Forsaken (Dragon Shifter Book 6)

by Naomi Sparks

  I'm sure he's been through much worse than this. Hell, I've been through worse than this. As much as this seems to burn, it's nothing compared to the pain I went through when I was pregnant with Olivia. At the end of that process, I ended up with a beautiful baby girl. At the end of this, I hope to have something just as miraculous.

  Power.

  Strength.

  After this, I won't have to rely on anyone else for anything, ever again. I won't need Ezra to keep me safe. I won't need his friends to get my daughter back. I can do all of it myself.

  "There," Merida says at last. I feel her stepping away. I can hear her footfalls on the soft grass. It's like all of my senses are heightened right now. If I focus, I can hear Ezra's breathing, hear his heart thumping, even from across the yard. It's like he's standing right there next to me, and that thought makes me smile.

  After this, I'll be able to do everything by myself, but I hope I don't have to. I hope Ezra will stay by my side, even if I don't need him to.

  Without asking if I'm ready, the four women begin chanting. At first, I can make out their individual voices, one of them at each of the four points of the compass. Then, their voices blend together. They're no longer individual voices but one single voice, the voice of the coven.

  I can't make out any of the words they're chanting, no matter how hard I try. It's like as soon as the words enter my mind, they vanish entirely before I can process them.

  The chanting gets steadily louder and louder until it's all I can hear.

  Then, a blinding pain shoots through my body. It makes the pain from earlier feel like nothing more than a dull ache. My eyes are forced open to reveal a blinding white light pouring down over my body. In my pain-induced haze, it looks like the light is coming directly from the moon that hangs straight overhead. That has to just be my imagination. No way is the light actually shining down from the moon.

  "Gabrielle!" Ezra's voice cuts through the fog. I'm barely able to move my head to look over at him. He's turned facing me now, slowly making his way toward me. He moves in slow motion like he's slogging through a field of molasses.

  It's only then that I realize I've been shouting out as the pain floods through my body. Instinctively, I reach out for him, then I close my hand and grit my teeth.

  No, I don't need his strength to get through this. I can do it on my own. I shake my head, silently pleading with him to stay back and let me do this, to not interfere.

  He must get the message since he stops moving. He stands there, silent, hands balled into fists, looking like he's ready to rush over at any moment.

  "I'm okay," I manage to get out, my voice, not even a whisper. I have no idea if Ezra can hear me over the chanting or not, but when I lock eyes with him, I know he understands. I need to do this.

  As much as I keep telling myself over and over that I can do this, I'm not so sure I actually can. While the altar and ritual had seemed familiar earlier, this pain is not something I remember at all. No doubt, if I'd experienced pain like this as a child, I would have remembered it.

  But I'm determined not to give in. I'm determined to take whatever punishment they give me. No matter what they do, nothing compares to the pain of losing Olivia.

  Then, just when it seems like the pain is going to win out, it's gone. The light stops shining around me. Something floods through me, energy, power, filling my body to its limit. I can feel it flowing through my veins now, pushing out the remnant of the pain. For a moment, it feels good. Then, it just feels intense. After, it becomes too much to bear, more sensation that anything I've ever imagined.

  I have just enough strength to reach out for Ezra to form his name, and then my body goes limp. My vision goes black as everything fates away.

  7

  Ezra

  The moment Gabrielle says my name, I'm by her side. I scoop her up off the stone altar and cradle her in my arms. The women move quickly out of my way, but I ignore them, focused only on Gabrielle. I can feel her heart pounding away, but she doesn't move at first. She just lays there limp in my arms, and I have a flashback to when I'd met her, lying unconscious in Tyko's tent, and fear fills me.

  Just as I'm about to bite her, to give her some of my venom, she begins to stir. After another moment, her eyes flutter open. She looks up into my eyes and smiles. I might have imagined it, but it feels like she snuggles up against me. Then, she takes a deep breath and nods, signaling for me to set her down.

