A Tip of Balance by Bella Forrest

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

  “I must admit, I am anxious about you going out there, but I trust you will pull through.” She frowned. “There’s enough poison in your bag to kill a horde of shape-shifters. I added a couple of healing potions, although I expect you not to have to use them.”

  “No, ma’am.” I shook my head, stifling a grin.

  Before I could say anything else, she grabbed my shirt and pulled me into a deep, intense kiss, dizzying enough to make me lose my balance before my hands gripped her waist for stability. I leaned into her and devoured her mouth, tasting her as she further parted her lips to give me full, unrestrained access.

  She moaned against my lips, and I pulled myself back, fearing that I’d lose all consciousness in the storm of the succubus nature that she’d unleashed upon me. I needed to catch my breath. I was unable to take my eyes off her tender lower lip, glistening beneath the warm candle lights mounted on the overhead chandelier.

  “I’m nowhere near done with you, Jovi, so you better come back to me,” she purred. “We have plenty of unfinished business, and I am not leaving this world until I’ve called out your name a billion times in the throes of ecstasy.”

  She had this way of stunning me and making me lose my senses. She turned me inside out with her surprising words. This time, however, I was ready to give it all back to her and more, as I glanced at the wolf’s head pendant hanging from her neck.

  I pulled her into me and crashed my mouth over hers, devouring her like there was no tomorrow. I felt her quiver in my arms before she placed her palms on my shoulders and slowly pushed herself back to catch her breath. I’d successfully swept her off her feet, and that was how I wanted her to remember me.

  “There’s no way in hell I’m not coming back, Anjani. No way I’m missing out on all of this,” I told her in my most serious tone.

  The flickers in her emerald-gold eyes told me she was pleased with my answer.

  Aida

  I was not going to get any sleep anytime soon, but my body refused to accept the premise. I made myself comfortable in the banquet hall where the ancient wards had been gracious enough to sense my anguish and fill up a pot with hot, freshly brewed coffee.

  I poured myself a cup and started pacing the hall, going over everything in my head. There was certainly plenty to go through.

  I couldn’t get Vita out of my head. I willed myself away from the temptation of engaging in a vision of her, fearful that Azazel might be waiting for me there. All I could do was pray to every deity I could think of to keep her safe and strong for the time being.

  I was determined to get better control over my visions, though. I had to find a way to steer clear of Azazel. His hold on me was limited, but I didn’t want to spend a single minute in his presence. We didn’t know enough about the Oracles to find a surefire method to control the vision stream. My only option was practice.

  Practice, practice, practice, I thought to myself, remembering the many times Field had told me that during training sessions for GASP. I missed those days and the wonderful simplicity they offered. I was going to join the team and kick supernatural asses for a living. Instead, I was stuck in the In-Between, hiding beneath an invisible shield with a half-snake maniac lurking around, eager to stuff me in a glass bubble.

  Field was going to fly out and have a horde of bloodthirsty Destroyers tailing him so he could give Serena and Draven the opening they needed to get out of here alive. There were so many ways this could go horribly wrong, but there was nothing I could do.

  Phoenix and I couldn’t leave the shield, and it frustrated the hell out of us both. I’d seen it on his face, and he’d seen it on mine. I was fast. I could help Field, and so could Phoenix.

  But no, we’re Oracles. We get to stay inside and watch as our loved ones run for their lives.

  I scoffed, gulping my coffee and refilling my cup with trembling hands. My eyelids felt heavy, but my heart thundered in my chest. It wasn’t the caffeine, either. It was the sheer angst of everything that came crashing down on us. We’d made it this far and, still, the road ahead did not get any clearer. The hurdles only got bigger, and the stakes only got higher.

  The double doors opened, breaking my erratic train of thought and making me look over my shoulder. Field stalked in, a grave expression on his face as he measured me from head to toe.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, moving toward me.

  No, my inside voice croaked. I’m miserable, tired, and frustrated, and I can’t do anything about it.

  “As okay as I can be, given the circumstances.” I sighed.

