If nothing else, we were keeping them distracted, and wearing them out while the others infiltrated. One of the mages moved from a steady attack on the shield, to lobbing magic at it randomly. The spell was an 'unraveling,' and it was starting to have an effect.
Nikolai joined me, reinforcing our protection.
"Doc, be ready to defend us, should this shield fall," Nikolai ordered.
I wasn't sure exactly how long I held the spell with Ash supporting me directly, and Nikolai helping before we heard shouting over the crackle of the magical assault.
"Just a little bit longer," Ash whispered into my ear as I wilted. At some point I'd fallen into his arms. He was the only thing keeping me from becoming a puddle on the ground.
Doc supported Nikolai, though the mage looked to be in better shape than me. I burned up inside and it took everything I had to keep mine and Ash's energy pouring into our shield under the onslaught.
"Sofia, let go," Nikolai ordered, voice urgent.
"But…"
"Now."
I released the energy and collapsed into Ash's arms. Now that I wasn't channeling so much power, I could feel what had concerned Nikolai. I was at the end of my abilities and everything felt frayed. Anymore and I might have permanently hurt myself. As it was, I wasn't going to feel good for a while.
Moments later the assault on the shield ended. Nikolai dropped it, hands up ready to cast an offensive spell.
Alex and his grandmother were gone and the two remaining mages only had a moment to comprehend that the situation had changed before Nikolai blasted one backward into the stone wall behind him. If the blast hadn't killed him, by the sickening crack as he hit the wall, the force was more than a human skull could deal with and he slumped to the ground, leaving a red streak behind him.
Doc snapped the other mage's neck, his eyes shining in the low light.
I tried to get up from Ash's grip, but my limbs wouldn't cooperate.
"Carry her?" Nikolai asked Ash.
The demon nodded and fell in behind Nikolai and Doc as they headed for the staircase.
Hating feeling so helpless, but unable to lift the lead weights my hands had become, I let the demon carry me as we carefully made our way up the stairs. I rested my head against his warm chest and trusted him not to drop me.
Doc and Nikolai crouched by the door and after a quiet discussion, Doc darted out onto the main floor while we waited.
A few minutes later Nikolai gestured, and we followed. Whatever had held my vampire back from killing before, he'd gotten over it. At least temporarily. Two bodies littered the ground, heads twisted at unnatural angles, and we caught up to Doc in the main hallway, another person dead at his feet, blood leaking from the wound in his back.
Now that I wasn't focused on slinging magic, I could feel my wolves. They were out in the forest, fighting. Fortunately, they were in their element, and doing well with a little mage backup.
The people Adriana had brought were mages, but the Andersons had apparently added a contingent of werewolves since we had last fought them, and the mages had their hands full.
I caught a hint of powerful magic before the house shuddered around us. Dust and plaster rained down from the ceiling, and Ash dove into a doorway as chunks fell around us.
I managed to get my arms to corporate long enough to wrap them around Ash's neck and take some of my weight off his arms.
He glanced down at me and I smiled at him.
The corner of his lips twitched as if he had almost smiled.
Doc and Nikolai joined us as the house shook again.
"Hope we wore them out enough for Adriana to handle," I said.
"She's reasonably powerful," Doc answered. "And experienced in this kind of fight. She'll be okay."
"Should we help?" Nikolai asked.
Doc shook his head. "Give them a minute. We will if we need to."
One last blast of powerful energy pulsed through the air and more of the house crashed down around us.
Nikolai cast a shield over us, and we huddled under it. The doorframe mostly protected us, but his spell kept the debris and dust away.
As things fell silent, Doc gestured and we hesitantly followed him toward the main entry to the manor house. Nikolai and Doc glanced around the corner and gestured for us to follow.
"I think I might be able to walk now," I said quietly.
Ash didn't put me down and I didn't ask again, distracted by the sight in the main hall. Someone had blown half of the front house out and pieces of it littered the ground outside. Cold winter air competed with Ash's warmth, making me grateful he still held me as my sweat chilled me.
Alex was out cold on the floor. At least, I didn't think he was dead.
Ash growled, rumbling in his chest and through me, as he saw the asshat on the ground. Alex's grandmother was nowhere to be seen.
A few other mages I didn't know were also unconscious at Adriana's feet.
"You thought I'd be destructive?" Nikolai laughed as he surveyed the damage.
A couple more mages and Donna joined Adriana. They all looked warily at me after quick glances at Nikolai and Doc.
No, they weren't looking at me, they were looking at Ash. Suddenly, I was glad he still held me. Hopefully, it made him seem less dangerous.
"Well, it seems you have accomplished the impossible," Adriana said after an awkward silence.
"Is not impossible." Nikolai shrugged. "Simply difficult."
"Your name is Ash?" Adriana asked.
Ash nodded.
"You will come with us." It wasn't a question, and Ash stiffened.
"No, he won't." I glared at her.
"Where will you go then?" She apparently realized she couldn't force him, because she backed down.
Ash might not be able to do much inside the manor house without the wards locking down on him, but once he
