Amber braced herself as she watched the energy flow into James. Her body twitched as the vines started to react, pulsing with power as they shrank. Their mass morphed into more humanoid plant monsters, their bodies glowing red as they dropped by the dozens.

"Ready?" she asked.

Zenaria panned her gaze around the room. "More than ready. Whoever kills the most gets to take James to bed."

Scoffing, Amber glared at the kitsune. "That's a shit contest. If I win, you'll just give him those big adorable eyes with a few tears and he'll cave."

Shrugging, Zenaria smirked. "I work with what I have."

Grumbling, Amber turned her attention back to the monsters. Racing forward, she dropped onto all fours, digging her claws into the concrete as she picked up speed. In a flash, she was amidst the creatures, activating her skills. With one slash, she shredded everything around her, breaking up the plants and killing their pulsing glow.

For a brief moment, she wanted to laugh. She had power. True power and everything fell before her. Then she heard the scream.

Snapping her attention back to Zenaria, she found the kitsune fighting off an additional three dozen monsters that came from the door they entered. Blood was trickling down her face and neck as her shirt was shredded from tendril-like whips.

I can't use my skills that close to her. Not all of them anyways.

She was about to charge in when the room rumbled and the thick vines above her disgorged more monsters. The energy flowing into James seemed to battle back and forth as her mate grimaced.

This rent is harder than the last. Almost like it prepared for this moment.

The thought made her shudder. It wasn't feasible to believe that the rent and nests were waiting for them. But, if that was true, what would the next nest be like? What about the next rent?

Spinning, she slashed through the legs of the creature before her. With her feet, she dragged them up through another, shredding everything around her. Dancing among the falling limbs and plants, she took note that the numbers didn't seem to go down.

With each slash, she killed dozens of monsters that crowded around her, yet the floor was covered in plant material. In fact, the floor only had a light coating of dust from where her claws ripped into it.

What's going on? How are they still standing?

Another scream filled the air before wires spread throughout the room. A rage filled scream followed before the wires were pulled tight. The monsters exploded into chunks, flooding the room with plant matter as Zenaria growled ferally.

"Just fucking die!" the kitsune screamed as blood dripped from her body.

Amber gulped at the sheer display of power. If that women wasn't protecting James, she could kill everything with hardly a raised finger. Even now, the monsters weren't regenerating as the vines overhead started to dim.

How are you that powerful, Zenaria?

Only James truly understood how each of their souls presented their power. It had been spoken that Zenaria had the strongest out of all of them. But to see what she was capable when pushed was something else entirely. Before she was always a lower level than Amber, but now…

She didn't want to say it, but Zenaria made her look weak. Yes, Amber would admit that she could shred dozens of monsters or people at once with a single slash. She could also Soul Shift and attack souls directly, but Zenaria. Zenaria could capture people with her wires and they would never see them. She spun her webs of death as if she was the deadliest spider in existence. And she was.

"That was fun!" Zenaria said with a laugh.

Chuckling weakly, Amber walked over. "I guess you won…"

"Yup! I'm already looking forward to what I'm going to do with James."

There was only one person that could beat Zenaria at this point. Luna. And the Fenrir was not going to be happy when she came back and found Zenaria trying to claim all of James's time.

"Do you think he's almost done?" Zenaria asked.

Amber frowned and looked around the room. The vines were still shriveling up and the energy was flowing into James steadily now. "I think we are almost done.

Rolling out her shoulders, Zenaria flicked the blood from her cheek. "I need a bath."

"You do stink," Amber teased. "Like really bad."

Sniffing herself, Zenaria growled. "I'm sorry I'm not a cat and lick myself clean."

Frowning, Amber turned slowly to the kitsune. "Did you just make a cat joke?"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I did," she said proudly. "I might even be able to find some cream for you."

"You cheeky little bi—"

Amber was cut off as the flow of energy into James abruptly ended with a final pulse. The room grew dim as ash rained down from the dying plants and the facility started to tremble.

"Time to leave!" Zenaria quickly grabbed James and threw him over her shoulder.

Grabbing his sword, Amber took the lead, breaking vines apart as they rushed to the nearest exterior wall. Slashing at the stone, she carved through the wall and jumped out of the building with Zenaria right behind her.

Seconds later, the entire facility came crashing down, sending dust and debris into the air for dozens of feet. Coughing a few times, Amber helped Zenaria to walk further into the parking lot before setting James down. His soul was still processing the energy, but they both could tell he went up in another level.

"What do you think he's capable of?" Zenaria asked.

"He's a god. How should I know?" Scoffing, Amber sat next to her mate and watched the destruction settle.

"He claims he's not a god."

Glancing at the kitsune, Amber chuckled. "Do you expect him to claim something like that?"

"No, not really, but he has to know he is."

Shaking her head, she rested her fingers on his chest. "Luna will point it out to him when it's time. Leave that job to her."

"He's bringing back the dead. Isn't that proof enough?"

"Maybe." Running her fingers over his shirt, Amber sighed. "I'm just glad I'm along for the ride. Everything has changed so much in the last half year."

"Yup. I have a man that can't keep his hands off my tails."

