking her hand. With soundless steps he led the way to Thedan. The three of them eased away, both men keeping weapons at the ready in case of another attack.
    “I counted ten,” Theron whispered. “I took four out.”
    “I took three,” Thedan said.
    “I took one out and wounded two,” Serenity said.
    Her mates clearly thought little of killing the men who’d attacked them. She blamed her mother’s influence and blood for the guilt she felt over killing one, and her father’s blood for the regret of not killing them all.
    “We’re almost to the castle road,” Thedan assured her. “Just a little bit further and the king’s men will be on guard.”
    She nodded. She would have to guard her reactions if someone stepped out, as the last thing she wanted to do was injure or kill an innocent person. But from now on she would not view anyone who chose Wilhelm’s side as innocent. She’d never been a warrior before, never fought any life-or-death battles while living at the temple. Her mother had taught her to respect life, to do no harm. But the time had come for her to embrace the path of a warrior and understand that sometimes the only way to save a life was by taking one.
     

     
    “What was that?” she whispered, half turning as reality pulled her from her thoughts.
    “What?” Thedan softly asked.
    She couldn’t explain it. She had a feeling that she couldn’t ignore.
    “I don’t…” She shook her head, unable to finish her thought.
    She would remember the next few moments for the rest of her life. Thedan tensed beside her and grabbed her arm to pull her behind him. A whistle, that’s what it sounded like, and Theron shoved them, knocking Thedan off balance so that he fell, taking her to the ground beneath him.
    Theron’s body jolted as if taking an impact from something. Men flew out of the darkness around them and she knew she was screaming, yet she heard nothing. Theron turned slowly to face her and Thedan. There was a long black arrow buried deep in his chest and Serenity felt it as if it were in hers. She quickly whispered a spell to cast a protective barrier around the three of them. No harm could touch them as long as they stayed where they were.
    Thedan bellowed beside her as he scrambled on hands and knees to catch Theron as he fell to the ground. She screamed and crawled to them. Thedan sat, his arms wrapped around Theron, holding him against his chest, their legs sprawled out in front of them. And she could hear Thedan apologising to Theron. He kept telling him he was sorry.
    “I’m sorry,” Thedan said, and he and Theron grabbed hands, gripping each other’s palms tightly. “Brother, forgive me?”
    “Nothing to forgive,” Theron whispered then started coughing. “Take care of her.”
    Thedan was still talking but Serenity heard nothing. Theron turned his head and their gazes connected. She saw acceptance in his and was jolted back to when she’d first encountered them on the road from the temple. Thedan had told her they would give their lives for her, but Theron had looked her in the eyes and stated that he would die for her. She had replied that she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. It never once occurred to her that perhaps he was foretelling what would happen.
    “I won’t let you go,” she said,