Through The Veil

by Christi Snow

  After a humiliating trek, the group of Warriors rounded the corner to see the base of Bethany’s tree house. Bethany sat there, tied up and blindfolded. Lori held a knife to the base of her neck.

  The grip Aaron had on Marcus’s arm tightened markedly.

  “Tread carefully, Baby,” Marcus warned her. “Aaron is not happy about this.”

  “Aaron, I’m fine.” Bethany’s voice carried strong and sure over the forest floor. “It was just a training exercise, and I do believe Lori and Griff won.”

  Brooklyn groaned.

  Lori lifted her hands off Bethany. When she released her, the blindfold turned to leaves and the ropes and the knife she’d been holding her with reverted to sticks. He couldn’t stop his grin of pride. Her powers were getting stronger and stronger. By the gleam in his eye it looked like even Griff was impressed with what she could do.

  Bethany stood, walked over to Aaron, and laid a soothing hand on his arm, murmuring quietly to him. He hoped she’d calm him down enough so that he didn’t leave them locked up while he worked off his anger. They all watched him cautiously.

  Finally Aaron gave a sharp nod to Eric. “You can uncuff them.”

  Several of the villagers had gathered around, drawn by the commotion. “You all can go home,” Aaron told them. “There’s nothing more to see here. We were just working on some of our training exercises.”

  After Brooklyn and Marcus had been freed, Aaron nodded them over to where Griff and Lori stood. “They won by stealing the most valuable object. Go and enjoy making them dinner, but I want all four of you to report to the millhouse afterward. I have a new test of your teamwork.” With that, he strode off, holding Bethany protectively in front of him.

  Collectively, they let out a sigh. While his competitive spirit chafed at the fact that their team lost, Marcus couldn’t help the gush of pride for what Lori had accomplished.

  “Well, that was tense,” Brooklyn stated.

  Lori nodded. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get everyone into trouble.”

  “No, I think it’s fine,” Griff said. “I guess we’ll see for sure after dinner, but he didn’t seem angry anymore.” He turned back to her and cocked an eyebrow. “I had no idea you could do that kind of stuff. I’ve heard about your power, but damn.”

  “Um, yeah, most of that’s pretty new since I’ve learned how to tap into the ley lines and it’s definitely stronger with you all in my head. I wonder…” She looked at the three Warriors speculatively. “I think we need to test some things because I think our bond has done something more than just tie us together mentally. Let’s go back to the cabin and see.”

  Upon arriving in the cabin, Brooklyn went immediately to the kitchen and the other three followed. She began to pull out vegetables to make the stew and grabbed a knife out of the drawer.

  “Nuh uh.” Lori shook her head at Brooklyn. “Use this instead.” She set a stick in front of her.

  Brooklyn cocked an eyebrow and put her hand on her hip. “I don’t think that’s going to work and besides, it doesn’t even look clean. I don’t want to cook with that.”

  “Pick it up and think about what tool you need to cut the vegetables.”

  As Brooklyn followed her instruction with a dubious look, the stick transformed into a wicked looking knife. The steel curved blade glinted in the light, highlighting the fine sharp edge.

  “Whoa!” Brooklyn yelled and dropped it. As soon as her skin didn’t touch it, it became a stick once again.

  Three pairs of stunned gazes turned to Lori. “I think you all share my gift now, at least part of it. It doesn’t feel as strong, but I can sense it in each of you. That will be handy when you need a weapon. But you need to be aware the magic only lasts as long as you touch the item you’re manipulating. Once you let go, it goes back to its original form, which is also useful, because then your own weapons can’t be used against you.”

  “That’s why the crack in the ground closed up so quickly before, isn’t it?” Brooklyn asked.

  “Yes, I had to touch the ground to create it. Once Aaron’s attention diverted to you guys I let go of it so we could get Bethany out of there.” She frowned in concentration. “Manipulating the earth takes a lot more effort than the stick trick. I don’t think you all have enough power to do that, but we need to play around a bit and see just what your limitations are. I’m thinking we could be stronger as a group when we’re touching, too, just like when I touch the crystals from the ley lines I’m stronger.”

