When the silence stretched, Ward finally cleared his throat. “Not everyone you’re going to go up against will play by your rules.”
Morgan swallowed her snort when she saw his earnest expression. “I know.”
“I can show you some things to keep you safe.”
Shade, appearing interested for the first time, joined the conversation. “I might know a dirty trick or two.”
The way he smiled with such relish reminded her that he was the thing of nightmares, the thing that hid in the closets and under the beds, and literally scared people to death.
“Very well, tell me what I can expect from the hunt.” What better person to ask than someone that might have actually witnessed a hunt or even participated in one?
Chapter Eleven
“The rules are simple, you are the prey du jour and they are supernatural hunters set on dragging your soul to eternal damnation.” Shade gave her a smile that showed off his pointy teeth. “You escape, you live.”
Morgan swallowed hard at his bloodthirsty expression. “That sounds simple enough.”
But of course it was anything but.
Ward scowled at the god. “What he failed to mention is that no one escapes.”
“What?” Morgan didn’t believe it. “Never?”
“Those who die in the hunt become lost souls who are forever forced into service.”
“So the hunters are like reapers?”
Ward shook his head. “The original hunters were cursed by the fae. They’re forced to hunt whenever they’re called, trapping others into the vicious cycle.”
“And if they don’t hunt?”
“They’re sent to the underworld for punishment.” Shade looked queasy at the thought. Since he’d spent nearly his entire lifetime in Tartarus, a literal prison set up for psychotic gods and goddesses, his reaction really said something.
As Morgan made the last turn toward the library, she stopped in front of the door. “What are the chances that the queen has the power to call the real huntsman?”
No one answered her for a moment, which was answer enough. “Shit.”
“It depends on her power. If she has enough pull, if she offered them up a powerful enough soul…” he gave her a pointed look, “…like that of a future queen.”
“Fuck me.” Morgan turned and shoved open the door to the library, more worried than ever about her team. If anything happened to them, they would be forever trapped as slaves to the hunt.
“I never asked to be queen,” she muttered.
It had brought her nothing but trouble, and she was afraid being queen would eventually destroy everything she loved.
“Being queen served you well when you challenged the sea bitch. It’s the only reason you’re even able to fight for Draven,” Shade pointed out, raising his eyebrow at her in challenge.
She wanted to argue the point, but he was right.
“Those who crave power are often the ones who abuse it.” Ward took the lead, heading back toward the alcove where they met only that morning. It felt like a lifetime ago. “Those who don’t want the power are the ones who understand the great responsibility they carry. They’re the ones who can raise armies by asking, not demanding, loyalty. People are afraid of that type of power. These people are so few they become legends, often killed before their time by members of the first group.”
Ward blocked her path. “You need to learn to play at their level in order to protect yourself. Let us show you a few tricks to help you keep yourself safe.”
“Magic tricks?” She emphasized, perking up at the opportunity to learn how to use her powers.
“When’s the last time you used magic?” Shade’s question was innocent enough, but the answer wasn’t as simple. If she told the truth, she would catch hell from the guys, and they would continue to smother her until she couldn’t breathe.
“The last time the magic rose without me trying was last night when I walked the halls of the Academy.” She avoided looking at Ascher, knowing that he would be able to tell if she was lying, and she chose her words carefully. “Ever since the attack, I’ve been helping the building heal.”
Now she’d said it out loud, she felt stupid.
“Interesting.” Shade cocked his head, then turned and placed his hand on the wall, his brow furrowed.
She winced at that word.
Interesting meant she did something unusual. Even by this weirdo’s standards, she was a freak.
“It makes sense.” Ward rubbed his jaw. “The Academy originated from Mount Olympus, the very stones imbued with void magic. Most people can’t even sense it, much less be able to access the magic. That you’re able to communicate with the building is a rare gift that only a few people possess.”
Morgan ducked her head, not sure that she liked the way he was staring at her. “What?”
“Sit.” Shade ignored the conversation as if it bored him, which it most likely did.
Very reluctantly, she obeyed, tensing when he walked behind her, part of her waiting for him to whip out a knife and slit her throat. She twisted about to keep him in sight, his smirk saying he knew the effect he had on her and enjoyed making her uncomfortable.
“What are you doing?” She really wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
“I think the reason your magic is constipated is because you’re blocked.”
Morgan stifled her groan, not wanting to encourage him. “And you’re going to help?”
His smile wilted a little, and he gazed down at her, but she had the impression that he wasn’t really seeing her. He didn’t speak for a moment, then leaned forward…and sniffed her.
“What the hell?”
By the time she stood and whirled, Ascher had grabbed Shade and thrown him over the table, and out of sight. Suddenly worried, Morgan blocked Ascher by putting her hand on his chest, ignoring his warning growl.
Shade slowly rose to his feet, murder darkening his black eyes as he locked on Ascher.
“Don’t.” Heart in her throat, she stood between them, not trusting the god to obey.
