Duel

RORY

Amber stares down at Everett’s hand. She holds power over the entire Red Moon Pack.

With her and her warriors, we actually stand a chance against Nemesis.

Without her…it won’t be pretty.

But then, after a moment’s hesitation, she takes Everett’s hand. “I’m with you, Alpha.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Although it’s good to see them agree on something, I glance back at the tree line anxiously.

There are more and more glowing eyes appearing. There must be hundreds now. Every rogue in the entire territory has shown up for a piece of our pack.

And then, Nemesis steps out of the black smoke into the moonlight.

She silently points her finger, and then all the rogues howl and charge.

“Warriors of Red Moon and Shadow Blood!” Everett roars. “Attack!”

The two forces charge at each other over the grassy clearing, warriors shifting before they collide into the rogues in a swirl of claws and snarling teeth.

I take Everett’s hand, pointing to Nemesis, who’s standing at the tree line in the distance, watching the battle unfold.

“If you can get me to Nemesis, I can force her out of Eddie’s body,” I say.

“How do you know?” he says.

“I did it before with Freya and Jax,” I say.

He looks at me, his eyes filled with worry.

“Are you going to tell me to stay out of this and let you do everything?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” he says. “Stay behind me. I’ll get you there.”

He shifts into Chaos, his giant ferocious wolf staying close to me as we cross the battlefield, slashing and ravaging any rogue that comes near.

But as we get closer, I can see Nemesis turn away, walking away, back into the black smoke.

~No!~

This time, I can’t let her get away.

I grab ahold of Chaos, slipping onto his back and holding onto his fur for dear life as we sprint through the battlefield.

The wind whips through my hair as we make our way through the carnage, jumping over wrestling wolves and dodging stray claws.

We get to Nemesis right before she’s about to walk into the dark smoke.

Everett leaps toward Nemesis, and I lose my balance, slipping off his back ungracefully, stumbling over my own feet when they hit the grass.

But luckily, I fall right on top of Nemesis, my hands landing on Eddie’s body.

I ignore the pain in my body from the fall, closing my eyes and concentrating on the dark forces infesting Eddie’s brain.

But before I can pull out the black poison…

A white flash fills my vision, and I get pulled into the spirit realm.

***

EVERETT

As soon as Aurora puts her hands on Nemesis, they both fall limp to the ground, unconscious.

I stare at Aurora’s body, so small and vulnerable. It looks like she’s just decided to take a nap right in the middle of this battlefield.

I need to buy her some time.

I stand by her, watching as some nearby rogues notice their queen has fallen.

Three come running, their eyes glowing, infused with Nemesis’s power.

Chaos snarls, stepping in between them and Aurora.

I slam into the first one, throwing him to the ground and swiping at his vulnerable stomach, sending blood spraying up into the air.

The other two come running at me next, and I dodge their swipes, biting one in the neck and throwing him at the other. They collide in a sickening crunch, both falling to the ground.

Even with their added power, they’re no match for me.

But just as I’m about to catch my breath, I see something coming toward me out of the corner of my eye.

I leap out of the way just as a massive tree trunk soars through the air, barely missing me.

I stagger to my feet and turn to see Xander walking across the battlefield, his yellow eyes glaring at me.

~Shit.~

~This might be a little harder than a few rogues.~

***

RORY

In a flash, I find myself back in the spirit realm.

But instead of the usual empty mist spread out in front of me, Nemesis stands there, a grin on her face.

Since I pulled her from Eddie’s body, here she is in her Goddess form.

Her yellow eyes glare at me, and strands of her long black hair float around her head like snakes.

“Look at this…,” she hisses, “we’re back home.”

“I’ve taken you out of Eddie’s body,” I say. “You’ve lost, Nemesis.”

She starts to laugh, and it echoes out through the empty mist.

“Oh, Aurora,” she says. “You’ve actually done me a favor. When one door closes, another opens.”

I frown. ~What is she talking about?~

In an instant, she disappears into a cloud of black smoke and reappears right in front of me.

Her long, pale fingers wrap around my neck, squeezing like a vise grip.

“Don’t you see?” she says. “This is right where I want you. The only place where you are not immortal.”

I start to panic as I choke, struggling hard to breathe.

~She’s right.~

~The spirit realm is the only place where I can die.~

Nemesis leans in, inches away from my face.

“Then, after I kill you, I’m going to walk out that door and take your body.”