  I do, and it's only then that I notice she's still naked. Her body still looks so frail and small, her bones protruding from beneath her dark skin. I curse myself for not having spent more time making sure she ate, having stopped at actual restaurants for her to get real food in her. After having spent so long unconscious, she needs as much food as she can possibly get.

  Gabrielle notices my gaze, and awkwardly tries to cover herself. A moment later, one of the women... Ethyl, I think, hands her a robe. Their robes are a solid color, with a symbol woven into the cloth. Gabrielle's robe is a shining silver, reminding me of moonlight. Instead of a single symbol, the robe has many symbols woven in it.

  When I look at the other women again, I recognize their symbols. They're Fae runes for each of the four elements. The coloring of their robes matches the elements as well. I don't know much about Fae and Witch magic, but I know enough to understand these robes aren't worn for comfort or fashion. These robes mean something.

  "What's with the robes?" I find myself asking. Lex probably would've smacked me upside the head for being so blunt. But subtly was never one of my strong points.

  Nellie, wearing a deep red robe with the Fae rune for Fire etched onto it, chuckles as she steps over to help steady Gabrielle. "Each of the members of our coven is blessed with the power of one of the elements."

  I nod, having assumed as much. Valetta's white robe bears the symbol of air on it, which explains how she was able to vanish when I should have run her over with my bike. She really had turned into a mist or smoke or something. What that doesn't explain is the robe they gave Gabrielle to wear. "What about hers?" I ask, nodding toward Gabrielle. Judging by the look on her face, she doesn't know any more about this than I do.

  The women all exchange looks. Then, Valetta answers. "Gabrielle is the fifth member of our coven. Her power is quintessence itself, the power that binds the world together. She represents the balance, with all four elements flowing through her together, working in harmony."

  My mind spins as I try to take all of this in. I wish Katia was here. She knows magic better than most of us, having spent her entire life in the Fae colony. If anyone would be able to understand what these women are talking about, it's her.

  Still, from what I gather, that should mean Gabrielle's powers are greater than these women, perhaps making her even stronger than the four of them together. "That's why you had to bind her powers when she was a child, isn't it? If you'd waited any longer, you wouldn't have been able to."

  Gabrielle's eyes go wide for a moment, then Valetta nods. "You are correct. We were only able to bind her powers because she was so young, her power still forming. If we tried to bind them now, for instance, it would be tough. We could still do it, since her power is still returning to her, still taking root, but in another couple weeks, even a couple days? Binding her power will most likely be beyond us."

  I nod. I'm still not sure how much I trust these women, but I like the sound of that. I like thinking that Gabrielle will have the power to defend herself. It won't make me worry about her any less, that much I am sure of, but I hope it will help her own confidence. And I hope she's able to use that power to get revenge on the ones who hurt her, who took her child right from her arms.

  "Come," Valetta says to Gabrielle, guiding her back over toward the altar. Gabrielle looks over at me, her eyes wide with wonder, and I step forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. Valetta looks up at me, surprised, then sighs. "Do not worry. We are going to perform a scrying spell in an attempt to locate Gabrielle's daughter
. With just the four of us, our powers are limited in that regard. But with Gabrielle joining along with us, her power joining ours together, I believe it will be enough for us to locate Olivia."

  I look over at Gabrielle and frown. I don't like this plan at all. Gabrielle was weak and recovering from being in a coma. Now, she's recovering from the painful and exhausting ritual. And they want her to participate in another one right away? It seems foolish. She should rest. There will be plenty of time to perform the ritual tomorrow after she's had a good night's sleep and some food in her.

  But it's her decision, not mine. I don't even have to guess at her answer. It's a shot at finding out where they've hidden her daughter. Nothing is going to make her delay the ritual. It doesn't matter how weak she is or how badly she needs to rest and regain her strength. She'll do anything to get her daughter back.