  He stopped next to me, looking down as I took another sip of my coffee. My gaze met his, and for a moment, I felt good. Two turquoise pools shadowed by long black lashes sent heatwaves through my body, relaxing my muscles and giving me a sense of comfort.

  He pulled up a chair and sat down, then moved mine so I could face him.

  “You’ll need to sleep at some point,” he said.

  “I’m not sure that’s going to happen anytime soon,” I shook my head, looking away, feeling a wave of tears rising against my will.

  “Aida,” he replied, pulling my chair closer to him until my knees were between his legs and his face was a few inches from mine. He cupped my face, and I followed my instinct, leaning into his touch as if it could dull everything that was tearing me apart inside. “Aida, it’s going to be okay.”

  “You don’t know that,” I closed my eyes, letting a tear roll down my cheek.

  His thumb gently wiped it off.

  “I know we’re not alone in this, and that we are stronger together as long as we don’t waiver. You’re one of the strongest people I know. There’s no way in hell you’ll let this bring you down.”

  “You have a lot of faith in me,” I scoffed. I kept my eyes shut tight. I wasn’t ready to face him yet.

  A moment passed in silence while my heart struggled against my ribcage.

  “Aida, look at me.”

  I did, and found myself holding on for dear life to the edge of my seat as his bluish green eyes captured my soul.

  “I’m worried, Field,” I managed to say with a trembling voice. “I’m worried about Vita, I’m worried about myself, and I am worried about you flying out there tonight. I’m having a hard time taking it all in.”

  “Aida, I’ll be fine,” he replied, a faint smile settling on his beautiful face. “I’m fast, and you know it. Hell, I’m crazy fast. I’m a Hawk, baby. There’s no way a bunch of flying mules and mindless reptiles can catch me. I’ll be flying circles around them before they even think of making a move.”

  Had we not been in such a dire situation, I would have laughed. Amusing me had been his intention. Even then, with his life on the line, he was more preoccupied with my mood than with his safety. How could I not fade away into nothingness without him, when he was so incredible to me?

  “Not that I don’t appreciate the cockiness,” I said, “but I can’t help it. I’m a worrier. What can I say? I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Aida, seriously, you’re giving me very little credit here,” he replied, bowing so he could look in my lowered eyes again. “Besides, you know there’s no other way. Serena and Draven need me.”

  “Yeah and this is what pisses me off!” I shot back, finally caving in. “I can’t do anything about it! I can’t go out there and help the man I love stay safe while he keeps others safe! I can’t even do that!”

  I paused and took a deep breath, tediously working to regain my composure. I didn’t realize what I’d said. For a moment, neither did Field.

  “Your safety is paramount, Aida. You, Vita, and Phoenix are crucial to bringing Azazel down and, what did you just say?” he finally caught on.

  I had to rewind my previous statement in my head for it to finally sink in. I loved him. I was utterly and irrevocably head over heels in love with the Hawk, and I didn’t know how to deal with the idea of losing him. I couldn’t.

  There wa
s a glimmer in his eyes. His brows pulled themselves into a frown.

  “Aida, what did you just say?” he repeated the question.

  I swallowed hard, not sure what to say. I’d already dropped the bomb, and there was nowhere to run. It was going to blow up, and all I could do was brace myself. So, as one would expect from a wolf-girl in love, I shrugged.

  “I can’t do anything about it,” I tried backpedaling, wondering if it would do the trick. I didn’t know if he was able to say he felt the same. With everything that had happened over the past few hours, I didn’t have enough strength in me to cope with a possible rebuttal.

  “Yeah, no. After that. What did you say? Repeat that, please,” he insisted.

  A long moment trickled away as the silence weighed heavy between us.

  What am I doing?

  I was too tired to fight this.

  “I can’t go out there and help the man I love,” I finally said it again.

  Field blinked several times before he took me in his arms and sealed my lips with the most intense kiss. It was so profound, so sweet, and so full of emotion that it nearly stopped my heart. The poor little muscle throbbing away in my chest was overwhelmed.

