by Elena Gray
“No,” I sobbed. “She said I balanced him. That he needed me.”
Quinn shifted me in his arms until he stood behind me. His lips brushed my ear when he said, “Call him back.”
I cradled Jax’s cheeks and swallowed the lump in my throat. His eyes haunted me. It was like gazing into a black hole. I leaned my head against his chest and wrapped my arms around him. His body was rock solid like his gargoyle form. He didn’t so much as flinch when I touched him.
Quinn continued to support me, keeping me sandwiched between them. Roark paced across from me. His hand repeatedly combed through his dark brown hair. I wasn’t the only one who could give Jax love.
I held my hand out to Roark. He stopped his pacing and stared at it for what seemed like an eternity before he threaded his fingers with mine. I could still feel Slade in the background.
“Come back to us, Jax. We need you. The dark magic doesn’t own you. You’re stronger than it is. You aren’t your father. Fight it. Fight it for us.”
I could feel the emotions of all of his brothers flooding our bond. If I hadn’t been trapped between Quinn and Jax, I would have collapsed from the force of it. I was barely holding on as it was, but I couldn’t let Roark and Quinn know. I wasn’t human anymore. My body would recover soon, thanks to being a reaper. If we had still been at the coven, their healers would have sped up the process, but that was no longer an option.
The steady thump of Jax’s heartbeat accelerated. Quinn tightened his hold on me and Roark squeezed my hand. I held my breath as I tipped my head back and found Jax’s beautiful green eyes gazing at me.
“You came back,” I said.
Jax pressed his lips against my forehead. “I told you your Nona was right.”
My heart sped up at his words. Was my grandmother right about my connection with them? If so, why was there a wall separating me from Roark and Quinn?
“So,” Jax asked, “did we close the veil?”
I was about to tell him no when Roark interrupted, holding out his arm. “She did it. I don’t feel the erratic energy anymore and the hairs on my arms aren’t standing up.”
I wriggled out from in between Jax and Quinn. I needed to see for myself. There was no way in all of that chaos that I’d managed to seal the rift. As I took a step toward the veil, I swayed on my feet. Just when I thought I would faceplant, Roark pulled me to his side.
The purple fog was gone. Maybe the ancestors were right in trusting me with Samara’s powers. With my guardians by my side, I could do this.
Now, all we needed to do was figure out who’d killed Samara, who was trying to kill me, and bring Slade home. No big deal. Just another day in my supernatural life.
Chapter 7
~Quinn~
A sense of dread filled me the second I neared the path that led from our house to the beach. I double-checked on Katarina, who walked just a few steps ahead. An uneasy feeling twisted my gut, but I could see no imminent danger. I peered over my shoulder, half expecting to find Roark or Jax, maybe even Samara’s ghostly figure. All I found was sand and water.
Despite my inability to shake the feeling, I refocused on Katarina. She’d been quiet since we’d walked onto the beach, but now she held the dagger her uncle gave her in her hand, twisting it about. The few training sessions she’d had with Jax had seemed to help. I still sensed her self-doubt, but she grew more confident every day.
I wasn’t bringing her to the beach for combat training today. We were here for a history lesson. The more she knew about witches, other supernaturals, and the different realms, the better off she would be. Knowledge was power.
It was my hope that by teaching her the history of supernaturals—witches in particular—she would learn more about the power she’d inherited. Once she did, we could pair it with the abilities she’d received as a reaper.
Instead of getting right into our lesson, I’d asked her to walk with me to clear her mind. She’d been preoccupied since we’d repaired the tear in the veil. I could feel her guilt throbbing through our bond. She had nothing to feel guilty about. No matter how many times we reassured her that she had done an amazing job, she still condemned herself for losing control.
I hoped a brief stroll through the sand would ease her mind as well as provide the distraction she desperately needed.
“If you’re ready for your lesson,” I said, “we can head to the gazebo. I thought it would be a quiet place for us to talk.”