  I hold Gabrielle's hands in mine, locking eyes with her. Already I can feel a difference in her. There's power flowing through her now, coursing through her veins. I can feel how strong it is inside her. No doubt her magic is as strong as any of the Fae from the colony. Or, at least it will be, once it's finished manifesting inside her again. I take a deep breath and push some of my power into her as well. Even Valetta had said it's still taking root. If Gabrielle goes through with this ritual, then she will need every ounce of power she can get.

  Gabrielle sucks in a breath as my power enters her, mingling with her own. Then, she smiles at me, nodding her thanks. She squeezes my hands for a moment, then releases them and lets Valetta guide her into place at the head of the altar.

  I step back, wanting to give them room to work. But I stay close enough to intervene, should it become necessary. Just because Gabrielle agrees to do this doesn't mean I'm at ease.

  The women take their positions. This time, instead of standing at the four points of the compass, they seem to form a five-point star with Gabrielle at the head. When the older women raise their arms and start chanting, Gabrielle does too. She looks a bit shocked at first, then closes her eyes. It looks as though Gabrielle's body is working on autopilot now as if she's simply going along with the motions.

  It doesn't take long before a light starts to emanate from each of them. They all glow, faintly at first, then stronger, with energy in the same color as their robes. Then, the energy starts to pour out of them, mingling together above the stone altar. With that many colors blending, I expect the ball of energy to turn into a nameless color. Instead, I can see each strand of color, knitting together. Separate, yet joined.

  I watch as the silver light coming from Gabrielle seems to bind the colors together. While the other four colors don't mix with each other, they all blend with her pure silver. Then, like a needle pulling thread, the ball unwinds, strings of color move toward the altar, and paint a pattern on it.

  I can't make out the pattern from where I'm standing, but I'm afraid to move closer. I don't want to interrupt the ritual. This might be our one shot at not only finding Gabrielle's baby but locating Amasis and the Clutch. With their scrying spell, we might be able to find the Clutch's latest hideout, might even be able to get there before they know we're coming.

  This might very well be the lucky break we've hoped for. If everything goes right, we'll be able to surprise Amasis, take him and his group out before they can scurry off and hide beneath another rock.

  My breath catches in my throat. The ritual seems to move at a snail's pace, but I know it's just my own impatience. When the ball of light finally unravels, the women all stop chanting, and their arms drop to their sides.

  Gabrielle stumbles, and I rush over, grabbing her before she hits the ground. She looks up at me with a thankful smile, leaning her weight against me. Her breathing is heavy, like she just finished an intense workout. I knew she was too weak to do this ritual right away. I should have insisted they wait until she's stronger. I'm glad I'd given her some of my power. Without it, I'm not sure she would have lasted this long.

  "She will be okay," Valetta says. She doesn't even flinch when I turn and glare at her. "She needs to build up her magical endurance. We've had many years to get used to the toll performing a spell takes on the body. She will have to learn much quicker. Now, come, look."

  At her insistence, I help Gabrielle forward to look down at the stone tablet. For a moment, all the breath is sucked out of my lungs at once. All I can do is stand and stare at the stone. Lines of magic are weaved over top of it, forming a map. The magic continues to pulse through the lines it's drawn, mapping out a region of the Northwestern US.

  I'd expected the spell to give us a general location, but this is so much more than I ever could have imagined. The lines of magic have created a perfect map, so far as I can tell. Each of the threads seems to form a different part of the map. The blue shows rivers and lakes, the white forms the boundaries between states and towns, the brown forms the roads. Red outlines an entire area right in the middle of Montana. Gabrielle's silver strands bind them all together, making the map easy to read, holding it in place.

  I commit the entire thing to memory. I picture the map as if I'm soaring high above the area. I have no idea how long the magic will last before dissipating, so I'm determined to memorize it before that happens. Then, I'll look at an actual map and locate where that bright red area actually is.

  "This is amazing," Gabrielle says, her mouth parted. She's still leaning against me, but it's obvious her strength is starting to return to her. Part of me wonders if she's just enjoying the close contact now. I know I certainly am.