  I parted my lips and allowed him to take over entirely, losing myself in his embrace and welcoming his incredible response. The universe expanded while he kissed me over and over again until my body felt numb and my core simmered. My pulse resumed its frantic race through my veins.

  “You never cease to amaze me, Aida,” he paused to whisper against my lips. “We’ll have to talk about this later.”

  I shuddered in his arms, but he didn’t let go.

  He held me tightly against him. I felt the urge to ask him what he meant, but I was too tired, and my mind was eager to wander back to Vita. Still, my soul secretly relished in the short moment of sheer bliss that Field’s lips had given me.

  “Well then, be careful out there and make sure you come back so we can talk about this later,” I replied, then rested my head on his shoulder.

  His fingers drew tiny circles on my back, and his breath felt hot on the back of my neck.

  I decided to stay there, like that, for a while longer. Field didn’t seem to mind.

  Serena

  We all met outside an hour later beneath a clear and starry sky. Our satchels were packed and strapped to our torsos. We’d opted for simple trousers, boots, and shirts to wear through the jungle. Of the four horses we’d brought back from Mount Inon, Jax and Jovi took two, with Hansa riding with Jax, wrapping her arms around the Mara’s waist. Draven and I took one, and the fourth Bijarki took.

  We bade our farewells with the solemn promise to see each other again soon. Phoenix knew the drill by now but didn’t skimp on the tight hugs and words of caution. I couldn’t blame him. We’d done this several times, and I still had trouble separating myself from him.

  Anjani, Almandine, and Aura were ready to go as well, crossbows in their hands and poisoned arrows stuffed in quivers they’d strapped to their thighs. Aida, Phoenix, the Daughter, and Eva stood in the middle, watching us quietly, unable to hide their concern.

  “I’ll see you at Stonewall, I hope,” Tamara said to Draven. “Do not forget our pact and keep yourself alive, Druid.”

  “That’s not the most motivating statement,” Draven muttered, making me stifle a giggle as I hid my face in his shirt and tightened my grip on his waist. Our horse was eager to run, its muscles trembling with anticipation.

  Tamara gave her daughter a goodbye hug and morphed into a large green and yellow snake, slithering out of her silk dress. Her scales were beautiful, smooth, and shiny, reflecting the light in peculiar shades of emerald and gold.

  She vanished in the grass and, despite our differences, I hoped she’d make it safely to Inon and the River Pyros. As much as I disliked her and her daughter’s preposterous alliance conditions, I had to appreciate their importance. Not only did they possess physical strength, but they had some Druid magic, as well.

  Field came out of the house, fiddling with the leather straps of his light armor. Bijarki had given him a chest plate, thigh and calf plates, and two long swords mounted on his sides. Given that he was going to be the most exposed of us all, we needed him to have all the chances at a safe return.

  He walked over to us, and I glanced at Aida. Her golden eyes were wide with both awe and worry, but she kept her cool, her mouth reduced to a thin line. Anjani tied a small quiver to Field’s waist filled with poisoned arrows and handed him a crossbow.

  “Use this first,” she advised him. “Keep your distance from them for as long as you can. Do not draw your swords unless you have no other way of defending yourself. Once you engage them, they will move to capture you and will stop at nothing. If you put up too much of a fight, they will go for your throat and shrug when Azazel asks what happened. They are ruthless abominations. Do not forget that.”

  Field nodded solemnly, then looked at Bijarki.

  “Bring my niece back, incubus,” he said. “Next time I see you, she’d better be by your side.”

  “I swear it on my life,” Bijarki replied.

  Field then shifted his focus on Jovi and me, “You two better get back here in one piece. Kick ass, take names, and come back. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir!” Jovi quipped and gave him a military salute.

  “Count on us, Hawk. You look after these fine young ladies, okay?” I winked, internally bracing myself for the road ahead.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Phoenix shot back, his eyebrow raised.

