by LJ Rivers
Auberon dropped her, and she fell to her knees. “Foolish fox. Never act on your own. Elaine wasn’t supposed to die. Do not disobey me again or it will be your last act in this world or any other.”
Gemma winced and bowed her head. “Never, Your Highness. I’m at your mercy.”
My heart clenched, and a mix of relief and regret shivered through me. He hadn’t known. I saw it in his face. Still, Gemma had killed Mum because she loved my father and believed in whatever vision he had laid out for her. It wasn’t by his hand, just like Dad wasn’t, but he was still the cause of my suffering. I wouldn’t cry, but I couldn’t stand to look at him any longer.
“I don’t want to fight you, Father. Leave.”
Auberon glanced at the portal, his lips raising at the corners. “I’m afraid I cannot. I’m going home.”
“You have to close the portal,” Brendan whispered in my ear.
I would have if I only knew how. I’d been so caught up in saving my grandmother that I hadn’t considered the ramifications of the portal staying open for anyone to enter, including my father.
I sidestepped and found Charlie. “Any ideas?” I said under my breath.
“None. Fight or let him pass. But we really don’t want him to do the latter, do we?”
I shook my head.
Auberon tapped the top of his cane with two fingers and held his other hand on Excalibur’s pommel. “What’s it going to be, Princess?”
“Morgana exiled you for a reason,” I said. “You need to leave or you’ll force my hand.”
“My dear child. You think you can beat me?”
“I can try.”
I raised my arms, and a spear of fire lanced out. Another flaming spear met mine halfway, blue flames pushing against my red. Sweat coated my brow as I held my ground. The force of his powers pommelled me, and my feet slipped, my father’s attack pushing me back.
“I can’t hold it,” I said through clenched teeth to Jen.
The silver wolves bounded forward. Jen gave me a regretful look then pounced to meet the attackers, Erica and Jack right on her heels. Claws and fangs ripped into fur and flesh, their snarls rumbling like thunder.
Gilroy Yeats flashed a wicked grin and stomped his hoofs. Gemma shrieked and charged forward, aiming for Charlie. I lowered one hand and grabbed her with my telekinesis. She spun across the ground and slammed into a wolf I thought was Osian. The exercise had cost me. My feet failed me, and flames shot out in every direction, the blue fire scorching the air above my head.
Panting, I rolled to my feet and launched a force field at my father. He swung Excalibur, and though the force field hit its mark, it did nothing to stop my father’s stride as long as Excalibur was in his hand.
Brendan swung his makeshift weapon and sprinted for Gemma, stabbing at her side. She pushed off the ground with her feet and slashed her blade. It cut through Brendan’s T-shirt, leaving a shallow wound across his chest. Snickering, she spun and slashed again. Brendan dipped to a crouch and kicked her knee.
An invisible force grabbed Brendan’s legs and hurled him across the ground, sending him back in my direction. Auberon lowered his cane and used his telekinesis to push Gemma back on her feet.
Charlie ran along the wall, and blue sparks flew from her wand. She shoved it into a silver wolf who had his grip on Erica. The wolf convulsed, his paw swinging for Charlie as it fell back. He hit her in the stomach and slammed Charlie to the wall. Jen bit down on one of the silver wolves and pushed him aside, turned and jumped in front of Charlie. Her fangs bared, she faced the wolf who was getting back up.
Kit yowled and clawed at my leg. My father was on the move.
“No!” I yelled when Auberon stepped past me. I tried fire again, sending a series of burning orbs after him. He deflected with his cane and sent them crashing into the walls.
“There is nothing for you on the other side, Father,” I yelled. “They don’t want you there.”
He slanted his head and turned to me. “But I am their prince, and I’ll take my place on my father’s throne to become the king I was always meant to be. The rightful heir and king of all of Gwyn Fanon.” He paused, and his eyes drew me into their depths. “It’s not too late, my child. We could rule together, you and I. Forever. Won’t you come with me?”