  Merida nods, grinning eagerly. "It really is! If we'd tried to perform this spell with just the three of us, we might have gotten a general sense of direction. If we'd laid out an actual map, we might have been able to channel enough magic to pinpoint the location. But with your magic joining ours together, we can accomplish so much more!"

  The old woman seems giddy at the thought. It's like she's just seen the sun for the first time. And I can't blame her. If Gabrielle's power really is responsible for this, then I can only imagine what else they might all be able to accomplish together.

  "Come now, let's head back inside, if you're done memorizing that map," Valetta says. She stalks off back toward the house without waiting to see if we follow. The other women glance at us, then follow behind her.

  I take one last look at the map, the lines already dulling and fading. I'm sure I have it all memorized now, and I can't wait to figure out that location and contact Lex.

  Gabrielle squeezes my hand, smiling up at me. "Thank you," she says as we head toward the house. "For staying with me. I don't know if I could've done all of this without you."

  I shake my head, returning her smile. "You did all the hard work, not me."

  Gabrielle rolls her eyes, but she doesn't stop smiling. When we walk back into the house, three women bustle around the small kitchen. Valetta sits in the other room at the small table and motions for Gabrielle to sit with her. Gabrielle doesn't look thrilled at the prospect, but she sits, and Gabrielle pours her a cup of tea.

  "You have a lot to learn in a very short time. Drink, then we will mediate. It is the best way for you to regain your strength and to understand the power that now courses through your veins."

  While Valetta teaches Gabrielle to meditate, I step out front, then pull out my cell-phone and open the maps app, looking at a sky view of Montana. The map they'd drawn from magic truly was amazing, looking nearly identical to the one on my phone, though less detailed. It doesn't take me very long to find the location that had been outlined in red. The app doesn't show anything there, but that doesn't mean much. If the compound is new, it won't show up on the satellite image. And, for all I know, they may have a way to shield it from human technology.

  Making sure the GPS coordinates are visible, I screenshot the map, then send the image over to Lex. I want to call him, to talk to him about everything that's gone on so far, but first I need some privacy. I can't risk talking with Valetta and the others so close by.
I'm not sure how much about us they know, and I'm not eager to give them any information they don't already have.

  They've been helpful so far, but I'm still not ready to trust them just yet.

  Lex responds almost immediately, letting me know he'll send some scouts to check out the area, then get back to me. I thank him and stuff my phone back into my pocket just as Gabrielle comes outside. She smiles, walking over to me, looking stronger than after the scrying. She's changed back into her clothes.

  "How are you?" I ask her, wondering how much of her strength has actually returned. She's been through so much in the last couple weeks. It's amazing how much progress she has made. I don't want her to push herself too much, otherwise, her daughter may not have a mother by the time we put a stop to Amasis and the Clutch.

  Gabrielle nods. She walks over and stands next to me, looking up at the moon and the stars. After a moment, she leans against me, and I put my arm around her. "Better. The tea helped. And the food. And I guess the meditation too." She turns to look over at me. "We can leave if you want. I know you're not comfortable here."

  I smirk at her, knowing she's no more comfortable than I am. At least these people aren't responsible for abandoning me as a child. "We should probably stay, at least until morning. Then we can get on the road, try to meet up with Lex and the others. He's going to send scouts to the location from the map, but I won't know anything for a little while."

  Gabrielle nods and turns her attention back to the sky. I can feel the tension in her body as she debates the best course of action. I can imagine that she's just as torn as I am. Part of her will want to stay, will want answers to more questions. The other part of her undoubtedly wants to get as far away from these people as possible.

  The only question is, which part will win out?

  We stand outside for a long moment, just looking up at the night's sky. It's beautiful here, without the light pollution of the city. There's not a cloud in the sky, giving us a clear view of everything out there in the universe. It's hard to believe there is so much unexplored. It's nerve-wracking yet oddly peaceful at the same time as I consider what wonders exist in this universe.