First And Last

by Stacey Kennedy

  Kyden shook his head without hesitation.

  “I remember,” I said.

  He arched a brow, looked incredulous. “You remember something you only saw for a moment?”

  I shrugged. “Well it was scary and that type of things stays frozen in my mind.” I glanced back at Quinney. “Do you have a pen and paper?”

  “Just draw it in the air,” she replied. “I’ll be able to identify it.”

  I closed my eyes for a moment, concentrated back to the rune on the ground. After a moment or so, it became clear. I lifted my hand and drew what I had seen. I focused on the pentagram with the tribal thingy in the center. It was a little unsettling how easy it was to draw. It almost seemed natural.

  Just as I closed the circle of the rune, a loud gasp snapped my eyes open and I nearly shit myself. The rune was right in front of my face, suspended in the air and glowed bright. It looked identical to what I’d seen on the ground, only mine was pure light—no darkness surrounded it.

  I jumped on Kyden’s lap, latched my arms around his neck in a death grip. “Fucking, fuck, fuck. What is that?”

  Kyden squeezed his arms around me, lifted his head so he could see around my neck. “Good question.”

  Quinney stood slowly and approached the rune. “Well, that’s a clear indicator. I didn’t mean for you to actually draw it.”

  “Just take it away,” I screamed. “Get it. Get it.”

  Tyde jumped up and waved his hand in front of the rune. “I’ve never felt anything like this.” He cocked his head to the side, then his gaze met mine. “It’s not from Black Magic.”

  “I don’t care what it’s from,” I screeched. “Just get rid of it.”

  “I am quite sorry, Nexi,” Tyde replied, still very much intrigued, “but I cannot.”

  Scared out of my wits, I looked at Quinney, then Misa, nearly begged for help. “You two get rid of it.”

  Both Misa and Quinney approached the rune that sparked with bright white light. Misa reached out and touched it. It crackled loudly, which sent her screaming back. “Note to others, don’t touch it.” She shook her hand as if electrocuted. “That hurt.”

  Quinney glanced away from the rune to me, then pulled me off Kyden’s lap to stand in front of her. “You must diminish it since you were the one who created it. Withdraw the rune quickly.” Her voice was urgent.

  “I don’t know what to do.” I kept my eyes fixed on the damn glowy thing, waited for that moment where something drastic would happen and have me screaming bloody murder.

  “You need to close it. Finish the ceremony,” Quinney demanded. “Focus on that. Focus on the need you had with the rune being completed, and now you wish for it to leave.”

  I needed it gone. That was a must and didn’t question her. Hopefully, she knew what she was doing. Quickly, I closed my eyes and focused inwards.

  “I thank you for coming to me, but now I ask you to go. You have served me well.” Seemed like the thing to say.

  A loud crash, followed by a huge gush of air made me fall back onto the couch. With the move, my eyes opened to see the rune create a flash of light, then it vanished.

  “All right, Álainn?” Kyden said in my mind.

  “No,” I shouted aloud. “What the fuck was that?”

  Misa, Tyde and Quinney stared at me with something close to awe, which made me sink deeper into the couch. Not again. Their expressions told me I was not going to like the conversation ahead.

  After an incredibly long moment of silence, Misa said, “Sooo…you can draw runes.”

  “Yeah, I see that.” Idiot! “But why can I do that?”

  “Stumped me.” She glanced at Quinney. “Do you know?”

  Quinney shook her head in a quick fluid movement. “Runes are a part of Black Magic.” She pointed at me and gave a knowing look. “You don’t use Black Magic.”

  “No. I. Do. Not,” I spoke each word clearly to ensure everyone here understood that I wouldn’t go near such magic.

  Kyden interjected. “I wonder if it’s from the bond with Magnus. You may have siphoned some of his ability.”

  “Could that be true?” I asked.

  “It’s only assumption I can come to. Since you shouldn’t be able to do what you just did, it can be the only cause.”

  I lifted my chin in defiance. “Well, I won’t be using it.”

  Kyden brushed his hand across my cheek and smiled, very gently. “It didn’t look dark to me. The runes I’ve seen are a mirror image of Black Magic. Yours was bright and white. I don’t believe you have anything to worry about.”

  Quinney took her seat, her face an image of wonder. “I have to agree. I’ve never seen a rune that was white. Nor have I seen one that’s drawn in the air like that.”

  “Really?” I squeaked.

  “Normally, as you know, runes are drawn on the earth in black ash.” She examined me closely for a moment, then picked up the book. “I will need to see if there is anything like this in here.” She paused, then looked up again. “There is no need for the two of you to stay for this, it could take hours. I will keep at it until I have the answers we need, then I will come to you with my findings.”

  “Thank you for that, Quinney,” Kyden said, as he stood and pulled me with him. The others followed suit, and accompanied us to the door.