“Never!” In a last, desperate attempt to stop my father, I tried fire again, knowing it was futile.
He waved his hands, and thrust one palm out in a swift motion, so fast I almost didn’t catch it. A giant fireball shot out and swallowed mine in its wake. The flames rushed by me, leaving me unscathed.
Brendan cried out somewhere in the blaze, the sound tearing at my heart.
Auberon held his arm out to Gemma. She placed her hand in the crook of it, gave me a sly smile, and together, they stepped through the veil.
“Ruby,” Charlie shouted. “Ru. Brendan.” I blinked and tore my eyes from the spot where my father had just been.
On the ground, ten feet away, lay Brendan, consumed in fire. Oh, no! I crawled over to him. No, no, no! I couldn’t lose him too!
The fire danced around him in a sphere as if trying to break through an invisible barrier. A force field? But I hadn’t used a force field on him. The flames died down, and I looked inside the sphere. Brendan sat on his knees, eyes closed, arms out in a defensive motion. A bright, white glow emanated from around his neck, sparkling like a thousand stars had gathered there. He was unharmed. What on Earth or Avalon?
“Watch out!” It was Charlie again.
I rolled to the side, though not quickly enough to avoid a kick to my shin as Gilroy Yeats charged past me. He rammed headfirst into the veil and disappeared. I massaged my leg and chastised myself for my stupidity. It appeared anyone could pass through now. Anyone Magical, at least.
By the mouth of the cave, a battle still raged. The copper wolf stumbled across the ground, trying to re-enter the fight, but his legs failed him, and he dropped to the ground. One silver wolf was down for the count, as well. Rhod, maybe? The amount of blood around its head told me it would likely never get back up.
The four remaining wolves had resorted to circling each other. Blood streaked their fur, cuts and gashes covering their bodies, patches of fur shredded away here and there. They all looked broken and beat, but none of them were about to give up.
“Let them go,” I shouted. “Just let them go.”
Jen’s ears pricked up—one ear—the other was gone. In its place was a bloody stump. She growled and backed up to the side wall. Erica followed. The silver wolves exchanged a glance, then hobbled forward, keeping their attention on the other wolves. It didn’t matter at this point. Unless I could close the portal, anyone who wanted would go through, and who was I to decide who got to go and who didn’t? The one person I had wanted to stop was already on the other side. And so was Gemma.
The largest wolf nudged the wolf I thought had been Rhod and licked his neck, before the remaining silver wolves shambled past me and entered the veil.
“Shite,” Brendan said, shaking his head. The force field around him had fallen. “What just happened?”
I hurried to his side and flung my arms around him. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Not getting rid of me that easily, babe.” He hugged me back. “Though for a moment there, I thought I was toast.”
“You bloody dolt. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Ruby Ruby.”
We untangled, and I sat in his arms, surveying the scene. “I messed up. Royally.”
“You gave your grandparents their dream,” Charlie said, carefully trudging over. Though on her feet, she favoured her right leg, and her jeans were torn.
“But at what price? Auberon was never meant to return, and I just handed him the keys to his lost kingdom on a silver platter.”
Jen and Erica had shifted and sat by Jack, also in his human form. And breathing.
“Oh, Jen. Let me heal you.”
“Jack needs it the most,�
� she replied solemnly.
I healed Jack, then Erica, by Jen’s request, but by the time I got to Jen, my energy supply was drained dry. I couldn’t heal her ear as I once had healed Gemma’s arm.
“I’m so sorry I can’t do more.” Tears wet my cheeks.
“It’s all right, Red.” She patted my knee. “You’ve done plenty. You can always try again once you’ve had some rest.”
My lips trembled. “But I have to leave.”
“Leave?”
I hadn’t known it until I said it, but once I did, I knew it was the only choice. “Through the portal. I’ve made such a mess of things. What if my father goes after my grandparents or starts another war? It would be my fault. I can’t stay here and do nothing when I’m the reason Auberon is back in Gwyn Fanon.”
