A Twisted Fate : The Dream Trilogy - Book 2

by Samantha Barrett

  “We have to help her!”

  “I don’t fucking know how to help her!” I shouted.

  “We need to figure it out and fast, because she is dying!”

  “You don’t think I fucking know that, Jackson?”

  I was scared. I never got scared, but seeing the woman I love writhing in pain in front of me and screaming out to make it stop, begging for me to help her? I felt useless. I didn’t know how to make it stop, and I didn’t know how to take the pain away.

  “Nico! It hurts, it hurts so fucking much!” She was starting to glow blue, and a blue mist started coating her body, starting at her feet and making its way up slowly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aurora drop to her knees; I turned to her, prepared to try and catch her if she fell, but Jackson stopped me.

  “Don’t touch her! She’s having a vision.” Sure enough, Aurora’s eyes were white. This vision didn’t last long, maybe a minute, if that. As soon as Aurora’s eyes turned back to their normal color, she turned to me.

  “Kiss her, Nico!”

  “What?”

  “You never sealed the exchange after the vows; she kissed you before them. You must kiss her and accept her power into you.” Fuck! Right now I would try anything. I leaned my head down toward hers and whispered.

  “I’m gonna make it stop, baby. I’ll take the pain away.” I plastered my lips to hers, and as soon as I made contact, she stopped shaking and stilled beneath me. I pulled back so I could see if the mist stopped moving, but instead it was making its way up her body faster now. I turned to the others to see if they knew what to do and how to stop it. None of them were looking at me—they were all focusing on Ryan.

  “Dominic, you, Alex, and Chase are going to need to hold that force field tight. Nico, move away from her, everyone needs to move back near the chapel doors now.”

  I turned to my sister, who had a serious look on her face. I don’t know why, but in this moment I trusted my sister’s advice, and we all moved to the back of the church and huddled in close. “Mya, I need you to help me make a barrier around us. When she expels that power, we are gonna need a shield. Nico can’t help us; his power is locked in with Ryan’s.”

  I was staring at my sister in awe. How did she know all of this? Mya and Sophia didn’t waste any time. They both quickly started chanting, and a yellow and purple barrier started to shimmer in front of us. My sister wasn’t a weak witch anymore; she was strong and powerful, a force to be reckoned with. My attention was pulled back toward Ryan when she let out a gut-wrenching scream. I really hope these force fields the guys had up would mute the sounds from traveling outside.

  We all watched, transfixed on the sight before us. Ryan was completely covered in blue mist now. It was like a cocoon wrapped around her. Her groaning and screaming stopped. We all waited with bated breath to see what would happen next. Is it over? Is she okay? I looked to the others, seeking out their thoughts, when I heard someone gasp. I turned back toward where Ryan was and saw the mist had lifted her into the air. She was floating, arms stretched out wide, her dress rippling like it was blowing in the breeze. There was no wind in the chapel.

  Chapter 41

  Ryan

  I felt weightless and free, like a missing piece from inside me had been finally put back. I was whole for the first time in my life. My worries and fears weren’t so troubling anymore. I felt like I was strong enough to take on the world. I didn’t want to open my eyes and ruin this moment or the feelings I had; I knew I couldn’t keep my head buried in the sand forever.

  I reluctantly peeled my eyes open and frowned in confusion. I could see Nico, Jax, Kai, Dom, Alex, Chase, Mya, Aurora, and Sophia all standing at the back of the chapel. There was a bubble around them that was shimmering yellow and purple.

  Why were they behind the bubble? I looked around to see all the walls shimmering as well; it reminded me of the dome I had made the other day. Why were they looking up at me?

  I looked down, and that’s when I noticed, I was floating mid fucking air with a blue mist surrounding me!

  What the actual fuck is going on? I started to panic. I could see Nico’s mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying from this side of the dome. What’s happening to me? Why couldn’t I get back down to the ground? I felt heat creeping its way up my body, making me panic more, thinking I was going to start burning from the inside again.