Shade flashed his fangs at Ascher and hissed. But when his eyes flickered down to encompass her, some of the wildness faded, and he grabbed the lapels of his jacket, giving them a snap, the gesture smoothing out his ruffles. “Touch me again, hound, and I will not be so forgiving.”
“She’s not yours,” came Ascher’s growly reply.
Shade raised his brows and laughed, the sound so full of amusement that she winced. “Not yet.”
It was all Morgan could do not to smack Shade upside his conceited head. Instead, she grabbed the back of Ascher’s shirt when he launched himself at Shade. He dragged her a few steps when she reached up and laid her hand against the back of his neck. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to get your dander up.”
But actually, Morgan wasn’t so sure.
She didn’t sense that they were bonded like mates, but they were connected on some level, and she wasn’t sure that she liked what Shade was doing any more than Ascher.
Ignoring the tension, she met Shade’s gaze. “What did you discover?”
He sauntered toward her, stopping in front of Ascher to glare down at the hellhound, neither man bending, metaphorically comparing dicks. She nearly choked on her laughter when Shade turned toward her. “Your magic has been bound for a long time. Those bindings are loosening now, releasing more and more of your magic.”
Excitement spun through her. “Can you release the bindings?”
His violet blue eyes softened when he glanced down at her. “It’s better to let the spell unravel on its own. Too much magic at once will overwhelm you. I’m afraid if I try anything, it might do more harm than good. It’s not worth it.”
A deep twinge of disappointment swamped her, her shoulders sagging in defeat, but she didn’t push the matter. The few times her magic rose of its own accord to save her, she had been completely overwhelmed, and nearly died. Not knowing how to control the unstoppable
force scared the crap out of her.
She would not be responsible for harming one of her own.
“So how do I learn how to do magic without actually using magic?”
“You can practice through runes.” Shade pulled out the book she’d never expected to see again, and it took everything not to recoil at the ancient, golden foil pages. He carefully set it on the table, flipping it open to a page of ancient runes that looked vaguely familiar. “You’re using a magic that was believed to have been lost in the mists of time. It’s more potent, more dangerous, but it’s also more cumbersome. The runes will help you focus your magic.”
“It will also enhance your powers, making it more deadly. If you mess up, you could kill not only yourself but those you’re trying to help.” Ward warned, clearly not pleased about the change of direction the discussion had taken.
“Are you sure it’s wise to show her these runes if they’re so dangerous?” Ascher edged in front of her, blocking her view of the book.
Shade and Ward shared a look and answered at the same time.
“Yes.” Ward was grim when he answered.
“Magic could also give her the crucial edge she needs over her enemy.” Shade was ever practical, not worried about the danger, which made sense, since he was a god and nearly indestructible.
Ascher continued to stare at Ward before he finally relented. “Runes have to be perfect or the type of magic she wields can misfire.”
“Your fear won’t stop her magic from rising.”
Morgan winced at Shade’s condescending tone, but she wisely kept her mouth shut. She was desperate to learn everything she could, even if she had to bargain with the bastard.
“It’s better for her to learn some control now.”
The hellhound glared at the god as if imagining tightening his hands around his throat. He glanced beseechingly at Ward, but the warden only shrugged. “He’s not wrong.”
Defeat slumped Ascher’s shoulders, his head hung forward.
“Ascher.” Morgan waited until he turned his attention to her, his turbulent blue eyes shimmering a deep red as he battled his beast. “You cannot prevent me from doing magic or forbid it. The barriers holding my magic are thinning. Don’t you think it will be better for me to learn how to control it now before it’s too late?”
The scowl on his face said he knew she was right, he just didn’t like it.
He turned toward her, cupping her chin, and lifted her face up to his, his blue eyes so deep she struggled not to get lost in them. “Promise me you will only use your magic as a last resort, not if it means risking your life.”
She bit her lip, struggling not to agree immediately. “I can’t. If you or any of our team are in danger, I’m not sure I’d be able to even stop my magic from rising. I doubt I would even try.”
Smoke began to rise from his shoulders, the heat of him warming her cold hands, and she resisted the urge to snuggle closer. “You can’t ask me no to protect you. I won’t. Just like you would never turn your back on me. You know, given the same circumstances, you would do everything in your power to keep me safe.”
He heaved a sigh of defeat, tugging her gently closer, still not used to being able to touch anyone when his alternate form rose, and she leaned against him gratefully. Without a word, he released her, then pulled out the chair in front of the book. “Then you’ll just have to study until you get the runes perfect.”
It only took her an hour to learn that she was never going to be proficient at copying runes.
And though it was not a surprise, she discovered that Shade was also a huge asshole who enjoyed her misery.
Her fingers itched to call her blades and shed blood. But no matter how many times she tried to draw the runes, they all felt wrong. She threw down her pencil and shoved the book away. “This is accomplishing nothing.”
She stood and ran her fingers through her hair, yanking at the strands, the pain doing little to ease her frustration. “We’ll be leaving for the hunt soon, and I’ve learned nothing helpful.”