Katarina glanced at me and then the gazebo. Her face flushed as she stammered for a response. “Uh…yeah. The gazebo.” She nodded as her gaze drifted back to the structure. “Sure. Why not.”
I frowned at her response. “Is something wrong with that spot? If you’d rather go someplace else—”
“No. It’s fine. The gazebo is definitely a good spot for, uh, lessons.”
She wasn’t making any sense, but I decided not to press it. Maybe she was worried about being alone with me. While she hadn’t avoided me as much as she had Roark, I sensed how much she battled the connection between us.
I fought against it too, although I wasn’t sure why. So what if Roark thought we’d fail our job as her guardians if we were attracted to her? My brother didn’t know everything, and we weren’t doing her any favors by resisting the bond. If anything, I felt more distracted when I kept her at a distance. It didn’t feel right.
We shared this bond for a reason, and part of that bond was responsible for the overload of emotions we felt for her. We were supposed to desire her. It was only an assumption, but I was willing to bet my life on it.
Once we reached the gazebo, I walked inside and sat on the closest bench. I didn’t miss the way Katarina’s eyes widened or how embarrassed she looked when she caught me staring at her. Whatever was going on with her, she didn’t want to discuss it.
“Have a seat.” I patted the spot next to me and waited for her to lower herself to the bench. She did so with hesitance. “Katarina, are you sure you’re okay with talking to me? I can’t help but feel like you’d rather be somewhere else.”
“I’m sorry, Quinn. I swear everything is good. Whatever it is you have to tell me, I’m ready to listen.”
“Well, let’s start with the veil. Roark informed me that he explained the history of the veil, how and why it came to be.”
She nodded. “He said the eldest of each supernatural faction came together after the Great War and forged their powers to create the veil. The high priestess is the one who cast the spell that formed the Northern and Southern vaults.”
“That’s correct. Did he happen to tell you the name of the high priestess?”
“No,” she answered. “Who was it?”
“Her name was Sarah Haylan. She was Samara’s ancestor and one of the most powerful witches of all time. But that wasn’t enough for her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sarah was on a quest to become a celestial witch, one who draws power from both the sun and moon. At some point, she tapped into dark magic by mistake. It gave her power like no other, but that power ended up killing her.”
I stopped speaking and focused on Katarina when her lower lip trembled. She pressed her hand to her mouth and shook her head. “That’s horrible.”
“I concur. It was a great tragedy. It’s one of the many reasons I worried about Samara. She wanted to be a celestial witch too. I think it’s why she delved into old magic.”
Katarina’s brows knitted with confusion. “So Samara wasn’t a celestial witch?”
“No. She was a sun witch, like Sarah. They get their power from the sun and are at their peak performance during spring and summer. Moon witches are the opposite. Their power is fueled by the moon, and they are the strongest in the autumn and winter.”
“So Celestial witches are more powerful because they have a constant source of energy, year-round?”
“That’s correct. The Haylan bloodline is one of the purest and the reason why the ancestors chose Samara to hold the power that
’s now inside of you.”
“Wow. I had no idea.”
I nodded at her and played with one of the wooden planks on the bench. “Because Sarah created the spell for the veil, her offspring were connected to it. Samara is the first of her bloodline to want the veil diminished. Her conflicted feelings over the Pararealm's rules were part of the reason the veil became unstable, but her death made it worse. From what I’ve researched, the veil tore because of the vulnerability her absence caused.”
“So Samara kept the veil intact?”
“Yes.” I released a sigh and faced her once more. “Now that you possess her powers, you have the same connection to the veil. What I don’t know is how this affects its stability.”
“Are you saying that the energy field that protects the realms could still break?”
“Yes, and if that happens—” My voice trailed off as the ground rumbled. I glanced at Katarina, noting the confusion on her face. “Did you feel that?”
She nodded. “Was it an earthquake?
