Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]

"You will not," Salem snarled, spinning and throwing a hand in my direction. "Be gone, pest!"

I felt the fear and the panic, but my Resilience saved me. Even as I saw the light flicker in her palm, I didn't freeze but instead threw myself toward the nearby staircase. My shoulder hit the lip and sent me tumbling down.

Cold heat. It made no sense and yet I was bathed in both – a burning so cold it froze my bones. Momentum alone kept me rolling and I bounced down the steps, hitting the floor and rolling away, glimpsing up briefly to see the sky visible at the top of the staircase. The entire second floor of the building had been eradicated. Blue fire licked at the ceiling, along with a small patch on my shoulder that I patted out. I stumbled to my feet, quickly checking myself over and deciding there were no broken bones.

A Beowolf exploded through the door and lunged at me. Gasping, I stepped back and drew Crocea Mors up, getting it between us in time for the monster to hit and impale itself. It slid down the blade, still trying to claw my eyes out. Pushing my free hand against its snout and its mouth and yes up, I pushed it down and used a foot to draw the weapon free.

My senses prickled. I dove and rolled to the side.

Black light scythed through the building, punching into the door and through, carving a path where I'd just killed the Beowolf and incinerating the body. The light dragged up, as if it were a huge intangible sword being wielded by a god. The metaphor was apt. Cursing, I kept moving, stumbling through the house before she could think to try another.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]