My heart pounded and Rayna’s words screamed through my head. Branches snapped as she vanished into the trees and I was left on the shore with only the clapping of water to break the silence.
“Leave her. She is of no use to our cause!” a male voice shouted inside my head.
“No, she is the one; she is part of the end,” said another voice. This time it was quiet and gentle.
“We need her.”
“Fight them, Chase. These voices will only lead you astray.” I recognized the voice, but without the scent of sweet fruit accompanying it, it took me longer to pinpoint.
“Elyas?” I asked, but there was no response. The voices were gone and the only sound that remained was the sloshing of water.
A pang in my chest brought me back to reality. The knife Rayna spoke of was in my heart, turning and sliding deeper. She was right; I’d trampled everything Willy stood for while floundering in my guilt. Even in death he was better than me: a better person, a better soldier, a better friend. I owed him more than this.
I stared at the formation of rocks by my hand that took on the shape of Willy’s face. “I’m strong enough, Willy. I won’t let you down. Not again.”
Chapter 7
I stayed on the shore, sitting on the rocks and watching a storm roll in. My mind wandered back and forth between sadness and determination, with a side of excitement at having my elements back. The water made a trickling sound between the stones as it rolled up on the rocky shore, but the tranquility of it all shattered at the snap of branches. I expected Marcus to sit down beside me and try to coax me inside, and although my stomach gurgled with hunger, I wasn’t ready yet. Rocks shuffled until the footsteps stopped behind me and when he spoke, chills spiraled down my neck.
“Being the chosen one isn’t all you thought it would be, is it?”
I didn’t remember moving, but I found myself staring into the black eyes of Drake Sellowind. The forest contrasted his dark presence, but he fit perfectly with the darkening sky. Fire rose in my chest and flared between my fingers; the power of a hundred souls rushing to my hands. Blue flames snapped to life and Drake stepped forward, but the magic I expected him to bring never came.
“Put it away, Chase. You’re as likely to kill me as I am you.”
“If you honestly believe that, you don’t know me as well as you think.”
“On the contrary. I know you better than you know yourself. But that’s not what I meant. You and I could battle for a century; there would be blood, tears, exhaustion, and pain, but neither would outlive the other. Not anymore.” Drake walked toward the lake, stopping just out of the water’s reach. “Soon we will both be absent of the necessary—for lack of a better word— ‘oomph’ to destroy one another.” The flames warmed my hands but the color didn’t change, and Drake seemed calm in the presence of my power. “She was wrong, you know—Rayna. Willy didn’t die a hero, he died a fool.”
“Shut your mouth.” I gritted my teeth and the blue flames transformed to red. The heat warmed my body and distorted the world around me.
“Forgive me, I mean no disrespect. But had your friend listened to you and stayed away, he would still be alive.”
“I said shut up.” I didn’t scream the words. They were barely a whisper.
I threw a stream of fire and in one graceful motion, Drake defended. Darkness pooled from his hands in a swirl of black and gold. I’d never felt the intensity of his magic like this and it swallowed my flame entirely.
“I told you, brother, fighting me is futile. Those souls inside you have made you a force to be reckoned with, but that does not help you when up against a force equal to your own.”
“Stop. Calling. Me. Brother.”
A second element charged through my body, and water rose from the lake in the shape of a serpent. The water hissed and tunneled through the air, turning to ice before smashing into Drake’s back. The ice shattered but Drake didn’t flinch. Magic pooled behind him, creating a shield of darkness. The ice vanished into the black and beads of sweat tickled my face. Anger pulsed inside me, but as hard as I pushed, I couldn’t gain any ground against the Dark Brother.
“Fine!” I yelled, and my elements vanished.
Drake’s power disappeared with mine and we stood face to face, a few lines of sweat streaking his pale skin.
“I did not come here to provoke you, broth—” Drake cleared his throat. “Chase.”
“First, I’m not going to tell you this again. I’m not your brother. Second, if not to kill or provoke me, you have no business being anywhere near me. Since you can’t do the former, that doesn’t leave anything else. And third, how the hell did you find me?”
“We are connected, in a way. You can deny it all you want, but you are one of us now. I am of Ithreal’s bloodline, and although you are a new breed of my kind, we are cut from the same godly cloth.”
“I’m a hunter, you’re a demon; we’re nothing alike.”
“Now you know that isn’t true. I’m far above any of the creatures your gods, and even my father, have created. And you…you’re not just a hunter anymore, are you?”
“I’m the Protector. I’m the one—”
“But you’re not a hunter. Not anymore. You’re something far greater.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “But that is neither here nor there, for now. I’ve come to apologize, Chase. Willy was not supposed—”
“Do not say his name. You’re not worthy of his name.”
Drake pursed his lips and his gaze didn’t waver. “He was good to you. We should all be so lucky to have a friend like him in our lives. However, such are the consequences of your actions. You are the Protector, and you have chosen to put yourself in harm’s way. I think it’s safe to say there will be losses on both sides before this is over.”
“And what would you know about loss?”