I shrugged. “It was a tremor of some sort. I don’t know what caused it.”
Before she could ask another question, the ground vibrated again. I glanced toward the house. Maybe Jax was screwing with us. Earth was his element, which made it easy for him to manipulate. When I’d asked him if he wanted to join Katarina and me for the lesson, he’d declined. He couldn’t possibly be upset that I was alone with Katarina.
As I stood, the ground quaked a third time. Katarina sprang to her feet. She reached for me, her eyes wide with fear. Just as I opened my arms to her, our bodies shifted. I lost sight of her as I flew backward and broke through the gazebo. Sand scattered when I hit the ground.
Something exploded. I didn’t know what had happened nor did I care to find out until I located Katarina. Her safety was my priority.
I sprang to my feet and searched for any sign of her. It wasn’t until I moved around the tree that shaded the gazebo, that I saw her lying on the ground. Panic lit my soul on fire. I couldn’t tell if she was hurt, but she pushed herself off the ground into a sitting position.
“Katarina, are you okay?”
Her eyes found mine, and they held the same fear I’d noticed before.
“I think so.” She tried standing as I rushed over to help her. As soon as she was on her feet, she cupped my face. “Are you okay?”
I loved that she cared enough about me to worry, but she needn’t bother. As long as she was okay, so was I. From what I could observe, I didn’t see any bleeding or broken bones. I focused on our bond to decipher any internal pain or injuries. Luckily, I sensed no damage.
Something moved near the beach, drawing my attention away from her. I stared in disbelief at an open portal hovering above the sand. Large, horned beasts poured out of the portal.
Demons.
This was impossible. How could demons be on the Stone Isles? Worse, how did they have the ability to open a portal? They didn’t practice magic.
“Son of a bitch,” I mumbled as I held her tighter.
“What are those things?” she asked.
“Demons. I don’t know how they got access to a portal, but they shouldn’t be here.” As a horde formed on the beach, a few of the creatures spotted us. They pointed in our direction and spoke to the largest demon of the group. I assumed he was the leader. He had four gangly arms and massive hands on each. His nails were long and curled, yet he somehow managed to wield four swords. The moment he spotted us, he stormed over.
Shit. All hell had broken loose. We needed to act fast.
“Katarina, call your uncle, the shades, even the other reapers. We’re going to need backup. I’ll summon Jax and Roark through our brotherhood bond.”
As I turned and glanced at the house once more, I focused on my brothers, urging them to find us immediately. Our connection thrummed in response, and I knew they were on their way. Katarina and I needed to hold our own until they got here.
I turned to tell her as much when I realized we were out of time. One of the demons rushed at her. I tried to warn her, but a commotion diverted my attention.
The largest demon stood just behind me. His lips peeled back, revealing his fangs as his swords sliced through the air. I summoned my fire element and formed a fireball in my hand just as he lunged at me.
~Katarina~
I was going to die. How could I not when one of the most terrifying creatures I’d ever seen barreled toward me. Quinn stood a few feet away, but I didn’t have time to see if he noticed the demon. I shook in my skin and clutched Soul Seeker.
Quinn told me to reach out to my uncle, the shades, and the other reapers. My cell phone wasn’t on me, so I had to hope that they’d sense my fear, because I had no idea how to call them.
As the demon drew back the hand holding his sword, he used the other to reach for me. He was less than two feet away when an urge overcame me and I snapped. It was fight or flight mode. Either I defended my life or lost it.
A battle cry rippled through my chest as I held my dagger in one hand and spun away from the demon, just like Jax had taught me. The creature realized too late that I’d avoided him and did his best to stop. It was his biggest mistake.
Without any regard for his life, I plunged my dagger in his back, forcing it to the hilt. An ear-piercing shriek made my head thump. I shook off the sensation and focused on the demon. He withered under the point of my blade as a golden light leaked through the wound. I stared in awe just as he exploded.