  Throughout dinner prep, they all continued to experiment, just to see what they could do. For the three Warriors, it was an all-new sensation, so they had to get used to the idea that they could manipulate an object just by thinking about doing so. There were just a few minor mishaps. Everyone became so excited about the possibilities that they didn’t really care when the soup landed on the floor because Marcus opened up a huge hole in the middle of the table.

  It helped to keep them focused off the upcoming meeting with Aaron, too, which Lori was nervous about. But the appointed hour came anyway, and they flew down to the mill. When they entered, the other four Warriors—Aaron, Eric, Garrison, and Malcolm—all stood against the back wall, legs spread, arms crossed. They looked fierce. Bethany sat demurely over to the side, looking on with a small smile that helped to relieve a little of Lori’s tension. She didn’t think Bethany would be smiling if they planned something bad.

  Aaron strode forward. “You exhibited impressive skills this afternoon, but I think you need something more to test your teamwork ability. You’re going to go up against my team.” He gestured to the men. Then bared his teeth at Lori’s team in what she assumed was supposed to be a grin, but it sure as hell didn’t feel like anything happy.

  “Tomorrow, beginning at sunrise, you have the same objective, but this time you will be going up against an enemy that’s prepared for you—us. Try to steal Bethany from us. I dare you. Let’s see how you really work as a team. Dismissed.”

  No one said anything as they headed back to the cabin. This would be their first real test of the four of them working together. If they could win against the Warriors who knew they were coming, then they might just have a chance against the soldiers from the ES in rescuing her friends. Anticipation and a heavy dose of nervous energy thrummed through Lori.

  After they entered, Marcus said, “Well, it’s time to come up with a plan of attack. We also need to work on our story.” He grimaced at Brooklyn. “Malcolm could sense something had changed with us. Sorry. After we finish tomorrow, he wants to do a thorough examination of all of us.”

  “Damn brothers’ connection,” she muttered.

  * * *

  Lori had been awake for several hours the next morning, thinking and debating their odds of making it out of this mission alive. She worried about her friends, both the ones in the ES and the three she would be dragging into danger by taking them across the Veil. She would never be able to forgive herself if any of them died because they did this for her.

  In the hazy early morning twilight, she watched Marcus sleep. They still hadn’t talked about the Predator, but when faced with possible death or permanent separation, the importance had faded. She understood his views now even if she didn’t agree with them.

  It was almost time to get up when Marcus rolled over and embraced Lori. “I know the last few days have been stressful, but are we okay?” he whispered to her.

  She searched his face, relieved that he’d asked instead of just finding the answer in her mind. They were all learning how to build those natural barriers between them again so they could have privacy. The nice thing was they could lower them when they needed to work completely together.

  But when all their mental barriers initially shattered after the blood exchange, she’d learned about his pain. It made his extreme reactions to the creatures more understandable. She would be hard-pressed to have mercy on the scientists from the labs. She certainly hadn’t mourned when William had killed Dr. Henderson. />
  “I just don’t understand why you just didn’t tell me about her and what happened.” She’d tried to keep the hurt from her voice, but wasn’t very successful at it. She didn’t want to hurt him or give him a guilt-trip, but this was a huge part of the reason for his anger toward the Predators. Why wouldn’t he have shared this and given her a little insight into that? She of all people could understand how mental anguish affected a person and their world views and those that had hurt them.

  He caressed her arm gently. His voice was low with emotion when he spoke. “I don’t talk about it with anyone. That day shattered my life. It shattered my hope.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Honestly, if I hadn’t had Malcolm in my life, I don’t think I could have carried on after losing the two of them.”

  “Two?” she asked. “You mean Shane?”

  He nodded.

  She shook her head, confused. “But he’s still alive.”