  I looked to the others, asking them to help me. Jax and Kai were holding Nico back. I was really starting to freak out when the heat intensified and worked its way down my arms. I stretched my arms open wider, and instead of fighting the burning sensation, this time I chose to embrace it.

  I leaned my head back and let out a shriek from deep within. It wasn’t from the magic, but me letting go of all the pain I had suffered in my life. I felt pressure build in my chest, and that’s when it happened—a force so strong it burst out of me, and all I could see was blue light. The more I was pushing whatever this was inside me out, the more I felt free and less constricted.

  It was so freeing to release all this pent-up energy from inside me. I felt more in control now. As the pressure inside me lessened, I felt myself slowly float back down to the ground. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I dropped to my knees, exhaustion suddenly taking over my body. The chapel was ruined.

  The pews were a splintered mess on the ground, and the windows were smashed. The flowers were burned to a crisp, and even the chandelier was broken.

  I leaned over, placing my hands on the ground in front of me so I could try to stabilize myself. I was panting hard, trying to catch my breath. After a couple of minutes, I saw someone kneel down in front of me and then two hands were placed on my shoulders. My head felt so heavy I could barely lift it, but I pushed through and lifted my head to see who was in front of me. Two violet eyes stared back at me, concern evident on his face.

  “Are you okay, love?” Nico moved his hands from my shoulders to cup my cheeks, and his touch was like a balm warding off the heat inside me. At his touch I started to feel relaxed and content. My body felt like it was being pulled toward him, and a voice inside my head was telling me he could make it all better. Call me crazy, but I believed that voice. Nico didn’t waste another second. He scooped me up and cradled me in his lap, stroking the hair out of my face. “You’re okay, baby, I’ve got you.” I couldn’t get my voice to work, so I nodded instead. Looking around, I could see the others had formed a circle around us, displaying varying looks of awe, shock, concern, and worry. I didn’t have the energy to try and decipher those looks. Mya and Sophia looked like they were ready to pass out. The most concerning thing for me right now though is why Dom, Alex and Chase looked like they had seen a ghost. What the fuck happened?

  “Are you okay, Ry?” I gave Aurora a smile and nodded my head. Truth was, I felt like I could sleep for days.

  “Soph, are you okay?”

  “I feel like I am going to pass out, brother, I don’t know how Mya and I managed to hold that shield against that blast.”

  “I agree, I am wiped out. I have never in my life stood against a force as strong as that. I am very grateful Sophia and I were able to hold the shield, or we would all be dead right now.” I cuddled deeper into Nico at Mya’s foreboding tone. I felt free in that moment, and alive, while my friends and husband were fighting for their lives against my power. Nico was rubbing my back and holding me tighter, trying his best to comfort me.

  “The true heroes are you three guys; you’ve done amazing holding the blast. You guys saved a lot of lives here today.” I turned my head to see Dom and my cousins with their heads down. Chase started shaking his head from side to side. Why are they so down? They had done so well. I owe them so much for what they had done. I owe all of these guys so much.

  “We didn’t, Jackson…we tried, but…” Dom cut in and spoke for Chase, looking at me and making eye contact for the first time.

  “We couldn’t hold the blast, love. I’m sorry.”

 
Speaking for the first time since the incident, I asked, “What do you mean, Dom? What happened?” Dom dropped his gaze, and I felt Nico tense beneath me. I looked to both my cousins for reassurance, but both their heads were still hanging down.

  “Answer her, Dom! What happened?” Nico was trying hard to contain his frustration. Dom opened and shut his mouth a few times but said nothing, and a pit of dread was starting to form in my stomach. Then out of nowhere, Jax dropped to his knees and started gripping his hair with both hands.

  “No, no, no—we did everything right! How the fuck did this happen?” I saw tears rolling down Jackson’s face, and he seemed like he was in pain.

  “Dominic, what the fuck happened?” Sophia shouted. Dom wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone. Alex spoke, and fuck my life—I really wish Alex let me live in my naïve bubble for a bit longer, because what he had to say changed everything. I was royally fucked, and I deserved everything coming my way for what I had just done.