Soul Seeker was free, which meant I was able to take on another assailant. Yet the moment I saw two more demons running my way, I froze. It wasn’t that I was afraid to take on two demonic beings at once. What paralyzed me was the fact I’d killed someone—or should I say—something…
Two distinct voices shouted somewhere behind me. Roark and Jax. I prayed they were close enough to assist me on the next attack, because right now, my mind wouldn’t cooperate.
“Katarina,” Jax yelled. “Snap out of it!”
“It was just a demon,” Roark added. “I say good riddance. Shake it off, lass. You have more heading your way.”
They must have sensed my reluctance through our bond. I wished I had their strength and courage to get over the fact I’d taken a life. I knew it was better than losing my own, but it still upset me.
Just as both demons reached me, I held my dagger, resting the tip against the edge of my hand. With two spins and a swift backstroke, I slit the throat of both demons. Light burst from both, shredding them to pieces.
I wasn’t sure where I’d learned that move, but I liked it. It was as if Soul Seeker guided me through every attack. If that were the case, my reaper instincts came with kick-ass combat skills.
When I turned to see if Jax and Roark had made it down the path, my tattoo warmed my wrist. Something tugged my soul. I focused on the sensation, realizing that my bond with Slade was pulsing.
Katarina, watch behind you.
Slade’s words startled me. I was glad to hear his voice but didn’t have time to appreciate it. Just as I turned, another demon pounced. I blocked his body with a purple orb that formed in my hand. It knocked him back to the portal while I stared in disbelief. How had I managed to use the magic inside me?
Are you okay? The soothing sound of Slade’s voice wrapped around me, settling my heart. I drew in a deep breath and grunted.
I’m fine. How did you know?
I sensed your fear through our bond and opened the connection. Looks like I did it just in time, too. At least you have backup now.
Huh?
Someone grabbed my arms. I drew back my dagger, ready to drive it into whatever body part I could reach.
“Lass, no! It’s me.” Roark’s voice cut through the anger and fear that blinded me. Both he and Jax stood behind me, arms raised defensively. I lowered Soul Seeker to my side and readied an apology, but Roark shook his head. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Where’s Quinn?”
The three of us gla
nced toward the last spot I remembered seeing my other guardian. Quinn and the larger demon were toe-to-toe in a battle that appeared unfair. The demon swung four swords at Quinn, doing his best to damage him. Quinn hurled what I assumed were fireballs at his opponent. He seemed to be holding his own until a band of demons quickly approached from behind.
Jax noticed them at the same time I did. He squeezed my arm and gave me a reassuring smile, then he bolted at the approaching group, leaving Quinn to fight his own battle.
When I looked at Roark, he parted his mouth, as if he were about to say something. Instead of speaking, he pushed me aside and ran toward another group of demons. For the time being, I appeared to be safe. Now I had to figure out how to contact my uncle.
As soon as I tightened my grip around my dagger, a throat cleared. I gazed up at the man standing in front of me.
“Uncle Mathias? Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re here.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed tight.
He patted my shoulder in a comforting manner before he eased back. “I came as soon as I could. Are you okay?”
Nodding, I pointed toward my guardians. “They’re not. Please help them.”
With one motion of his hand, a swarm of shades and other reapers appeared. Their bodies launched into the battle that my guardians led. Uncle Mathias stalked toward them, taking his time down the path as a thick, steel sword formed in his hand.
When I searched for Quinn again, relief filled me to see he was still on his feet. A fireball rested in his hand as he glared at the head demon, who’d halted his attack. Black eyes locked on me, chilling me to the bone. Then, they shifted toward my uncle. I didn’t miss the way they widened a moment later. It was almost as if the creature knew my uncle. Were demons a part of the Underworld?
A shrill whistle blew, gaining the attention of everyone in battle. In a matter of seconds, all the dark creatures retreated back to the portal. The lead demon was the last to go through. He stood near the opening, pointed his finger toward Quinn, then released a growl.