  “Yes, and I thank the Goddess every day for that. But in my life, he’s gone. He never forgave me for not saving her that day.”

  “Marcus, he doesn’t hate you. If anything, I think he feels guilt and shame over how he reacted to the situation.”

  “You can’t know that.” But a glimmer of hope lit up his eyes.

  “I do. I talked to him the morning I went to see Bethany and he encouraged our relationship. He said you deserved some happiness. That doesn’t sound to me like someone who hates you or blames you still.”

  “Really? I guess I should have approached him before now, but he was so angry.”

  “How old was he when it happened?”

  “Fourteen, and yes now that I say that I realize that fourteen-year-olds in general have an issue with the world. I should have done more.”

  “It’s not too late, Marcus. He’s still here and from what I’ve seen, he still cares about you, too.” She took a deep breath, afraid to ask the next question, but knew she couldn’t go on without knowing. “What about Audra? I know you’re here in my bed, but have you truly moved on from losing? Hiding the details of her death makes it feel like maybe you haven’t.”

  “No, Lori.” He jerked up in the bed. “In fact, it’s just the opposite. Our connection is so much deeper than what I had with her. It seems disloyal to her memory. I don’t understand it. I was with her for a lot of years and I’ve known you for less than a month, but we share something I never had with her.” He brushed a fingertip across her cheek and her heart wobbled just a little bit more. “You have to know that I’m falling for you and I’m so sorry my actions with the Predator hurt you. It never even occurred to me until afterward.”

  Nodding in the dark, she stroked the light dusting of hair on his chest. “I know you have your reasons for why you did what you did, but we’re okay. I’m falling for you, too…so much more than I ever expected.” They were headed into a situation they might not survive. She couldn’t give up these moments with him. She might need the memories in the days to come.

  “Relationships are about compromise, right? We aren’t going to see eye to eye on everything. If we did, that would get boring quickly. We, and right now I’m talking about mainly me, just have to learn patience with the process. I’m sorry I flew off the handle at the time. I was really tired, but that’s no excuse.”

  She continued, “I have no idea what the next few days are going to hold for us, but I need you to know that since I’ve met you these have been the best days of my life. I will never regret a moment I spent with you.”

  The erection she’d felt pressed against her thigh since she woke up grew. But with the sounds echoing from Brooklyn and Griff as they moved throughout the cabin, they couldn’t indulge, no matter how tempting. The fact the four of them basically shared a brain right now could make things a bit awkward, too.

  So instead of groping Marcus like she really wanted, she gave him a hard kiss and then leapt out of bed. “Come on. We have some Warriors’ asses to kick today. I don’t know about you, but I’m anxious to see what we can do. And if we take down Aaron’s team a few notches in the meantime, well, then how can that be a bad thing?”

  Marcus followed her out of the bed and nuzzled under her neck where her skin was extra sensitive.

  “Marc, you need to stop right there,” Griff called from the other room. “I know you don’t want to take us all on this little exploration of her body. Goddess knows I don’t want to go there, so you need to stop.”

  Marcus groaned low, sounding very pained. “After this mission, we are working to build stronger mental shields and we’re not going to live anywhere close to Brooklyn and Griff.”

  Lori couldn’t hold in the naughty giggle. She tried not to dwell on the fact that she might be tied this tightly to these people for the rest of her life. No way would she be able to convince Marcus to hold off that long and she honestly didn’t feel too fond of that idea, either. They’d already begun to find ways to separate themselves, but it was definitely a problem to concentrate on when they got back. And they would all come back. They’d made this sacrifice for a reason, to save her friends. Nothing less than one hundred percent success was acceptable.

  She tugged him out of the room. They needed to test their newfound abilities.

  * * *

  Four hours later, Lori stood grinning at Brooklyn, Griff, and Marcus. They’d done it. Bethany stood trussed up between them, looking as pleased with them as they were with themselves. All five of them ignored the clamoring from the other team of Warriors. The four of them had combined their abilities and erected an impenetrable clear glass wall between Aaron’s team and Bethany. They could see her but couldn’t get to her.

