Untouchable by Marii Solaria

C

“Then, stop worrying so much. It’s making me itch.”

“Keep scratching, then.”

Moments after Kiya had left to confront Osiris, Anthony and Neron were alerted by the arrival of their warriors. Between the attack of Zircon Moon and losing many lives, Neron’s numbers were small, but Anthony’s soldiers compensated for it. The combined army laid in the outskirts of the forest hiding Osiris” home, their heavy feet rumbling through the forest floor. The Alphas and Avatars were in the front while everyone else followed close behind.

Neron’s right hand dug into his pocket to grip Kiya’s moon pendant, the anchor to his hope. Kiya’s presence had long since faded, but it lingered in the surrounding air. On his skin. In his nose. In his hands. His skin. flushed red in the memories of her hand in his own and the strands of her hair tickling his chin. His chest felt the phantom breaths of her gentle breathing as she slept next to him, safe and guarded from nightmares. As quick as he had her, his heart ached at letting her go once again.

“She shouldn’t have to fight, Neron thought. ‘She deserved rest, just like the rest of us.”

“Neron.” Asim walked up to him, matching his pace as they walked over protruding roots. “May I ask you a question?”

He nodded “Go ahead.”

“I hope this isn’t too personal, but are you and Kiya fated?”

Neron smiled small. “What gave it away?”

“The look in your eyes is the look only a man in deep love has for their mate.” Asim answered, matching the Alpha’s smile. “Don’t feel ashamed, I have the same look whenever I look at my Nailah.”

“Nailah?”

“My wife and my mate. She’s back home, waiting for my return along with my children.”

Neron hoped, internally, that one day, he’d reach where Asim was now. “And you’re here, risking it all to stop your brother.” A pleasant silence befell the men as the shuffling of leaves intermingled with the echoes of footsteps behind them. “Kiya and I are fated mates, but because of… circumstances in our past, we may never come together.”

“And you’re here, risking it all to help her.” Throwing Neron’s words back at him earned the Egyptian a playful scoff from the Alpha. “You’re okay with never having your mate?”

Neron reflected on his next words, running a hand through his black locks. “I’m learning to come to terms with it. It isn’t easy, but in an ideal world, I’d like her to accept me out of her own free will. Destiny be damned. Fate may bring us together, but I want it to be her choice to be with me or to choose someone else. She is a free woman in her rights.”

Asim was silent for a moment, pondering on his words as he kicked a stray rock to the side. “I don’t believe I could ever be that resilient. Displaying that level of strength and restraint is admirable.”

“I would die for her, Asim. I love her more than anything.

And he won’t ever stop.

Two minutes of further travel came to a screeching halt when the acute senses of the wolves detected a plethora of sour and acrid odors billowing in from between the tree barks. Nostrils flared from every member in the squadron, their stances bristling at the new arrivals. Above the dense canopy, many explosions rang in swift succession. Through the distorted holes between overlapping leaves and branches, silvery light shot across the sky like shooting stars,

Kiya’s signal.

On cue, witches and hybrids alike emerged from the trees. Sickening red stretched from the base of their necks toward their chins and ears like tree branches. With bloodshot and bugged out eyes, snarling lips, and fingers either holding claws or black magic, each enemy was ready to tear their new victims to shreds.

The clash of the armies had begun; sounds of battle kissing the leaves and rocking the roots of the trees.

conflict within the forest, but knew of it. He knew of his brother siding with his enemies, further proving his abandonment. His anger pumped and etched into the release of dark energy from his palms to his fingertips, demanding and desiring for both Kiya’s defeat and submission. However, the woman fought back with the energy of the celestial diamond. Silver and black fought for victory over the other. Light

and humans

wound. Kiya had yet to pull it out, waiting for the perfect opening for the man to pay for his crimes. He sent most of his subordinates into battle, their energy humming

to Kiya’s tenacity. She didn’t need to

all on

both of her hands in his, both struggled in a deadlock. Osiris threw his head back with

are you laughing at?!”

punish you I forgot about the trick up my sleeve.” He leaned in to where their noses almost

wrapped her ankles around his neck and twisted her body, using her lower body strength to throw the man on the ground before landing on her hands,

through the mind–link connecting her to her

fight. Memories of their brutal beat down festered like an infection, even more so as the familiar, unhesitant stomping drew closer to the battlefield. Neron remembered the tremor of Cerberus‘ colossal feet and the horrible stinging of his claws through his chest. Anthony confirmed his fears when he raised the alarm, reiterating

fucking hell.” Darien

his deep wrinkles as he slapped away the hybrids and witches in his way. His stomping grew louder and

A storm?

rain tickled nostrils, but rain didn’t accompany the smell. Instead, singeing the leaves and branches was a powerful bolt of lightning impaling the juggernaut through his broad chest. A

her hair taking on life as the storm bent to her will. She summoned another

control storms?!” Sapphire

say? I’m a hurricane on two feet.” Violetta shot a wink, lips

If an army of wolves couldn’t stop Cerberus, then could avatars? A sly smirk settled on his face–he wanted revenge against the beast, but he was

for Osiris.

tremors until deep violet light erupted from the soil, sprouting objects with a loud clanking. Metaphysical

partial avatar abilities. Violetta smirked as her blue eyes shimmered, nodding with heavy enthusiasm. When the witch got closer,

you could join

intense confusion on his face. “I…

“We’ll talk later, Phoebe.”

us end this for good.” Asim added, his dominant arm glowing a fiery gold. Throwing his palm on the ground, enchanted sunlight mapped every crevice in the dirt, rushing to Cerberus. The gold shot up in a thick pillar of light, swallowing the screaming beast within. The female avatars caught on the idea quick. Honoring Goddess Hekate’s torches, Phoche summoned a pyre of orange and red, commanding it to swirl around Cerberus–reminiscent of the fire

encompassing various

wisps of smoke and burning flesh. Everyone shielded their eyes from the flash of light before looking at the chains resting on top of the gigantic

Cerberus remains.

wad of spit at the ashes. Neron breathed a heavy sigh of relief, the world lifting off his shoulders.

be that much easier to

“AHHH!”

the tip of the trees, igniting every sense and instinct; human, wolf, and everything in between within Neron. He abandoned all rationale. His body rocketed

and ordered them to go ahead after Neron, in which they all

flowed out of Phoebe and encircled the disgraces to witchcraft, forcing them to kneel in submission. Many resisted, but none can go against the embodiment of the goddess they abandoned. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Goddess Hekate will deal with

summoned thin, golden nets

and trapped the witches against the trees, knocking them out cold. “Good?” She

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the army to clear way

Kiya dodged by jumping backwards, his fist hitting the dirt; the impact leaving tremors in its wake. “I created a marvelous world for you! An escape from the mortal realm! Everything I’ve done was for you to never feel pain

Kiya shouted back, summoning a ball of silver, and hurdling it toward the man, hitting him in the shoulder. “All you wanted was to control me! Your

machine!”