  “We couldn’t hold the force field. The reason why yours and Mya’s shield held was because Dom, Chase, and I helped you hold it. In doing so, the force field weakened, and Ryan shattered it to smithereens. We fucked up, and they all paid the price.” Alex had tears leaking from his eyes.

  “How many, Jackson?” I looked to Kai then, who was waiting for Jackson’s answer.

  “At least fifty.” Oh my God, I killed fifty people! I’m a murderer. I am no better than my sister. I’m a killer.

  “We need to run now! I have to take her to Farrarie, where they can’t get her. I’ll convince the elders it was an accident.” Why did Nico want to hide me? Who was going to take me? Everyone started talking at once, trying to make a plan, while I sat there cradled in Nico’s lap with silent tears rolling down my face.

  I deserved everything that was coming my way. Everyone stopped talking as soon as the chapel doors banged open. Nico stood with me cradled in his arms and turned to face the doorway.

  Kai, Jax, and Dom moved to stand in front of us to block me from the view of whoever entered. Alex and Chase moved to stand in front of Mya, Aurora, and Sophia. Their tense posture put me on edge, and I strained my neck to see around the guys so I could see who entered and put everyone on guard, but they were too bloody big and wide, and I couldn’t see around them, even with the added height of being in Nico’s arms.

  “Alpha, as this is your land, we are asking you to step aside quietly. This does not need to get out of hand; we just need the girl.”

  “She will be returning to Farrarie with me, Lachlan; there is no need for your presence here.” Nico’s voice held so much authority that even I would have obeyed him. Whoever this man was, Nico sure as shit didn’t like him. His arms tightened around me, securing me closer to his chest.

  “She will remain here in the custody of the vampires. She is your wife, so she cannot return to the fae realm.” I was really starting to get scared now; this Lachlan guy wasn’t backing down. What was going to happen to me?

  “Then she will remain here with me and my pack.”

  “She will not. You are too close to the accused and her husband; therefore she will be remanded into the care of the vampire king.” What the fuck! I am not going anywhere with Randall fucking Cane.

  “Fuck that. She can be held at the Knox coven until her hearing.” What the hell, Chase? Stevie would kill me if I went there.

  “No, Mr. Knox, she will not return to her coven. I am tired of this conversation. Hand the girl over or we will take her from you!” I looked up at Nico, trying to convey to him with my eyes that I didn’t want to go, I wanted to stay with him.

  Chapter 42

  Nico

  Looking down at her, I can see the fear in her eyes, and I would rather die than hand her over to those fucking leeches. I look around the chapel, trying to find a way to escape. I’ve been trying to access my magic since I learned the guys didn’t contain the blast. I don’t know what the hell is going on. If I can’t access my magic, I can’t even open a portal. Where the fuck are Maverick and Larick? I saw them here earlier, and they should be here right now, helping there fucking queen.

  I can see Dom’s lips moving, and I start to hope. My brother is opening me a portal to run and take Ryan away from here. I’ll deal with my magic problem later. Dom’s lips start moving faster. What the fuck is taking him so long?

  “Are you going to do this the hard way or the easy way?” No one says anything. Lachlan sighs and shakes his head. “I figured it would be the hard way, pity.” Lachlan calls out to whomever to come in, and when I see who they are, I know we are fucked.

  I have to find a way out of this; I am the king of the fucking fae and married to the most powerful supernatural on the planet, so why can’t I access my fucking magic?

  “Dad?” I follow Chase’s line of sight toward the Knox coven elders and see a tall muscular man with black hair and blue eyes. The man cuts his gaze to Chase and then Alex, and a private conversation must transpire between them, because Alex starts nodding. The Knox coven elders are here in the chapel—all of them.

  “Bring the girl to me or the elders will take her from you.” Fuck, I lean forward slightly to whisper in Kai’s ear. I need more time to think of a plan.

  “We will bring her outside.” Ryan turns to stone in my arms at Kai’s words. Lachlan nods and turns to exit the chapel with the elders following him. “Make a fucking portal and leave now!” Kai whisper-shouts at me as we slowly walk toward the exit.