  Hot damn, they could do this. It had been a hard day, but their new connection made them so much more powerful, so much more of a cohesive unit. No one would be able to beat them.

  Bethany remained tied up, but her mouth was free and she used it to grin at the scowling Aaron, glaring at them through the glass. She nodded her head at Lori. “You did good. This was a very impressive display, but don’t you four wear yourselves out. I’ve declared you the winners, so you can let them in now. I need you to be at your complete peak the day after tomorrow when you head into the ES to save the Others.”

  The four of them exchanged very self-satisfied looks before moving away as one, dropping the barrier. As soon as the wall dropped, Aaron rushed to Bethany’s side to ascertain her health. The other team of Warriors looked as pleased with their progress as Lori’s entire team had been.

  Only Malcolm looked even the slightest bit concerned, but he held back.

  After Aaron knew Bethany remained unharmed, he turned to the team and beamed at them. “I think you’re ready. That was truly impressive. Take tomorrow to finalize your plans and details, and rest and regroup. I know Malcolm has some medical questions for you from today, but as for me, I’m very impressed with what the four of you have accomplished in the last few days. Our prayers go with you, but judging by that display, I don’t think you’re going to have any problems. Go bring back the newest members of our village.”

  Bethany nodded her assent.

  Yes, this was finally going to happen. As a team they were ready. They just had to get through Malcolm’s questions.

  * * *

  This was it, the moment of reckoning with Malcolm. Marcus knew his brother well enough to know he would give them hell over their tampering with what he’d consider medical experimentation with the blood exchange.

  Malcolm gestured them toward his clinic, his lips pressed together in a tight line. After that little display of power, they couldn’t hide what they’d done from him and Brooklyn was probably right. He wouldn’t be amused by their little medical experimentation, no matter how successful the outcome had been.

  As they walked to the clinic, no one said a single word, aloud or mentally. Waves of reproach and concern emanated off Malcolm. Marcus knew the others could feel it, too, through him.

  Malcolm instructed, “Let’s go to the
lab. I have a feeling I’m going to need some blood samples from everyone.”

  When they were all in the room, Malcolm stood in front of them with his arms crossed across his chest and a scowl on his face. “So, who would like to fess up as to what you all have been doing without any kind of medical supervision? Because I know what I saw out there was not a miracle of really good teamwork. You all are good, but not that good.”

  Marcus started to speak first, but Brooklyn stepped in front of him with a hand up. “No, it was my idea. I’ll take full responsibility.”

  “What did you do?” Malcolm asked as he took her blood pressure and pulse rate.

  Brooklyn squared her shoulders. “We did an experimental blood exchange.”

  Malcolm’s lips compressed. “Between all four of you? Why? How did you do it?”

  “I did it ceremonially as is the Earthen way of the Goddess.”

  Malcolm’s jaw clenched, and he flashed a reproving glance at Marcus as well as a mental one. “Why would you let her do that?” he asked Marcus angrily along their mental link.

  Griff snorted.

  Brooklyn glared at Malcolm. “Marcus doesn’t control or let me do anything.”

  Malcolm glanced disbelievingly between all of them. “You all heard me talking to Marcus telepathically, didn’t you?” He turned to Marcus with wide eyes. “How did they do that? I used our special pathway that they shouldn’t be able to breach. I know Lori has been able to eavesdrop on us, but how did everyone else?”

  Brooklyn nodded. “Exactly, Lori has been able to access your and Marcus’s mental link through her connection to him. We see something similar with mates. As they get closer physically, their mental bond grows. I went with the theory that a bodily fluid exchange strengthens their bond and decided a little experiment might work for us. So we all exchanged a few drops of blood and now you see us…super-connected, all of one brain.”

  “You all can hear everything even when you’re shielded?” Malcolm asked.

  “Whether we want to or not,” Griff groused.