Liam nods, and while he's probably mind-linking her, I ought to try and do something. I trace runes in the air, as fast as I can, trying to focus only on making Kelsi feel better. Thank Moon Goddess I paid attention to little Mara's explanations on Light Magic and Dark Magic balance... I finish my circle, making it as complete, thorough, and efficient as I can, but this won't be enough. I can only buy us time for now. Ravena wouldn't have come up with something to attack my friend if she knew I'd get it out easily...
I put my magic circle toward Kelsi's stomach, and it shines vividly before disappearing. My magic is inside her now, though, which is already better than nothing, surely...
"What did you do?" asks Ben.
"This is Light Magic to protect her, and it should help bring her fever down too. I still think she needs to see Nora and be taken to a hospital. She threw up too much, it can't be good..."
Just as I finish my sentence, Nora arrives with the two other Black Brothers, looking concerned. Liam must have updated them all already because she immediately puts her hands above Kelsi, and her hair starts glowing white. We wait a little bit while she tries to heal her. I can feel Nora's aura coming over to wrap Kelsi around like a cocoon... Moon Goddess, I hope this can make her feel better. She looks really sick... I take Kelsi's hand and hold it. I really hope she's alright, but she looks half-unconscious already... Her eyes are fighting to stay open. She has a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, and with such a fever, it must be hard for her. She isn't a werewolf or a witch, either, Kelsi is just a human... Despite the fact that he's very still as he's carrying her, Ben looks panicked, his eyes going from Kelsi to us non-stop.
"Nora, she's going to be okay, right?" he asks.
"I feel the Dark... Magic inside her," sighs the Luna. "It's fighting me off, though. Dark Magic resists my power much more than normal injuries. It's like Liam's eye, I can't do much about this. I can help with the fever and make it less painful, but... Kelsi was attacked by Dark Magic, the remedy has to come from magic too..."
They all turn their eyes to me, but I can only nod.
"Sorry," I mutter. "This is my fault..."
"Mara, I couldn't care less about finding who to blame right now," frowns Ben. "Girl, you have to do something."
"I will. I promise I will. Can I entrust you with Kelsi for now?"
"What are you going to do?" asks Nora, worried.
"Exactly what Ravena wants of me," I growl. "She's looking for a fight, she's fucking going to have one..."
She can attack me if she wants, but harming my best friend? That witch bitch just crossed the damn line.
However, to my surprise, Ben puts Kelsi into Nora's arms and takes off his shirt, immediately followed by Liam.
"Wha–"
"I'm coming with you," he says. "I won't be able to do anything even if I stay with Kelsi, and Bonnie's already on her way. Plus, I want to be with you if we can get to that damn witch."
"But Kelsi–"
"Kelsi would tell me to do exactly the same thing, Mara. She trusts you a hundred percent, and she's going to kick my furry butt if she learns I did nothing while you fought in her stead. I'm coming."
Before I can add a word, he shape-shifts into his huge brown wolf.
"Mara, go," says Nora. "I'll take Kelsi to the hospital and join you guys when I can."
"We're coming with you," adds Selena.
The next minute, I have three more wolves shape-shifting to follow me: one cream golden-eyed one, and the two older Black Brothers. Only Liam doesn't shape-shift, but he's half-naked and ready to go.
There's no time to argue anymore. Kelsi's life is on the line, and I know I can trust Nora with it. I nod and turn around, and our little group begins to run fast, heading southwest. Liam is the only one running on his feet next to me, but we don't have any issue keeping up with the werewolves. The fact that we are running across Silver City means we have to slow down to cross streets, take sharp turns, and avoid the crowds. People move away from us quickly, though. The appearance of our group, full of Alphas and bigger-than-the-norm wolves, is enough to get everyone out of the way as soon as they spot us. Moreover, everyone knows something's happening. Wolf howls are echoing throughout the city, and it's an incredible feeling. It comes from everywhere, other wolves letting us know where they are if we need reinforcements. I never realized how werewolves were literally everywhere. The full moon is shining bright over us, and its light is illuminating all the buildings, giving Silver City that unique glow that fits its name perfectly.
"Mara, you have to let everyone mind-link you," suddenly yells Liam next to me.
I frown. I'm blocking them? I take a deep breath, and realize I've barely called out my inner wolf... It's a strange feeling, like two versions of me overlapping, and I have to focus on intensifying either. The witch side of me is naturally dominating, and on the other hand, my wolf will gladly take a mental nap unless I need her. I focus, and begin growling without thinking. I feel it. Oh, Moon Goddess, yeah, I feel that.
My wolf's the one running, and she's excited as hell. We accelerate, the adrenaline rushing through our veins. It's amazing. Although I'm on two feet, it feels as if I'm on four, and getting faster. I accelerate ahead of the group, ignoring the flames I feel behind me. The wind's rushing behind me, but my legs have never felt so fast, so great. I'm almost flying. I run, faster, faster, like I'm winning a race.
“Get it, girl!”
Selena's laugh echoes in my mind, and I smile at the cream wolf running beside me. The excitement is contagious, and for a while, it almost turns into a race between us. Liam has a dangerous smile on too, and he won't lose.
Moreover, it's not like we forget what we're headed into. We're going to fight, and this is not going to be a pleasant journey. I'm not sure what to expect, but I know I owe Ravena a fucking lesson after what she did to Kelsi. I feel guilty too. I shouldn't have let my best friend handle all those witchcraft books without at least checking them myself. I thought things would be fine because they were handled by a human before and I couldn't feel anything wrong from them, but I really should have known better. This crap is my fault too, and I'm not forgetting that; I just don't have time to blame myself yet, I need to settle this with the culprit first...
