Abducted by Magic

by Kelli McCracken

  I readjusted my body so that I could catch a glimpse of the shifter. The moonlight shone on the tears glistening in his eyes. He stood tall, his broad shoulders pushed back while his gaze remained focused on Samara.

  “The other one is her boyfriend Draven.”

  I snapped my head around, forgetting that Quinn’s face was so close that our noses bumped. I sucked in a breath at how close our lips were to touching. Rubbing my nose, I forced my voice to remain low. “Two boyfriends?”

  He gave a slight shake to his head and quirked a brow. “Actually, she had three.”

  “Three?” I yelped. If all eyes weren’t set on me before, they were now.

  “Yes.” Wariness filled his eyes as his lips pinched. “Does that bother you?”

  “N—no,” I stuttered. “I was just surprised is all.”

  Hadn’t I been thinking impure thoughts about Roark and Quinn earlier? Not having to choose between the two of them would be so much easier. Was it acceptable in their world to have multiple partners, or was that just for Samara? From what I learned about her so far, she did seem to go against the grain.

  What the hell was I thinking anyway? One man in my life would be enough. Two would be exhausting. I looked at Quinn, then Roark from my peripheral. Then again, having both of them do whatever they wanted didn’t sound so bad.

  I shook my head. This had to be the magic inside me talking. Maybe a remnant of Samara resided in me, making me desire something that was forbidden.

  Silence swiftly descended as a group of cloaked figures filed in. All wore black except for one who wore white. Their hoods draped low, casting shadows over their faces. I assumed it was the council members in black and the high priestess in white.

  As they took their place about six feet from the slab holding Samara’s body, four broke off and moved closer. One crowned her, two stood at her sides, and the last remained at her feet. All four held what looked like a candle in their hand.

  My curiosity got the best of me. I peered up at Roark when I sensed him staring. “Are the people in the robes the council members I met yesterday?

  “Yes. The high priestess, Rayna, is in white. She will preside over the ceremony.”

  It was a lucky guess, or maybe I wasn’t a total moron when it came to their culture and beliefs. “What are they doing?”

  When Roark bent toward my ear, his chest warmed my arm. A sense of peace washed over me, and I leaned against him. I swore I saw a hint of a smile on his lips. It happened so fast, I couldn’t be sure, but I didn’t mistake the feel of his hand on the small of my back.

  “Any type of ceremony always begins with the invocation of the elements.”

  “The elements?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Air, fire, water, and earth.”

  “Just like the ones we con—” Whatever Quinn planned to say was forgotten when Roark glared at him. “What? She’s going to have her mind wiped.”

  Roark shook his head. “Doesn’t mean you should provide too much information. You’ll scare her.”

  “Who, me?” I pointed to myself. “I’m not afraid.”

  Quinn’s devious look said he was pleased with my answer. Roark appeared more concerned. After narrowing his eyes at his brother, they returned to normal and shifted to me.

  “My brothers and I can control the elements. They are part of us.”

  “You can control all of them?”

  “Not exactly.” Roark motioned to his brother. “We each have a specific one inside us. Quinn controls the element of fire.”

  How fitting. Every time I looked at him, he caused my body to heat in all the right places.

  Roark tapped his finger against his chest. “I control water.”

  This, too, made perfect sense. Now I knew why he was so moody. Water related to emotions. Roark was full of them but tried to hide behind a mask. I wanted him to remove the mask and allow me to see him for who he was.

  When he glanced at the tree where I’d spotted what they assumed was one of their other brothers, Roark grunted. “The one whose pain you sensed a few minutes ago—Jax—he controls the element of earth.”

  No wonder he chose to pay his respects while standing near the oak tree. I knew they represented strength, and by the sound of it, he was in dire need of some.

  “Who controls air?” I asked.

  Roark and Quinn exchanged weary glances before Roark answered me. “Our brother, Slade.”

  Rayna had mentioned him yesterday. She said she understood why he wouldn’t be at the burial ceremony. Yet no one ever explained to me what that meant.

  “Where is Slade? Is he grieving like Jax and doesn’t want to be bothered?”

  Roark worked his mouth as if he would answer, but nothing came out. His eyes darted to Quinn’s and he shook his head. His chin dropped toward his chest as he sighed.

  “We’re not sure where Slade is,” Quinn answered. “The last we knew, he was with Samara. No one has seen him since she died.”

  “What about the tattoos?” I touched the one on my wrist and waited for an answer.

  “That’s the crazy part in this. Our bond with each other is off. We didn’t sense Jax a little while ago. We can’t sense Slade either. It’s possible he’s shielding us too. If he were dead, we would know, but neither Roark nor I sense it.”

  My guilt reared its ugly head. “It’s because of me, isn't it?”

  He looked at me, confusion clearly written on his face. Roark glanced at me too, but his face revealed the same amount of uncertainty.

  “We don’t know what is causing it, but do not take blame for what’s happened. None of this is your fault. We’ll find our brother.”

  I nodded and left it at that. By the time they found Slade, it wouldn’t affect me. My memory would be wiped and all of this would be gone forever. I’d never know any of them existed.