  “It means we need to get you back into training,” Field grinned. He looked at me, Anjani, and the succubi, and put on a serious face. “Well then, who’s ready to taunt some Destroyers?”

  The succubi kept their chins up, fingers clutching their weapons tightly, turning their knuckles white. Field smirked, then looked around. Several Destroyers were patrolling the edge of the shield, while the others were preparing to retreat to their tents. Green fireflies flickered deep in the woods, like quiet motion sensors waiting to be triggered.

  “Here we go,” Field said.

  He stretched his black wings and flapped them explosively as he shot upwards and past the shield. As soon as he pierced through the Daughters’ spell, a golden shimmer rippled outwards, catching the eyes of the nearby Destroyers. They hissed and jumped on their winged horses, followed by others called out from their tents.

  We watched for about twenty seconds as a string of Destroyers went after Field, giving us the eastern opening we needed. Draven clicked his teeth, and our horse darted across the tall grass.

  We passed the shield and delved straight into the dark jungle. The stallion was incredibly strong. It galloped fiercely between the thick trees, jumping over gnarly roots as its hooves thundered below. I held on to Draven tightly as he guided the horse.

  I caught movement from the corner of my eye. I looked over and noticed several shadows moving along with us. Some seemed to run on all fours before they switched to using their legs. I saw glimpses of myself and Draven keeping up with our horse. Shape-shifters.

  “Dammit,” I muttered and armed my crossbow. “Shifters!”

  “The horse isn’t running fast enough yet,” Draven grunted over his shoulder. “Once we get out of the woods, we’ll lose them.”

  I saw his right arm extend, a loaded crossbow in hand. He shot a poisoned arrow toward the figures. I heard a squeal and a thud, followed by an ear-piercing wail.

  I shot mine as well, hitting a shifter in the chest. I reloaded, then shot again.

  Another one down, shrieking from the pain.

  We took out about a dozen of them before we reached the plains.

  Draven was right. As soon as our horse jumped over the last root and landed in the tall orange grass, it increased its speed. It stoutly raced across the field. I had a feeling that its hooves weren’t even touching the hard ground anymore.

  I wrapped my arms around Draven’s waist, tightenin
g my grip. I felt like I was about to fall off. The horse was determined to pierce the freaking sound barrier.

  I hid my face in Draven’s back as we shot through the night.

  We’d made it out without Destroyers on our tail.

  I hoped that Field would be okay, too.

  Field

  As soon as I pierced the protective shield, the Destroyers made for me. I wasn’t hiding. On the contrary, I flew around the dome, close enough to the ground to rile them up to the point where they jumped on their winged horses and came after me.

  Once they were in motion, I changed my trajectory and started circling my way up, lifting myself several hundred feet as they took off, their horses braying and frenetically flapping their wings. My heart thudded in my chest. This was my chance to keep the monsters busy while my friends escaped. They were all relying on me, and there was no room for failure.

  I soared through the night sky, my wings laboriously helping me work my way up. I watched as two dozen Destroyers came after me. Time seemed to move in slow motion.

  I heard several whistling objects fly toward me, soon seeing poisoned spears shooting past me before gravity got the best of them and they fell back to the ground. The Destroyers were getting closer, their flying stallions proving themselves to be worthy adversaries in the sky.

  I couldn’t allow them to catch me, but I still needed to keep them busy and away from the east side of the protective dome. I shifted my trajectory slightly to the north where I knew the perimeter was clear since Tamara had gone out in serpent form.

  It was enough to distract them for another minute, but soon they started gaining again.

  It was time for a more drastic approach. I flapped my wings several times as I moved upwards again, then tucked them behind my shoulder blades and took my swords out. I kept my body stiff as I fell, shooting down like a projectile.

  I looked ahead and saw a turbulent cloud of bloodthirsty Destroyers and horses foaming at the mouth. I stretched my arms out and began a twisting motion. I slashed through them in a drilling motion, my blades tasting both horse and Destroyer flesh. Blood sprayed out as I passed through them.