My Wild Beast-Chapter 160: The Horde (1)

{Music Recommendation: The Onslaught by Sarah Schachner}

The boulder rolled back into place behind Nova and Yoa. Their steps halted at the sight before them. Darkness may have enveloped the land, but the flash of lightning whipped their heads back to see the bedlam in the distance.

Nova’s breaths quickened and shortened at the sight that could be nothing more than a nightmare for her. Was she breathing? Her hand clutched at her chest. It was moving up and down.

Then why did it feel so tight?!

’Nova,’ Yoa’s voice sliced through her panic in their mind link.

It calmed her, if only a little.

BATS.

SO MANY BATS...

Bats swarmed the skies, circling in a giant oval above the jungle.

Thunder rumbled, shaking the ground where they stood.

Tempakar returned, furious with the disrupted peace.

Nova jolted, her heart racing as white light flashed across the jungle.

Colour bled from her face. The bats had stopped circling.

As though on a single command, they dispersed and dove for the ground.

Manic laughter broke through the chill gripping her body.

"Yoa!" She turned to him, but he was already on it.

His hand clamped over her mouth, and his finger went over his lips to silence her. ’Talk through the bond. We need to get to Tomaq’s tribe first. Their lands are surrounded by the caves.’

Cries filled the air. Nova didn’t know which direction it came from. No, that’s not it. It came from all directions.

With a nod, Nova let him lead the way.

They crept through the jungle, hiding whenever Yoa saw the first flash of lightning before it lit up the entire sky and exposed them. Their steps were quiet, bodies moulding in with the darkness, stalking like jaguars, but one thing she couldn’t mask was her racing heartbeat.

Nova’s hand flew to her mouth, muffling a gasp as they slipped past two vampiras tugging a woman between them, each pulling her in opposite directions like carrion birds fighting over a meal. Blood trickled from twin punctures on either side of her throat. The woman’s scream tore through the night, but it only added to the others filling the jungle.

Her body moved before her thoughts could stop her. Yoa caught her arm, but disgust had already clouded her vision.

She leapt from the branch they’d climbed up to and struck down with her blade, slicing in an arc across one of the men, his blood-red eyes widened, then he crumpled to the ground. The other didn’t even care he’d been slain; he cackled and pulled the woman closer to his body, mouth already going to her neck again.

A queasiness clutched at her insides from the sight and moved on instinct. This one wasn’t as unprepared, though. His head snapped up, tossed the woman aside like a discarded toy and caught Nova’s wrist in a blur of speed. Her breath hitched as she stared at the vampira’s blood-smeared face.

Colour was returning to his face. The hollowness of his cheeks was filling out in the two seconds he allowed her to gawk at him. Where once he stood almost like a living corpse, now stood a healthy-looking young man. The dull grey of his hair thickened and grew to his shoulders as it turned raven black.

Nova couldn’t look away from the transformation before her.

He smirked then bared his fangs. "Another young female to quench my thirst-"

Nova gasped. His grip loosened on her as a giant fist punched through the man’s chest. Behind him was an enormous shadow. The vampira struggled to look up as his own blood trickled from his mouth, blending with his victim’s over his chin.

"Yisssska..." He hissed before his body gave up struggling to live.

Yoa’s hardened eyes didn’t leave Nova’s, ignoring the vampira, then tossed him aside and stepped closer to Nova. ’Don’t ever do that again-’

’I’m sorry!’ Nova blurted back through the bond, squeezing her eyes shut. She didn’t want to feel the weight of his intense gaze and scolding. ’I couldn’t help it. They were fighting over her like dogs with scraps. I moved before I could stop myself.’

Yoa’s stern expression softened as he released a breath. He couldn’t deny the bravery of this fierce little mouse, and he couldn’t scold her for doing exactly what he would have done if not for the experience and many lifetimes of Yiska’s memories to prioritise what was more important. He loved her for her heart and for stopping when he would have continued on.

’I know.’ He cupped her cheek with his clean hand. ’But they are no normal beasts. Once they have tasted blood, their strength grows beyond our own. They are only two of many. We need to kill them before their powers have fully rejuvenated. Understand me, lux mea?’

Nova nodded, retaking his hand. Yoa was right. Of course he was. ’I just can’t stand by when I know I can help...’ She whispered back then, jolted as the skies lit up again and the wind roared through the trees, stirring them to life.

’Move....’ The wind whispered.

Nova’s gaze lingered on the woman before she tore it away. The weight in her chest ached, pressing against her ribs, but she forced it down and drew a slow, steady breath. This wouldn’t be the only horror she’d have to face tonight.

’Okay, heart to heart later...’ Nova said swiftly, sheathing her blade and brushing over the many other weapons latched onto her body like she was going to war.

Well... With that swarm of vampiras... they kind of were.

Nova and Yoa shared one more look, then they were running hand-in-hand again. Nova’s little legs had to work harder to keep up with his larger strides, but then he picked her up into his arms before leaping into the trees, swinging on vines as screams and the sounds of fighting grew louder as they drew closer.

Yoa stopped and put Nova down as the trees opened up for them, revealing the capuchin tribe.

Before them, everything was in utter chaos. Nova stepped forward again, unable to stop herself from wanting to help, but Yoa held her back and shook his head.

’Don’t jump in yet. Watch and learn.’ He instructed.

Nova thought he might jump to the ground and show her how to slay everyone, but he didn’t. He meant it. Watch and learn. Her mate crouched, watching their surroundings, seeking vantage points, observing their enemy as they fought with the capuchin warriors.

Fires broke out along some of the trees from where a child no older than ten, or maybe they were a teenager—it was hard to tell with the capuchins because of their short statures—warded off some of the bats with a branch of burning leaves. Some of them screeched and either caught alight or managed to fly back before the flames touched their furry, leathery skin.

Already, villagers lay strewn across the ground, piling up, their bodies thrown aside after being fed on. Blood seeped into the soil, turning it a deep, glistening crimson.

Children cried out, mothers tried to flee with their young, while the men fought hard.

It wasn’t only the capuchins whose bodies piled high but the vampiras as well. Nova frowned. They were powerful even without sating their bloodlust. But their numbers didn’t seem so high.

Nova followed Yoa’s gaze, breath catching as she looked up. Bats swarmed above, circling the skies above these lands, their wings blotting out the stars. Every few moments, a cluster broke off and dove, shifting mid-air before vanishing into the bloodshed below.

’They’re ... waiting...’ Nova breathed through the bond as she puzzled over what she saw.

This wasn’t just some crazy attack. The vampiras were thirsty, but they were holding back. This was-

’Planned,’ Yoa finished her thoughts. His jaw tightened. ’Someone is orchestrating this slaughter...’