  I just wanted to get home and away from all this rune talk. Really, another new ability had shown itself. I was really growing tired of new things in my life. I just wanted old, boring Nexi, who had a few gifts, and that’s about it. It was all becoming really quite tiresome and I could feel the weight of it. Can’t the lesson of discovery be over?

  At the door, Misa opened it, and a breath of frustration exhaled from my body as a large crowd of warlocks and witches surrounded the home.

  My gaze found Kyden’s. “I’m guessing this isn’t the welcoming committee,” I grumbled.

  He arched a brow, the irritation showed equally on his face. “Indeed, I think not.”

  Chapter Seven

  Quinney stepped around me and pushed me behind her to face the awaiting crowd of very unhappy Underworld beings. “What business do you have here?” she demanded.

  “We have come to put right our world,” one of the Warlocks answered in a growl. “Our world will not be run by a White Witch. It’s a travesty.”

  I sighed heavily as I looked at Kyden. “I guess we should have expected this?”

  “Hrmph,” was his only response.

  Deep protectiveness ran through me. Kyden puffed up as each second passed. He now saw firsthand the danger I was put in when he wasn’t around. Just let me say, it wasn’t going over well. He was pissed.

  “You have no say in the Underworld,” Tyde argued. “You’re not members of the assembly.”

  “This is also not the proper place to discuss it.” Quinney added.

  “You,” the same Warlock snarled, “are pathetic. You went against our nature and along with a plan to destroy Magnus so that this horrendous leader could rise to power. You should all be crushed along with her.”

  Misa growled. “You wish to declare a challenge against our Lady?”

  A Witch stepped forward, glared a deadly threat toward me. “We’re not issuing a formal challenge. We seek to destroy her now.” With little warning, she blasted out a wave of energy. It was so quick, I didn’t have time to react and her magic came straight for me.

  Kyden instantly shoved Quinney out of the way, stepped in front of me and pushed me back. Horror blasted through every particle of my body. He had no protection against magic. What in the hell had he just done?

  Time slowed, sounds erased, as I fell backwards. The second my butt connected with the grass, magic erupted around me and knew he’d just been hit. I didn’t have time to shield him, it happened too fast.

  I screamed and closed my eyes, unable to watch. Panic stole my breath. Another blast of magic sent me flying back to hit the front door, and
every window in Quinney’s and Tyde’s home exploded.

  A loud scream shot through the air. There was enough sense it my mind to realize it wasn’t Kyden’s and sounded female. I opened my eyes open to see Kyden on his feet in front of me and the witch that had attacked us was now gone.

  The crowd was stone silent.

  I jumped to my feet, and rushed to Kyden’s side, spinning him around. “What in the hell happened?”

  He looked a bit dazed himself. “I have no idea.”

  “I saw it,” Misa said, breathless. “He shielded himself. The magic hit him, then flew back at her and disintegrated her completely.”

  “Holy frig, you’ve gained my ability!” Utter shock filtered through me—some of mine, some of his—we were both stunned.

  Now that I knew he was safe, those feelings quickly vanished into rage. “What the fuck were you thinking?” I yelled at him and gave him a good punch to the shoulder, which caused him to stumble back. “You could have been killed.”

  “It wasn’t a thought, Álainn. I saw it coming at you and acted,” he answered, calm and collected. Typical Kyden. “I didn’t think of the consequences.”

  “It’s my duty to protect her,” Quinney growled. “You shouldn’t have thrown me out of the way. I would have died for her.”

  Kyden arched a brow. “No, that is my job.”

  I stomped my foot at this territorial pissing match. “It’s nobody’s job to protect me. I can take care of myself.” I glanced at Quinney. “But thank you, by the way.”

  She nodded and smiled.

  “You thank her and I get a lashing?” Kyden protested.

  “Damn right you do.” I grasped him by the arms, tried to shake him, which didn’t go so well since he’s like three times the size of me, but I tried anyway. “It’s not your job to protect me. When will you get that through your thick, arrogant head?”

  “It is my duty,” he replied simply.

  Before I could blast him a good one, someone from the crowd reminded me they were still here. “We are not finished with you,” the same warlock who spoke before said in a low feral growl.

  I turned on them, let every ounce of anger I felt in my bones be heard in my voice. “I’m not finished with you either, jackass, but I’m too pissed to deal with you right now. You’ll just have to fucking wait.”

  With that, I sent the Air Element out to freeze them all where they stood. Sure, they could blink and all, but their feet were stuck to the ground and rendered them incapable of any sneaky shit again.

  “Wow,” Misa gasped, clearly awed.