  You must not give up.

  “What was that?” I glanced up from the floor and peered at the two guardians.

  Roark frowned while Quinn shook his head and replied, “We didn’t say anything.”

  “Oh. I thought you did.” Perhaps I’d heard someone else talking and thought it was one of them. Yet when I glanced around, there wasn’t anyone close enough for me to overhear a conversation.

  No one will believe you. Not yet. They will soon.

  Quinn and Roark were facing the council, heads slightly bowed. I double-checked our surroundings, making sure no one had walked near us. The space behind us remained empty.

  Was I hearing shit now?

  It will all make sense in time.

  I wasn’t just hearing things, I was losing my mind. The voice was garbled at first, but now I could understand. A woman was speaking, but from where and to whom, I had no clue.

  Whoever it was caused the magic inside me to stir, but not like a tornado like it had when I was upset. This time it was a gentle awareness rolling through my body. The sensation was at war with my own anxiety.

  The power responded to the voice, which could only mean one thing—someone wanted this magic to stay inside me.

  Chapter 7

  ~Katarina~

  I walked down the wooded path, clutching my stomach. What little bit of fruit I’d managed to eat now churned inside me. The bright morning sun filtered through the trees. The heat from the rays should have warmed my skin, but nothing could chase away the chill that coursed through my veins.

  “It’s going to be okay.” Quinn broke the silence. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

  That damn bond again. It was unsettling to know they could feel my emotions.

  One thing bothered me about the bond. When my memory was erased and the bond severed, would I feel like something was missing? This connection was so strong. Soul-deep strong. Would I ever feel this connection with someone again? What if they were my soulmates? What if my one in a million happened twice and fate had drawn us together?

  The harsh truth was that none of it mattered. I was human, and their rul
es wouldn’t allow us to be together. The sooner I got this over with, the sooner the ache in my heart would disappear.

  At the end of the path, golden light flickered through the opening of a cave. My heartbeat increased its tempo. I stopped on the path, unable to make my feet carry me forward. Quinn and Roark turned and walked back toward me, their faces full of concern.

  “What’s going to happen when I get there?”

  Quinn glanced over his shoulder toward the cave, then looked back to me. “The first part of the transference ceremony should be almost complete. Each of the witches must step into the sacred pool one by one until the next successor is chosen.”

  “How will they know which one is the chosen?”

  “They will receive a bonding tattoo similar to the one you have on your wrist. Each is unique to the chosen. The guardians will receive theirs and they will be transported to fulfill their roles. Then a ritual will be performed to transfer the power out of your body and into the successor’s.”

  I clasped my hands in front of me to stop their shaking and resumed my position between them. Each step felt like a lead weight dragging me toward my death. Why was this so difficult?

  As the distance to the cave decreased, I gaped at the size of the opening. What if something went wrong? What if I died? I was putting my trust in people I didn’t know and who didn’t care for humans.

  We were about to enter the cave when Roark stepped in front of me. He cupped my cheeks and brought his eyes level with mine. “We will be with you until you don’t remember anymore.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears that dripped over his hands. He was confusing as hell. One minute he acted like he hated me, and the next, he acted like he cared. My head swam with emotions that I didn’t have time to identify. This was it. In a few hours I would never see them again.

  He brushed the tears off my cheeks. “Remember, you are stronger than them.”

  Once he released my face, he took his place by my side again. I unclasped my hands and lowered them back toward my waist. It was time, and nothing I said or did would change it. Standing tall, I released a cleansing breath and walked into the cave.

  The entrance was enormous. The domed ceiling had to be at least twenty feet high. Hundreds of candles were spread around the room, on the floor and in sconces attached to the walls.

  We crossed the open space to what looked like a tunnel just wide enough for the three of us to stand side by side. I ignored the fact that the walls felt like they were closing around me. Roark’s words repeated in my head. I was stronger than them. If he believed in me, then so could I.

  Ahead, the rush of water was accompanied by the sound of raised voices. This wasn’t how I imagined a transference ceremony would be. Shouldn’t something that sacred be peaceful? Judging by the way Roark and Quinn pressed closer to my side, I must have been right. Wedged in between them, I was forced to increase my pace to keep up with them.

  The farther we walked, the louder the voices became. Something was definitely wrong. I clenched my fists at my side, preparing for the worst. What I thought I was going to do in a room full of witches was beyond me.

  The tunnel opened up into another cavernous room. I gasped at the sight around me. I had never seen anything so beautiful. It really was peaceful here, if I ignored the shouting around me.

  A waterfall flowed into a pool of crystal blue water that spanned the width of the room. Foliage lined the walls, growing from the rock. Energy pulsed in the air washing over my skin. My muscles began to relax with every breath I took. I wished I could say the same for my guardians.

  Hold up. When had I started thinking of them as my guardians?

  Roark approached the high priestess, Rayna, and she did not look happy. She looked like she was about to explode. As for the other witches, their heated glares actually caused my body to warm until I began to sweat. This was so not good.

  “What’s going on?” I whispered to Quinn, who leaned in to hear what I said.