She turned to look at Ward, rearranging her face to gaze at him beseechingly. The guys usually caved when she used that expression on them, no matter how determined they were to stand firm. “Show me how to step through time. Please.”
At first she didn’t think he would relent, then something in his expression softened.
“Not you, too,” Ascher muttered under his breath, and she resisted the urge to cheer.
Ward turned toward Ascher. “What do you feel when you travel through a portal?”
The hellhound cocked his head. “Cold. Darkness. Displacement as the world falls away.”
“You see nothing?” Morgan couldn’t help asking.
He looked at her, his gaze searching her face before he slowly shook his head. “It happens in seconds.”
Morgan blinked in surprise. “That’s not right.”
“What do you see?” Ward leaned against the table behind him.
“Stars.” She waved her hand. “Not real stars, more like the whole universe spread out.”
“You’re seeing other portals, possibly other worlds.”
Morgan nodded, having suspected as much.
“She lingers in the void,” Ascher accused, like she’d committed a crime. “She’ll go through first but appear five minutes after everyone else.”
Ward flinched slightly, telling her he hadn’t returned to the void since she’d freed him from the prison.
“I don’t feel the cold. In fact, the void feels kind of nice.” Both men stared at her as if she admitted she enjoyed rolling in a pile of horse manure every evening before crawling into bed.
“When a witch opens a portal, they use the magic that lingers in this world to rip the fabric between realms. It takes a lot of practice to be able to gather and focus that much power. The farther they travel, the more energy is needed.” Ward straightened and began pacing. “Skipping is different from using a portal.”
“How?” Not that she understood how to do either one.
“You’re not a witch. You can’t use magic the same way.” Ward spoke almost absently, then abruptly stopped and held out his hand. Wind swirled around the room, a familiar warmth tugging at her clothes, inviting her to play. She lifted her hand, grinning when it twisted through her fingertips.
“What you call the void is more than a place,” he continued. “It’s the start of what created the different realms. It’s the primordial ooze where all creatures crawled into existence. And you can wield that power…if you’re strong enough.”
The magic dropped, and she lowered her hand, immediately missing the warmth.
“Show me.”
He studied her a moment longer, searching for something, then nodded very reluctantly, almost as if he was afraid. “When you use a portal, you step through the void. It’s just a way to travel, a dimension that you pass through to get from one place to another. Others can’t manipulate the void the way we can.”
“Bloody hell, man, stop pussyfooting around and get on with it.” Shade threw up his hands in exasperation. “She’ll either get the hang of it or—”
“She could become lost in the void,” Ward snapped, losing his cool and facing down Shade, both men looking ready to start throwing punches.
“Can you sense the magic from the Academy?” Shade turned away from Ward when he refused to speak.
Morgan focused on the Academy around her. She was so used to feeling the magic, she almost didn’t sense it anymore. “Yes.”
“Look inside yourself for the same magic.”
Morgan hesitated, not completely trusting him. Only when Ward nodded did she reluctantly close her eyes. When she scanned for the magic, she found nothing, but when she searched again, specifically looking for any trace of the void, her breath caught when her whole system lit up like a night sky. Instead of bones and flesh, bright stars shimmered to life.
Even the air filling her lungs caused the magic to swirl like glittering dust.
>
“It’s beautiful.”
When she opened her eyes, the first person she saw was Ascher with a half-smile on his face, and she felt self-conscious.
Instead of looking pleased, Ward looked defeated. He rubbed the back of his neck, then dropped his arm. “Before we begin, there are certain rules you must follow.”
“Okay.” Morgan stood up straighter, half expecting him to share some kind of arcane secret.
“You must learn to cover your tracks when you skip. While it’s hard to track a person after they jump, you leave tiny specks of magic behind that can be traced back to you.”
Morgan sighed in exasperation.
Of course the guys would have a way to track her.
“The farther you travel, the more of a toll it will take on you. If you go too far, you will rebound and crash back into your own body, and it’ll feel like you were taken apart and then put back together wrong…because essentially, that’s what happens when your particles separate and reform.”
Tension lined Ward’s body, and she suspected that he’d been keeping the worst for last. “And the third rule?”
“More of a warning. If you don’t have a specific location in mind, your body will be scattered into the void. If you’re trapped there for too long, you might never be able to return.”
Something told her he spoke from experience.
“Understood.” Given his phobia, she was surprised he would risk skipping at all. If someone like him worried about losing his way, it was a real threat.
Those eyes of his whirled while he studied her, and she had a feeling that if she didn’t pass his test, he wouldn’t teach her anything else. After a full minute, he held out his hand, and she released the breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
She reached out, but he kept his distance, so their fingers were only inches apart.
“Close your eyes.”
Morgan did as instructed, then cracked an eye open. “How is this supposed to work when I can’t use my magic?”
“We’re not going to be using magic, not the way you think. You’re born of the void. You can control—”
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