The Alpha's Temptation

Chapter 217 It Was Unending

Tania was... stunned. She wanted to stop Eltanin from going and fighting with the vampires. But she couldn't do a thing when she saw that he was fighting with the three of them. Alone. "Elty!" she screamed as soon as she realized the situation.

Eltanin had jumped and leapt at the vampires the moment they said that they wanted Tania. He didn't want to know their reasons as to why they wanted her, but all he saw was red. And the vampires were bathed in crimson. He lunged at the nearest one and before the vampire could do anything, he sank his fangs in his throat. The vampire dug his flesh with his claws. The other two charged at him and attacked him but they were met by Biham and Anastasia.

Anastasia's wings spread taut in the air, each feather bristling. She lifted in the air and flew to the vampires. The two vampires charged at her with their bare, pointed fangs and long claws. They aimed for her wings, but the moment they pounced on her, she flew higher and the vampires fell on the ground. Eltanin jumped in the air and shifted. He landed on his feet over a vampire. He lifted the vampire's neck and twisted it. The limp body of the vampire fell on the snow with blood flowing out in rivulets.

The last vampire that was left stood there, shocked. His gaze snapped to Eltanin. He growled at them as if to scare them.

With bloodied fangs and claws, Eltanin stepped closer to him and snarled, "Why did you want the girl with me?"

With a low snarl, the vampire started going back. He glanced at his two dead fellows. "She smells good..." he said. "Her meat would be... delicate. New..." He glared at Eltanin. "There are more of us..."

"Come back!" Anastasia snapped. "We have to get out of here." She rushed to Ileus and swung over the horse to mount behind him. She looked over her shoulder and saw a movement in the periphery of her vision. "They are coming for their men!"

Eltanin wanted to kill each one of them, but he was more worried about Tania, so he too rushed to Wind and mounted him. The group started running towards the exit of the Gavran Wilds that was now less than a kilometer away. The swirl of the Gavran Wild did not let the rogues enter Vilinski. That is why the rogues tried to take advantage of those who traveled through Sgiáth Bio and had made it through the valley of passion flowers.

"We need to run faster!" Rolfe said as he looked at Ileus who gave him a knowing nod.

Without speaking they all fell into a line as their horses galloped. Biham was in the front of the group. Rolfe was in front of Eltanin while Ileus was right behind him.

The vampires were running at a high speed that matched the speed of the horses.

"Should we shift?" Eltanin shouted.

"No!" Ileus shouted back. "Focus on the path and move Tania behind you!"

Their hair whipping across their forehead and their eyes on the swirl, both Rolfe and Ileus had to combine their magic in a way that it all went well.

Eltanin wanted to ask a thousand questions as to why he would move Tania behind, but he didn't. Rolfe came right beside him. Eltanin picked up Tania from his front and handed her to Rolfe. For a few meters, she was sitting with Rolfe on his saddle as Eltanin killed a vampire who was trying to sink its fangs in Wind. He held the vampire upside down and tore his through the center with a loud snarl. He mounted Wind again and when he was at Rolfe's side, Rolfe picked up Tania and made her sit on Eltanin's back.

"Whatever happens, don't look back, Eltanin!" Rolfe commanded. "The Gavran swirls are only a few meters away. As soon as you see them, make a dash for them!"

Eltanin nodded and as Tania clutched him hard, he galloped towards the swirl, keeping ahead of the five vampires behind all of them.

"These bastards!" Ileus grunted.

"I will keep them busy!" Anastasia said.

"Woman, I don't want you to get hurt!" Ileus said, his voice loaded with concern.

"An army of vampires wouldn't be able to do anything, Aly!" she chuckled and then lifted in the air.

As soon as she was in the air, she charged at the weakest of the vampires.

The Gavran swirl was very close. They could sense the energy coming out of it. Damp twigs, leaves and trees were getting sucked up in that direction. Wild winds roared as if they would tear apart everything that grew on the land and fling them into the whirl.

"Now!" Rolfe yelled over the growling winds.

As if ready, Ileus left the reins of his horse and flung his hands in front of him. He chanted the unlocking spell.

Tania felt something slithered on her back. When she realized what it was, she snapped open her eyes and looked behind her at Ileus. his eyes were blazing and he was staring at her intensely. Anger and frustration blasted in her as to why would he attempt to do something like this in the midst of all the chaos?

"Keep clutching Eltanin tightly!" Rolfe ordered her. He too flung his hands forward as he cast another spell on her.

Tania felt the familiar slither of magic on her back. They both were trying to-- "Ahhhhhh!" she screamed. Beams of yellow light hit her on the back with immense force.

"Taniaaa!" Eltanin let out an agonized shout. They were so near the swirl that if he stopped, the vampires would come closer and if he moved ahead, he wouldn't be able to attend to Tania. But the fact that she had grabbed his waist tightly was assuring enough for him to not stop and move ahead. "What happened?" he asked.

She didn't reply. Her body felt as if it would split into two. Her skin broke out in sweat despite the winds that howled around her. Her back was on fire. The yellow lights consumed her as they blazed throughout her body, curling her torso. She was sure that her heart would stop.

"Ahhhhhhh!" She screamed harder as something peeled away from her. It felt as if a layer of her skin had peeled away, baring her flesh.  She felt as if she would break into pieces if she left Eltanin.

"Tania, hold on to me!" Eltanin breathed. He increased his horse's pace towards the swirl. It was only a few meters away. Dread blasted inside his chest. She had never let out such an agonized scream in her life. He cursed himself for not being able to protect her nicely.

Tania, on the other hand, felt like at any point of time she was going to be snatched away from Eltanin and perhaps never return. "Something is stripping off me!" she said to Eltanin. Tears rolled out of her eyes. "I can't--" she shook her head. "I can't bear it. Please Elty--" Another pull. "Ahhhhhh!" The misery, the pain, the hurt. It was unending.

Suddenly, there was a blast in the air.