  “I’m not sure. No one else is entering the pool, so the selection should be complete.” He crossed his arms over his chest and scanned the room. Whatever he was looking for, he must not have found it because he gave the room another once-over. “There are no guardians.”

  “What?” I remembered them mentioning how the new guardians would show up once they received their tattoos.

  “If the pool selected the next successor, their guardians would be here. They would need to protect their ward once the transference was finished.”

  Roark glanced over his shoulder at us. His jaw clenched in frustration. Turning back to the high priestess, he raised his hand, cutting off whatever she was going to say next.

  Rayna’s mouth opened and closed in surprise. If the situation wasn’t so serious, I probably would have laughed at her expression. She resembled a fish out of water.

  With long strides, Roark crossed the room. The witches in his path quickly moved out of the way. His eyes were locked on me, though they showed no anger.

  I felt a sense of relief when he stood next to me, trapping me between Quinn’s body and his. “The pool did not pick a successor.”

  “That’s impossible.” Quinn scratched his head. “For centuries it has never failed.”

  “Until now.”

  Roark’s words echoed in my mind. This wasn’t happening. Without a successor, the magic would be trapped inside me. Everything around me became fuzzy as a pain throbbed at the base of my skull. My lungs seized and I wasn’t able to draw in air.

  I reached for the closest thing to anchor me, my nails digging into flesh. Electricity jolted through my body. Voices from far away rang in my ears.

  “Katarina?” Amber eyes met mine. Quinn’s lips moved but I couldn’t make sense of the words.

  “I...can’t...breathe.”

  Roark pressed behind me. His hands gripped my arms as he pulled me back against his chest.

  “Focus on me, Katarina.” Quinn clasped my cheeks and pressed his forehead to mine. “Listen to my voice. Take a deep breath in and release.”

  A familiar voice cut in, “Let me calm her before she loses control.”

  “Do not touch her. No one touches her. She’s ours. Let us handle it.” I felt Roark’s chest rumble against my back with a growl. The primal sound should have scared me, but I found comfort.

  “We’ve got you. Breathe,” Roark murmured as he massaged my arms.

  “This is insane,” a girl shouted from across the room.

  The High Priestess addressed the entire room. “Silence.” That one word caused a hush to fall over the entire room. “No one is to speak out of turn. Miss West did not ask for this and we should be grateful for all that she has done. The council has already made our own choice since the ancestors did not.”

  All of the witches began speaking at once. Their agitated voices echoed off the stone walls.

  “Enough.” As if a switch flipped, the voices cut off. I have no idea if Rayna used a spell or if the sound of her voice worked on its own. Either way, it was pretty cool.

  “Emma Pierce, please step forward.”

  There was a mixture of animosity and relief scattered throughout the room. I was surprised to see that not everyone thought it was an honor to be chosen.

  A girl about my age stepped forward. Her auburn hair barely brushed her shoulders as she held her head high.

  “Emma Pierce, the council has chosen you as Samara Haylen’s successor. Do you accept this honor and vow to uphold the laws of the coven, putting them first above all else?”

  Emma met the high priestess’s gaze with pride as she responded. “I swear to put my coven above all others. Including myself.”

  Rayna grabbed Emma’s hand and held her other out to me. “Miss West, please step forward.”

  My feet were locked in place. What if something went wrong? What if I died here?

  Roark placed his hand on the small of my back, “We’re with you until the end.”

  I knew this had to
be done. No matter how hard it would be to leave them, in a few moments, I wouldn’t remember any of this anyway.

  Quinn and Roark guided me forward. Warmth enveloped my cold hand as soon as I placed it in the high priestess’s.

  “Miss West, you have nothing to fear. No harm will come to you. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.”

  The council gathered around us in a circle. The high priestess linked my hand with Emma’s. She began to speak in the same language Samara used. I gasped as energy pulsed through my body. The pressure grew so strong, I prayed for release.

  Strong arms wrapped around my waist. Emma’s grip on my hand tightened. Something was wrong. This was not the same as when Samara had forced her power into my body.

  The expression on Rayna’s face confirmed it. The edges of my vision darkened as static filled my ears. The faster her lips moved, the faster the energy swirled in my body.

  Emma’s hand gripped mine harder. Why wouldn’t the power leave me? I cried out, feeling like I was being torn in two.

  They lied.

  They were going to kill me.

  Electricity zipped through my veins, lighting up all of my nerve endings. This had to be it. The pressure at capacity. Just when I thought it would explode out of me, all of the energy slammed into my core.

  My legs gave out. Before I hit the ground, the arm around my waist pulled me tighter until my back was against their chest. My fingers dug into their arm. They were my anchor after the storm that had torn through my body.

  “I’ve got you, Katarina.” Roark’s voice soothed me as he squeezed me tighter. I held onto him and the peaceful feeling being in his arms brought me. People chattered around me, but I couldn’t focus on what they were discussing.

  “Why didn’t it work?” one of the council members asked.

  The high priestess lifted her hand to silence the speaker. “Miss West, are you well?”

  Did she mean physically or mentally, because at the moment I wasn’t sure. Based on everyone’s reaction, the transference wasn’t a success.