Jen glanced at the two wolf Shifters next to her, all three of them back in their clothes and human forms. “You can stay if you like,” she told them. “I’m going with Red.”
Erica looked up. “Then we are coming with you. Right, Jack?”
“Bet your socks we are,” he said firmly.
Jen smiled. “Seems you’ll have company, Red.”
“You can stay here. It’s OK.”
She shook her head. “Nope. It’s decided. As if I’d let you fight your father without me.”
“Or us,” Brendan said. “We won’t stay behind either.”
“But B.” I hugged his arm. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone or if I can even take you with me. And what about the Olympics? Your coach?”
“Sod it. I’m right where I belong.”
Charlie adjusted her substitute glasses and tapped her chin. “There’s no one on this side who’s waiting for me. My family is here.” She stroked the back of my hand with her thumb. “If anyone can get us through, it’s you. We’re a team, remember? Besides, I’m dying to see Avalon.”
I looked around. Everyone was staring at me, looking to me for approval. I loved them all. Even Erica and Jack, who I didn’t know as well, but who had both come to protect Jen, and that, to me, made them part of our chosen family.
I sighed, though my heart fluttered in my chest. “I guess we’re going to Avalon, then.”
“Yes!” Charlie clapped her hands, skipping from foot to foot. Collecting herself, she cleared her throat and patted down her hair. “We’re ready.”
Jen and her wolves lined up and stood linked in front of us, facing the veil. Kit yowled, and I picked him up.
“You want to come too, don’t you?”
He bobbed his head at me, and I sat him on my shoulder. Brendan clasped my right hand, Charlie my left. I hoped they could pass through, but I had no idea if a human could. Or a cat, for that matter.
“If this doesn’t work, I’ll come back to you guys as soon as I can,” I said.
“It’ll work,” Brendan said with utmost certainty.
The Shifters started forward. “See you on the other side, Red,” Jen called back to me.
“See you.”
They strode onwards into the blue light and vanished like the others.
“Ready?” Charlie asked.
I hesitated. “I’m worried it won’t work.”
“Hey.” Brendan squeezed my hand. “You’ll get us through. And I’m stoked for an adventure.”
“Me too,” Charlie announced.
I smiled at them both and tugged them closer. “Right then. Avalon, here we come.”
We stepped forward in unison. The blue veil swallowed us, and we left Earth behind.
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Book 8: Son of Merlin
Chapter One
Shadows danced before my eyes, reaching for me with long, seductive fingers of darkness. The air smelled of salt and dampness and something I couldn’t find a name for. Kit perched on my shoulder, his tiny claws digging into my skin to keep him from falling off. Somewhere in the distance, a seagull squealed. There was another sound, too. Closer. Much closer, as if inside me.
Calling me. Enticing me to fall further into the dark. Something in the abyss wanted me to join it. The cold embrace of its tendrils felt safe, coaxing me into a soothing space where no light could ever exist.
“Ruby?”
I had become accustomed to the voiceless song of the dark and had learned to ignore it. Still, it had escalated in intensity, and I didn’t know how much longer I could stay away from its lure. This was also why I had grown hesitant to enter the shadows, fearing my defences would give in.
In this space, however, the sensation had evolved into something else—something more. A voice. It had said my name. The voice had a longing quality to it, as though it was searching for me. Begging me to reach for it. And I wanted to. Never before had the urge been this strong.
“Ruby?”
The voice swept from left to right, reminding me of one of Dad’s old psychedelic vinyl albums. Whatever was down there, in the darkness, was it using my memories to lure me?
I closed my eyes, trying to block it out. But there had been another familiarity in the voice. Something recent.
“Please, Ruby. Let me know if you’re close.”
Jen?
“Over here,” the voice cried. “I can sense you, Ruby. Please come out of the shadows!”
It was her. But where? Usually, my vision was slightly blurred by a smoky veil, but I could still see. I tried stepping out of the cloud of the inky tendrils surrounding me, but the arms that slinked around my waist tightened their grip.