“More than you might think.” He sighed. “This is not about me…not yet. You finally have part of what you’ve always wanted, Chase. You’re in the spotlight. You wanted to be the best hunter and the most powerful with your elements; you wanted to be better than your father, and you wanted to be respected by the Circle. Well, you are the most powerful with your elements, you are more than just a hunter, and you have a group of people who respect you very much. But your father is also powerful and he is out of my control now. If you continue to work with the people who respect you—your friends—more of them will die.”
“You don’t have a clue what I want, and when was my father ever in your control?”
Drake’s pause sent a chill down my arms. He stared back at me and I could see horror in his eyes from past lifetimes. “Once upon a time, I was able to talk sense into your father, but the power of the soul pieces have become too much.”
“So he’s out of your control. So what? You don’t care what happens to my friends. This is what you wanted all along. Riley has the pieces and now he is going to try and invoke Ithreal’s power. You’ll lose your freedom, give up everyone else’s for them, and bow down to a man who was once your enemy. It’s a little late for second thoughts.”
Drake shook his head. “You will soon realize you know very little about all of this. You’ve been but a pawn on a board, moving as needed. Your friends are pawns too, Chase, but you’re the one moving them, not me. And unfortunately, most of them are cannon fodder.”
“I don’t control what everyone else does.”
“You can tell yourself that, but inside you know it isn’t true. You are a leader and even when you’re reckless, they follow.” Drake stepped forward, standing slightly taller than me. “I have not wanted to cause you any more pain than necessary. I think I’ve proven that on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, some of your actions have dictated otherwise and as you can see, events unfolded that were out of my control.”
“I didn’t see you trying to stop Riley. You stood there and watched as he snapped my friend’s neck.” The last few words were spoken through a clenched jaw. My adrenaline had sp
iked and I squeezed my fist in an attempt to hide that I was shaking.
Drake shook his head. “I told you it was out of my control. But you might remember a moment in Theral where I saved you, along with all your friends. Your life was necessary, but theirs were not. That was a gift from me to you.”
I reacted without a thought and both my hands surged into Drake’s chest. His body jolted back and fell into the shallow water. The anger I expected to see on his pale features wasn’t there. Instead, he wore a vacant expression and stared up at me with disappointment. He rose to his feet and water ran off his leather sleeves. “I’m sorry you’re upset, Chase. What you can’t see right now is that I’m trying to help you save them. You’ve lost one friend already and you’re angry. Imagine how you’ll feel in the coming weeks when you look back on this moment and most of them have died.”
My knuckles popped from my clenched fist, but it wasn’t enough to contain the shaking anymore. My entire body shivered, not from the cold, but a mixture of sadness, anger, and fear. Sad that I had lost my friend, angry that Drake was here pretending to have my best interest in mind. All he was trying to do was break me down and get inside my head, and it was working. And fear that he was right. Fear that I was the one moving my friends around the checkerboard, subconsciously using them to protect my path.
Drake’s magic unfolded in front of me and I started to call my own in defense, but I quickly realized it wasn’t needed.
“You want to stop something that is no longer preventable. You don’t want to join us and I’ve accepted that—for now. But your suicide mission does not have to be theirs. You can save them simply by going your own way. You have to consider what their lives are worth to you, Chase. You’re a part of this but they are not. Don’t sacrifice any more of your loved ones. It hurts only you.” With his last words, Drake stepped deeper into the lake. A portal stretched over the water and he disappeared into a chasm of darkness that consumed itself the moment he was gone.
Before I could process what had just happened, a loud squawk sounded and broke through the woods. The tiny form of Rai fluttered to my side. She hovered around my head, chirping and squawking while her feathers brushed against my face. I stared at the empty space that Drake had occupied and my body continued to shake. Rai squawked again and her wings whipped across my face.
“Hey girl,” I whispered. A harmonious burst of notes came from her beak and she lowered herself to my shoulder. “You have no idea how good it is to see you.” She pushed her head against my cheek and her white and gold feathers felt soft against my skin.
It felt wonderful to see Rai, but with each passing moment, Drake’s words grew louder in my mind. He had come here to twist the blade that jutted from my body. He hadn’t come here to help. He knew Riley had kicked me down and he came to make sure I stayed there, but he underestimated my resolve. He underestimated what Willy had meant to me. Willy’s life had been filled with honor and bravery; his memory warranted no less. He deserved to have me fight for him like he had fought for me. I had been weakened and I had been hurt, but I would never quit. I would be strong once again and I would fight, not because I was the Protector and not out of revenge or hatred, but out of honor, because that’s what Willy would do.
Chapter 8
We sat around an old creaky table. The legs were all different lengths and the tabletop shifted when too much weight was put on any side. A quiet tension loomed around us and nobody made eye contact. A small pile of scrambled eggs and a few slices of stale bread covered each plate. Nobody had eaten in days, but Marcus and Tiki were the only ones taking advantage of the food. I stared at my plate and pushed the contents around with my fork, but I couldn’t work up an appetite.
Riddley rested upstairs, seeming more coherent than he had been yesterday. Containing my elements had truly done a number on him. If Rayna hadn’t been there to summon the spirits, he would’ve been just another name crossed off our list. Another ally lost to the fight. Maybe Drake was right.