Snorting a laugh, Amber shook her head. "That's your own fault. And don't make it sound like a chore. You go out of your way to have him wash them."

Giggling, Zenaria laid down next to him. "You're right. But I'm starting to get tired."

"Take a nap."

"Not that kind of tired," she said softly. "I'm tired of fighting and being on the move nonstop. Everyday we face death and destruction. We reap lives and devour souls. I just want it to end."

Amber didn't say anything right away. She felt the same. "Soon," she whispered. "Soon we will take him away and find a secluded section of the world to call our own. No more sects. No more Pact. No more cultivators. Only our family."

"I can't wait," Zenaria whispered in return.

Letting out a slow breath, Amber settled in to wait. James likely wouldn't sleep as long as last time, especially with Luna having more control over the power. Hopefully the Fenrir was okay.

***

Luna let out a smokey breath as steam rose from her body. The foundations of the temple were shaky, but whole. The windows had cracked, and the forest outside was a smoldering ruin once again. Everyone else had absorbed as much power as they could, while she channeled the rest into growth.

The soul they resided in was changing rapidly. The vibrant violet color was dimming, becoming translucent. With a bit more energy, he would pass through to the immortal soul. One more rent, that was all he needed.

"Are you okay?" Jamie asked softly.

Coughing a few times, Luna lowered her arms. "I'll be fine," she wheezed.

"Your tail…"

She really didn't want to look back. Her clothes were still smoking and she imagined her snow white hair was nearly black. She didn't want it to be true, but with a glance over her shoulder, she let out a weak whimper.

What fur remained on her tail was black and singed. Bare flesh stood out in spots, showing the bony stretch of her tail. The proud fluff she knew James enjoyed was no more and would have to be regrown. Thankfully she had plenty of energy at her disposal to do so.

"Should we get you to bed?" Jamie asked.

Looking around the central room, Luna took note of the smoke rising from the floor. There weren't any cracks this time, but soot and singed stone was still present. "Will you guys be okay with cleaning?"

Mender snorted and set down a bucket of water. "We have it covered, Luna. You're nearly dead on your feet."

"I am not," she protested. Stepping forward, her vision wavered and the world grew dark before blinking out entirely.

***

Jamie caught Luna before she hit the ground and grunted as she picked her up. "She's heavy!"

Linda and Grace rushed over to help, all three of them carrying the heaviest soul among them.

"My room," Jamie panted.

Mender led the way as they hurried through the rooms to drop off the Fenrir. Jamie would sit with her once again, making sure she recovered. At least this time, she was awake at the end.

"What's it going to be like next time?" Grace asked. "She weights a freaking ton!"

Jamie shook her head. "She'll be immortal next time. We likely won't be able to move her. Just get her into my bed."

"I always knew you wanted her in your bed," Linda teased.

"Damn right I do!" Jamie snorted. "Have you seen her naked? She's a goddess."

"Literally," Grace joked.

Mender shushed them. "At least wait until she's awake to tease her about things like that. And dear sister, no sleeping with Luna until she's ready."

Stepping into her room, Jamie didn't retort until they set Luna down. "I'm still not sleeping with James."

"He needs a human," Mender teased. "Take one for the team."

"How about I shove my foot up your ass and wear you like a shoe," she shot back.

Holding up his hands, Mender hurried out of the room, making the girls giggle.

"We'll start cleaning," Grace said after a minute. "Stay with her."

"Don't kiss her," Linda teased.

"Yeah, yeah." Waving the girls off, Jamie moved to her chair and sat down. Luna would likely sleep the rest of the day if not into tomorrow. It was hard to say after the amount of power she absorbed.

***

James woke slowly to the sight of the setting sun. The warm winds that he expected to wash over him were gone, along with the scent of death and despair. Monsters still shuffled in the canyon, but the area felt as if it was at peace.

"How long have I been out?" he muttered.

"A few hours," Amber answered. "Not nearly as long as last time."

Touching his chest, he winced. "I'm still damaged. I'll be out of commission for a few days."

"Then it's a good thing you already made a fort." Zenaria leaned over him, a growing frown on her lips. "Don't you think for a moment that I won't beat you to a pulp if you try to use your skills."

"I'll behave." Yawning, he climbed to his feet, staggering the first few steps as his body adjusted. "Let's get back."

"Will you be okay to run?" Amber asked as she joined him.

"I'll be fine," he said with a wince. "I just need to start moving. It's going to take a minute to adjust."

The new power flowing through him made him nearly cry in agony. His soul felt like it was tearing apart as it attempted to transition to something more. Something that he couldn't become yet. Despite not having enough power, it was breaking him, and he could feel the pain growing.

Zenaria grabbed him as he gasped and clutched his chest. "James!"

"I'm fine," he said unconvincingly.

"No, you aren't!" Amber growled before picking him up. "Don't you dare fight me!"

Letting his body relax, he gave in. "I'm sorry. Just in pain."

Without another word, Amber started running. Zenaria stayed by his side, her worry plastered on her face. He knew what his soul was trying to reach. It was at the precipice of reaching his immortal soul and only needed another rent to tip over. The question was, how long was he going to be in pain as his soul fought to grow stronger?

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