  “I can’t. I don’t know what’s happening, but I have no access to my magic.” At my admission, Ryan starts to tremble in my arms. Fuck, she’s scared, and I can’t even protect her right now.

  “I can’t access mine either. I tried to before, because you were taking too long.” That’s why Dom was chanting faster; he was getting pissed, his magic was muted for some reason. As we were nearing the end of the aisle, Chase spoke.

  “No one can access their magic right now, not even Ryan.”

  “What are you talking about?” Dom took the words right out of my mouth. We all stopped and stared, waiting for him to answer. “My dad and the other elders are wearing the moon stones around their necks. I don’t know how they found them or where they got them from, they were supposed to be a myth or a legend.”

  “What is a fucking moon stone, boy?” Shit, Kai was at the end of his patience now.

  “The moon stone can mute all magic. It can stop the cravings of a vampire and stop a wolf from shifting. They are the most powerful stones, and they are supposed to have been destroyed centuries ago.” How the fuck did Mya know about this and I didn’t?

  “Hurry up, boy.” I tensed at the sound of Randall’s voice. He was outside waiting with the elders, fuck. Looking around our group, and seeing everyone here prepared to fight with nothing but our fists, to save my wife, meant so much to me. Each one of them gave me a nod, telling me that whatever I decide to do, they are with me. We reluctantly and cautiously exit the chapel and descend the stairs. Standing in front of us is none other than Randall fucking Cane. On either side of him is the elder council from the vampires, led by Lachlan, and then on the other side is the Knox coven elders.

  “I can’t access my pack through our mind link.”

  “You can’t use your link or magic of any kind, Jax; the moon stone prevents it.” Fuck, Mya was just full of good news tonight, wasn’t she?

  “Hand her over, boy, and I promise I’ll take real good care of her.” I’ll snap that slimy cunt’s neck the next chance I get.

  Looking down at Ryan, seeing her eyes so vacant, nearly broke me. She has been through so much and pushed her emotions down so far to help me and my people. After what happened tonight and the deaths of so many on her hands, she couldn’t lock away her emotions any longer. I leaned down and kissed her lips and then whispered in her ear.

  “I love you, Ryan, and I will fight for you always, my love. When this is over, little one, I will help you get through the guilt of tonight, and I will help yo
u get vengeance for your father as well.” I moved toward Dominic and placed Ryan in his arms; he looked shocked, but what he must see on my face snaps him out of it, and he quickly cradles her to his chest. I lean in to whisper in his ear. “If this doesn’t work, you take her and you run. I will buy you as much time as I can, but you run and you take her home as soon as you have access to your magic.” I pull back and look Dom in the eye.

  “You have my word, brother.” Turning around I face the elders and Randall.

  “What transpired here tonight was an accident; we were unaware that our union would be the key to unlocking my wife’s fae magic.” I heard a couple of the elders gasp. I was lying through my teeth, and then I noticed that wolves and witches were starting to gather around. I hope they were on our side and not against us. “My wife never meant to hurt anyone.”

  “But she did, so hand her over now!”

  “Fuck you, Randall. You killed Jackson’s father and you are trying to seal my realm so my world will die. You should be the one standing trial.” I can hear the wolves and witches around us gasp. The Knox elders and vampire elders don’t seem shocked. Why isn’t Lachlan shocked, did he know?

  “You are a liar and have no proof, boy. I am not the one who has locked the true queen of the Knox coven in a cell.” At Randall’s outburst, Lachlan turns his gaze to me.

  “Is this true, Nico? Have you got Stevie Knox locked in a cell?” Fuck, I want to slap that sly smirk off Randall’s fucking face. Where the fuck are the fae elders? I nod my head.

  “Release her now!”

  “You can’t release her, she is dangerous.”

  “The only dangerous person here is the woman you all are so intent on protecting! Now release her.” Jax turns around, looking for someone, and then proceeds to tell them they have to find one of the two guards who can access the cells and bring Stevie to us. We wait until Luther, Jackson’s guard, comes back with Stevie. She is smiling from ear to ear and almost skipping. That bitch is crazy.