  As if I gave a flying-fuck about that right now. I turned back to Kyden and snarled, “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

  “Nothing happened, did it? You could have been killed because you’re stupid. I’ve told you over and over again that you cannot fight against magic, and there you go, throwing yourself at it. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Quinney chuckled at my chastising Kyden. I glared at her, yet she didn’t stop smiling. “This is not funny! He could have died.”

  “But…” she shrugged, “he didn’t.”

  “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” I glared at Kyden. “You know, I have always felt bad about leaving you behind, but now I don’t. You idiot!”

  He arched a brow. “Done?”

  “No. I. Am. Not.” I paced, threw my hands up, swore, anything I could to relieve the rage that flowed through my veins.

  Kyden sighed numerous times, but said nothing. Misa, Tyde and Quinney all looked amused. I couldn’t even take satisfaction that the Warlocks and Witches looked scared shitless.

  I finally huffed, unable to feel an ounce better. I was just so angry with him. How could he take such a risk? Right now, I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. “I’m going, and do not follow me.”

  Kyden exhaled even louder this time, yet said nothing as I turned away from him to leave.

  “Ahh…Nexi,” Misa called out, “you need to deal with these ones.”

  I swore something very inappropriate and turned back around to approach them. “You’re all idiots too. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  No one answered me. Of course, they wouldn’t. They were all too scared to say a word. Being frozen, unable to move because a little tornado wrapped around your body, would do that. “Instead of living your lives, going on about your business, now you’re choosing to die.” I threw up my hands in frustration. “Why am I surrounded by idiots?”

  Fear flashed across each of their faces. I drew on fire. My anger always helped the magic—gave it extra flame. It was a dangerous thing and not what White Magic was about, not to use out of anger. I was safe here, my anger wasn’t directed at the group, it was directed at Kyden.

  It only took seconds for magic to fill me, then with another loud swear word, I released it. If I wasn’t so pissed, I may have been shocked as the fire poured from within me, and in a wild fire ball incinerated every being here—except the good guys of course.

  “That sure was something,” Quinney admired.

  When the cracks of fire settled, Kyden stepped forward. I glared at him and he froze where he stood.

  So, he wasn’t that stupid to provoke me. Obviously not after seeing that display of strength.

  “Do. Not. Follow. Me.” My voice came out as a deep growl. I spun around and headed back to the main gate. “I’m surrounded by complete idiots. Complete fucking idiots!”

  As the teleport took me, the last thing I heard was Kyden’s long deep aggravated breath.

  * * * *

  My willow was exactly what I needed. The soft leaves of the tree were an instant comfort to my pissed-off-at-my-mate mood. Even better, my four-legged Willow joined me too. Still to this day, she complained that I’d named her after my favorite tree. I thought it sweet, but she thought it cruel.

  “So, he gained your ability to shield?” Willow asked as I gave her head a scratch.

  Most of the time, I loved my little familiar and the connection we shared. Such a cute and black fluffy thing, how could one not love her? Other times though, she could be a little bitch. Still I loved my little protector, who sometimes went panther on me.

  “It was incredible.” The longer I sat here, the more the sense of wonder grew. How did my magic pass on to him? Protect him when he needed it? I knew it wasn’t me who did it. I wished I could take the glory, but hadn’t assisted him, yet he shielded himself.

  Willow purred as I scratched under her chin. “Good thing he could or he’d be dust in the wind.”

  “He’s so stupid,” I retorted and dropped my hand from Willow’s face, aggravated all over again. “I don’t need him to save me. I can handle myself.”

  “Is that what’s eating your goat?” Willow looked more peeved that I’d stopped petting her, than really interested in this conversation. “You think he doubts you?”

  “Yes…no.”

  She lay down on the ground and began to lick her paw. “Now, you sound stupid.”

  “Hey, don’t be snarky with me. It’s just confusing. I mean, I know he believes in me, and now with the bond, I understand why he acts the way he does. But damn it, I don’t need him to help me.” I huffed in anger. “His stupid, protective, ‘need to defend you’ nonsense hit the roof tonight. His lack of common sense could have gotten him killed.”

  Those few words registered in my mind and reality sank in. What really troubled me surfaced. He could have died. I barely took one full breath before I broke into tears.

  Willow jumped to her feet and rubbed her head against my arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I won’t be snarky anymore, promise.”

  “It’s not you, Willow.” I sniffed. “I’m just so tired of this. Every night something seems to happen. I hate living on the edge and in fear that someone else is going to be taken from my life. I live in a constant state of worry that I
could lose more people I love. It’s happened too many times. I can’t take it anymore.” I dropped my head into my hands and sobbed.

  A second later, I felt myself lifted into strong arms. “I assumed since you were feeling sadness that it was safe for me to come down,” Kyden said.

  “I’ll see you two at home. By the way, I’m starving, so don’t be long,” Willow said as she scurried off.