Grams left the table and sat on the porch, smoking cigarette after cigarette and staring into the forest. Each time a leaf fell from a tree or something moved inside the woods, her gaze shifted and narrowed as though she expected something to come padding out. I knew who she waited for, but we both knew he wasn’t coming.
Marcus took a sip of the instant coffee I couldn’t bring myself to drink and cleared his throat. “I think we need to start talking preparations.” I looked up at him, but Marcus didn’t look back. He stared at the center of the scarred table and twirled his fork.
“What do you mean?” Rayna asked.
“We need to consider our options and possibly find a safe place for the two of you.”
I dropped my fork and leaned back in my chair. “Go into hiding? I hope you’re kidding.”
“There’s a reason Riley didn’t kill you, Chase. You’re part of this in a way we don’t
understand. The people of Silas—the Dunopai, was it? They wanted to keep you from the fight for a reason. We need to consider the possibility that it might be a good idea.”
“I will stop him, Marcus, one way or another. I’m not going into hiding while he tries to summon Ithreal and take over the worlds.”
“Chase, be reasonable here.”
“I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. There’s nobody else to do it. I’m going to get the scroll and bind these souls. Then I’m going to build an army and tear Riley apart.”
The door slammed open and cold air rushed into the room. Chief and Jax limped through the archway. Jax’s arm hooked around Chief’s neck, using his body as a crutch.
Marcus and I were up from the table without a word. We helped them to the faded floral couch in the living room and both shifters collapsed onto it. Blood stained both their bodies, dark scabs having formed over several wounds, but Jax had a particularly bad tear on his leg.
“My gods,” Marcus said, leaving the room and returning with two glasses of water and some towels. Chief and Jax ignored everything else and devoured the liquid. “Is this all that’s left?”
Jax shook his head. “There are more outside and at the warehouse. Nothing compared to what we had. Between the witches and both our groups, a few dozen of each survived.”
“The witches—” Chief hunched over in a coughing fit and Marcus fetched him more water. “The witches barely had enough strength to bring us back.” He gasped for air after a long drink. “Your father is…strong.” His eyes fought a silent battle between sadness and exhaustion.
“What happened after the fight with the Visceratti?” I asked.
“We made it to the temple, but Riley and the Brothers were already there. We couldn’t stop them. Riley’s power wiped most of us out. They would’ve killed us all too, but Riley became panicked and they left in a rush.” Chief leaned back on the couch, taking deep breaths. He seemed winded from talking.
“Who all did you lose?” Rayna asked quietly, a visible tension scrunched in her shoulders. “Is Jonathan…”
Chief glanced up at Rayna and shook his head softly. “No, Jonathan was one of the few to survive. He’s at the warehouse now, helping take care of the injured.”
Rayna’s shoulders dropped in a sigh of relief. She still hadn’t spent any time with him, but her reaction told me she wished she had. Maybe if we survived they could.
“Let me help you,” I said, crouching in front of both of them.
“No,” Chief said. “You need to save your strength.”
I ignored him, placing a hand on both their chests. The water element rose, not as the destructive force I’d used at the lake, but as the healing magic that kept the water still. It slid down my arms and into their bodies. I felt their pain subside and in moments, all that remained were the stains of blood.
Jax’s eyes opened wide and he rose to his feet. He looked strong and refreshed. “That’s some magic you have there, hunter. I’ve seen it in action, but never been on the receiving end. I feel incredible.” He walked ac
ross the room, his bones cracking and muscles popping as he stretched. “Where is Willy?” The room fell quiet and Jax looked from me to Marcus. His brow furrowed and the intensity of his gaze amplified. “Where is my Omega?”
Marcus cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Jax, but—”
“He didn’t make it,” I said.
Jax stared at me before kicking the wooden wall. The plank cracked and the sound echoed in the quiet of the room. His shoulders rose and fell, breathing slow and deep. “I’ve lost too many wolves to this fight. My entire pack has been nearly destroyed.”
“Then we’ll rebuild,” I said. “Riley will not win this.”
“Rebuild?” Jax turned around and in a blur of animalistic speed. “What do you think we do, go out and bite every person we see? Becoming a member of the Shadowpack is a slow and selective process—it’s an honor. These wolves are my family, not fodder for your fight.”
“This is our fight. We’re in this together,” I said.
“Is that what you think?”
“Hey, I’m not the one who wanted to split up. I told you we should all stick together.”
“So this is my fault?” A low growl rumbled in Jax’s throat.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming the anger that swelled inside me. The power of his beast rolled over his skin, making it difficult to quell my own frustration. “I didn’t say that. If you’re angry and you want revenge, he’s the one you’re after, not me.”
“I don’t want revenge, Chase. I want my family back.”
“And you think I don’t?” Jax’s tension lifted slightly, his brows arching above dark eyes. “Do you have any idea what I’d do to have Willy and my mother back?”
He stared back at me and although it had lessened, he still looked far more aggressive than I felt. I wanted to be angry. I wanted him to see the fire in my eyes and back down, but right now all I felt was sadness.
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