It’s not real!
I had to believe it. Had to overcome the need to fall further into the embrace of the gloom. Into the nothingness, however safe and secure it felt.
I reached out as if to find an opening in the night enveloping me.
There! Light. Two tiny dots, shining like stars on a black canvas.
“I’m coming,” I said, not knowing if my words ever came out.
I pushed hard forward, and finally, the arms around my waist loosened their grip, slowly slipping away.
I stepped out of the shadows. And into more darkness.
Jen’s eyes radiated at me some ten yards away. I lit a fireball and let it float towards her. As it brightened the surroundings, my shoulders slumped, which made Kit abandon his vantage point. He jumped to the rock-hard floor of what the flames had exposed.
We were still in the cave. Disappointment and regret nipped at my heart as I inhaled the musty smell and wiped the humidity from my brow. The portal hadn’t let us pass, which I figured made sense, as we had tried to bring humans through. But I needed to find my grandparents, and the only way to do that was to get to the other side.
“There’s something wrong with Char and B.” Jen was sitting on the cave floor, cradling Charlie’s head in her lap. She took Charlie’s glasses off and placed them in a case in the backpack hanging off Charlie’s sluggish shoulders, buckled tight around her waist. Next to her, Brendan lay motionless on a slab of stone. Kit chased forwards and jumped up next to him, sniffing his hair and pawing gently at his face.
“Are they—?” My throat choked up.
“No, they’re breathing calmly, and both have steady heartbeats. But I can’t wake them.”
I kneeled beside my boyfriend and put my hand on his chest. Whatever the portal had done to him, I would use my healing power to undo. Calling on this particular kind of magic inside me was always a pleasant sensation. The warm strands of healing coursed through my veins, streaming from my palm and into Brendan’s body. For a moment, a rose of red and orange hues spread underneath his skin, but when I expected him to open his eyes and maybe gasp a little from the kick of magic, nothing happened. I pushe
d harder, sending an even stronger surge of energy into his torso, but again Brendan gave no sign of waking up.
“Try Charlie.” Jen scooted closer, so I could reach our friend.
I obliged, and with one hand on Brendan and the other on Charlie, I sent a steady flow of my healing into both of them.
Their eyes remained shut, their bodies motionless apart from the gentle rise and fall of their chests.
Jen looked at me, her eyes filled with the same fear and confusion as I felt. “What’s wrong with them? Why won’t they wake up?”
I shook my head. “Beats me. The portal must have given them some kind of shock when it rejected them. Some magic that I can’t—”
“Rejected? What do you mean?”
Kit leapt from Brendan’s makeshift rocky bed to sit beside Jen. He purred and rubbed against her. Jen tilted her head at me, absently lacing her fingers through Kit’s fur. “We came through, Red. If you haven’t noticed.” She drew a semicircle with her arm at the darkness beyond the hovering orb of fire. “Light it up, and you’ll see.”
I held her gaze for a couple of seconds before doing what she’d said, sending a few more fireballs out to light up the cave.
And it was a cave. But not the one on Bardsey Island.
“We—we made it through?”
Jen nodded eagerly. “We did, chérie!”
My heart raced so fast, its beats should have echoed off the stone walls. My brain was still trying to accept what my eyes were telling me.
“It worked,” I whispered.
Jen took my hand. “Yes!”
A hollow plop made me jump. We sat close to the wall, the ground slanting towards a pool of water below us, maybe thirty feet. A stalactite protruded from the ceiling over the surface, and already a new drop was forming on the tip. It clung on for dear life, but gravity eventually won, and another plop resounded in the cave.
The pool itself was oval-shaped, not much bigger than the main room in our flat. The walls curved inwards, creating a dome about twenty feet high at the centre. As I kept sending fireballs to new areas of the cave, I noticed a blue glow from behind a sizable boulder a few steps away from where we sat.