Reaching Retribution(70)
The Gadramicks in the grass jump up. Ryanne gets to work on the cuffs. Making quick work, she unlocks the handcuffs and throws something to Liam. Zahtri must have had the key around his neck. Ryanne runs toward Liam and Adam and starts fighting the men behind them. She easily takes them out with the combination of her magic assaults and physical combat.
Liam unlocks his handcuffs and helps Adam undo his. Dravin and Zahtri both stand up and slowly walk toward Ryanne, Liam, and Adam.
“Now?” I ask Tom. Tom looks toward Ryanne. She throws up a shield around them and backs up. Leaning back, she whispers something to Liam who nods and prepares for the fight ahead. I watch as she leans over and kisses Adam on the cheek, causing a surge of jealousy to course through me. He looks surprised but seems prepared to fight with them.
Ryanne turns around and looks at Dravin a small smile on her face. I glance toward Logan who nods at me, knowing he has to get her. If she’s going to get out of this, she has to be healed. I’m about to stand up when Ryanne starts to raise her arms. Conner and David drag me back down. The wind around us is starting to pick up. Ryanne’s hair is blowing around her crazily as she calls more magic to her. All the Gadramicks trying to break down the shield are having difficulty. Even Zahtri looks stunned at Ryanne’s magic. Dropping the shield, she thrusts her arms forward and sends all the wind out. The Gadramicks, including Dravin, fall backward, landing on the ground in front of the platform. Zahtri stumbles, but remains standing.
“Now.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“This is it,” I tell Liam as Dravin and Zahtri start stalking toward us. We are way outnumbered right now and the possibility of coming out of this alive is slim to none. I strengthen the shield around us and look in Adam’s direction to see what he’s doing. He’s in a defensive stance scanning the area around us. Despite everything he’s done in the past, he’s really been there for me this past week. Adam gives me a small, sad smile. He knows what’s about to happen.
“Thank you, Adam,” I whisper to him. I lean up and kiss him on the cheek. I know Adam has feelings for me, but he never once acted on them because he knows about Colton. That’s all I can give him. A look of shock crosses his face when I step back. I need to give us some time to try and get in a better location.
Magic, I need you. I don’t want the magic to flow into me like I’ve done previously. I want it to flow around me, creating a single large gust of wind. Zahtri said I wasn’t strong enough because I hadn’t yet released all my magic. Well, he’s about to see how strong I can really be.
While standing on the platform with Zahtri earlier, I attempted something I’d never tried before. I needed the key he had dangling around his neck, but I knew he’d read my mind and figure out my plan. Creating a shield around my mind, I projected false thoughts to him. All the thoughts were things I’d thought about previously, so I’m really surprised he didn’t catch on.
Slowly raising my arms, I wait for the magic to reach its peak. I know I can do more, but right now I only need a couple seconds to move. Zahtri looks surprised that I’m even attempting to fight against so many of them. However, he should know better than that. He’s been reading my mind, he knows how I think. He also knows there is no way I’m ever going to work for the Gadramicks. Now, I’m going to make sure he regrets not killing me when he had the chance.
I drop the shield and thrust my magic out as I instantly start walking back. I turn around quickly and push Liam and Adam off the platform. They know what I’m doing and instantly turn around and start running.
When I stop moving, I see all the Gadramicks lying on the grass seemingly shocked that I was able to do that to all of them at once. A few even look scared. Zahtri is the only one left standing. I throw another shield around Liam, Adam, and myself as we continue moving. Zahtri looks angered, so I know that there is going to be a battle. There’s no turning back now.
I am about to drop the shield when I see Colton and Tom jump up from behind the bushes in the distance and start running toward us. I can’t help the smile that forms on my face, when I see Colton alive. However, that smile is short lived when I see him making his way into the thick of the Gadramicks. A couple hundred mages jump out from the bushes behind my family and join them.
“How did they get so many?” Liam asks.
“I told him not to come,” I whisper. “I didn’t want to risk it. Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?”
“He’s just as stubborn as you are, Ryanne. You just have to accept that,” Liam says. “And I told him to come.”