Chapter 485

122 – Elara

Rubber. My whole body feels like rubber. I don’t know how to fight this witch when I can’t get close enough. Juliette is here with me though. The relief that washed over me when she showed up, I was ready to cry. But, of course, Eliza had other plans and the little witch and I have been playing dodge-the-curse for way too long.

The earth has been helpful, shooting up roots and clods of dirt to deflect some of the spells, but even the Rift has to be getting tired. I don’t know how Eliza is still going, maybe being on offense is less tiring than defense.

and Ember Mantel Productions.

A blue pop of light startles me out of my thoughts.

2025 Miss L Writes

“I want the key! Give it up, wolf!” I can taste her frustration on the air.

“You keep saying that, but it hasn’t changed the fact that I don’t know what the f*ck you are talking about.” Maybe she’ll slow down if I maintain the broken record.

I feel the ground rumble under my feet as a pink light explodes from the ground. A blast of wind shoves me from my hiding spot before the light can touch me.

“Thanks.” I whisper to Juliette. Her hands are still splayed, palms facing me. “How did you learn all of this?” I whisper. I should be paying attention to Eliza, but so far she hasn’t aimed to kill me. She wants whatever this key thing is, so I might as well get some information. “You’re a Chaos witch too, right? Who taught you?”

She leans against a massive tree root that bowed up to shield us, breathing heavy. “My dad started to teach me. Chaos magic is tricky…umph,” She jostles forward as dirt chunks rain down on us. “See, it’s driven by emotion.”

“You don’t say?!” I interrupt sarcastically, then I take a breath and remind myself, she isn’t being patronizing. “Sorry, keep going.”

Smiling, all shyness and timidity gone, “That’s it though. We have access to all the different types of magic. But, because it is affected by emotions, Chaos witches start training later than others. A lot of times, magic is suppressed during teenage years so someone doesn’t accidentally get hurt during a hormonal outburst.” She raises her eyebrow. “My dad said it’s the balance to having all of that power. We get our gift later and have to train longer to master it.

“I thought hormonal, hot tempered teen wolves were bad.” I joke. “So what do we do? Her spells aren’t landing, but she isn’t slowing down either.” A droplet of water hits my face and I look to the sky. Another and another hit as I notice a cloud above us. Then stinging; burning; tiny needles pierce my skin with each drop. I hiss as I hear Juliette screech. She feels it too.

“I WANT THAT KEY!” Eliza shouts. “Give me the Rift and I will end all of this.” She negotiates for the umpteenth time.

“You mean you’ll end us.” I grumble trying to wipe off the burning liquid, but it’s burning through my clothes.

“I need a shelter.” I say to the magic in my head. “I don’t know how much longer Juliette and I can withstand this. And what the hell is this key she keeps asking about?”

Juliette slides closer as she presses her hand to the ground next to us. More rumbling, more dirt and roots curve up and over us. We squeeze tightly under the small eve to keep the toxic rain off of us.

“I’m getting tired.” Juliette gives me a side glance that tells me everything. If we don’t figure out how to subdue her, we are going to die.

“How can I help? I don’t know how to cast, not really, but the magic here

seems to like me. Is there a way I

can help

You? If we can at least slow

her down, it could give us time

think

st. YouFV

in

charge of the shadow markers that knocked Ben out right?” She nods, tilting her head trying to keep up with my train of thought. “Is there a spell that we can throw at her with

similar effects without the stuff that

was in the Markers?”

“I don’t know. Probably. But, that spell was really complicated and took a really long time to put together.”

I notice the burning rain slowing and I can taste the acid in the air. “We just need something to slow her down.” I say, looking around to see what’s coming at us next.

A pain rips up my legs and burns through my whole body, throwing me sideways on the ground. I see. Juliette over me, eyes wide, mouth moving, but I can’t hear her through the pain. Every muscle is on fire. I can feel the heat licking at my bones like it can’t wait to devourme whole.

“Oh no you don’t, mate.” Cool hands touch my face, breaking the streak of heat singeing me from the inside out allowing my eyes to focus. I must be dead or dying. The Goddess giving me one last glimpse of him.

“I’m so-so-sorry.” I cringe around the heat. “I don’t know how to stop her.” I wish I could move my arms to hold him. Even a figment of my imagination is better than nothing right now. Being near him has calmed me since the day we met.

“Let’s get you off the ground first, then we can make a plan.” I feel his breath against the shell of my ear. Huh? Copyright 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

The coolness wraps me up, creating a barrier between the heat and my body. I can feel my aching muscles start to relax. But how is that possible when I’m burning from the inside? I’m so confused and my head is a mess. I want my mate. I want to be away from here, back in my pack where things make sense But there won’t be a pack to go to if we don’t stop her.