by Rachel Jonas
A pain struck me in the gut when I uttered that word.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” I corrected. “Noelle’s going through changes, which I think we’re all in agreement on, but she’s far from being a monster. Even despite the hold the Darkness has on her.”
Ori grumbled something to himself, but the incredulous expression that came with it said a lot.
“They kicked her out today,” Paulo shared, causing our steps to halt.
“They … what?”
There was no missing Ori’s concern. He wanted to pretend he was done with her, but we all knew better. Even if he didn’t.
“Apparently, the order came down from Chief. Wherever he is,” he added with a sigh. “They didn’t even have the decency to tell her before she got there. Instead, they broke the news to her in front of all her classmates.”
“And you don’t think that was intentional?” The question burst from my lips. “He’s pushing her. Every chance he gets to press her buttons, to make her choose darkness over light, he makes a move.”
Now, more than ever, I wanted to find this guy. Father or not, he was owed a beatdown for too many reasons to name. I had always felt a sense of detachment toward him, but it was almost like we weren’t family at all. To say I felt shame for being his son was an understatement.
“Let’s just … focus,” Ori interjected. “Our attention should be on looking for clues. Not on things none of us have the power to change.”
The sadness in his tone wasn’t lost on me. Not even if it was buried beneath a ton of other stuff.
We walked the area in silence, literally leaving no stone left unturned. It was exhausting work, but most of all, it was disheartening.
“Nothing?” Paulo asked when we reconvened beside an old tree that had sank halfway into a cleft of the ridge.
“Nope. Nothing.” Even our alpha felt defeated.
“We have to be missing something. He can’t just vanish into thin air, and he wouldn’t leave the island. Not now, while his plans for Noelle are still being carried out,” I reasoned. “He has to be close, we just—”
“Having fun yet, boys?”
The three of us turned when the gravelly rasp of an aged voice cut through the air. There, in the shadows, a tall figure emerged, dragging its cloak across the soil, gathering fallen leaves and sticks with every step.
“I’m afraid you’ve just missed your beloved Chief,” the witch taunted. “Although, I’m certain he won’t be surprised to hear that you’ve come looking for him.”
“Where is he?” Ori questioned her. “The man is many things, but I had no idea that a coward was one of them.”
A humorless laugh left the witch’s mouth and she shrugged. “What you call cowardice, we call strategy. He’s not on the run,” she explained. “He is simply avoiding confrontation until his plan has been seen through to its end.”
“And what end might that be?”
She stepped closer, until moonlight revealed sickly gray skin and deep crag-like wrinkles that marked her face. A face we hadn’t seen among Chief’s dark army before this moment.
“All you need to know is that it will be magnificent, true genius at work.” Her lips parted to flash a rotted smile and a breeze carried her strong odor our way.
“I’ll give you one more chance to tell us where he’s hiding, or—”
“Or what?” she challenged, tilting her head with the question. “Seems to me the only one from your hive willing to get their hands dirty is your queen. Such a pity you won’t have her around much longer. Who on Earth will fight your battles once she’s … no longer herself?” The delight she took in saying those words was beyond obvious.
This only made it even more frustrating not knowing what Chief’s final play would be.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Ori’s fists clench at his sides.
“Well, as much as I’d love to stand here, watching you three scour the land for clues you’ll never find, I didn’t come here to watch you flounder,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve come to appeal to your sense of reason. We’re aware that you’re holding one of our constituents hostage and I’ve come to ask that you reconsider.”
She meant Tristan. Noelle hadn’t mentioned his name when she said she managed to track down the one who’d nearly taken Rayen from us, but we all knew it was him. There was only one warlock any of us had ever known to exist.
“Return him to us,” she commanded, “and there’s a chance we’ll have mercy.”
“On whom?” I asked.
The corners of her mouth turned up. “Never you mind,” she taunted. “So, will you cooperate?”
“We don’t make deals with devils,” Ori asserted, standing his ground as he and the witch reached a stalemate. “The only reason we’d ever consider handing him over is for answers, but we both know anything that leaves your mouth will be a lie.”
She shrugged, and it was unnerving how easily she gave in. “Suit yourselves,” was her response. “Just know … one of ours will cost you two of your own.”
It was tempting to take the bait, tempting to ask what that meant, but I knew meeting her demands wouldn’t change whatever outcome Chief had in mind. The word “mercy” had never been in his vocabulary. He would carry out his plan—his entire plan—regardless of whether or not we cooperated.
“Well, if you won’t accept this act of kindness, I must be on my way,” the evil one announced, turning when she finished.
“What does he have on you?” Paulo asked.
She halted at the sound of his voice, and silver moonlight glinted in her opaque stare. “I beg your pardon?”
Paulo stepped up, lessening the distance between himself and the enemy. “Are you just getting off on destroying lives? Or is it more than that for you?”
She faced us fully now, and I think we all readied ourselves for a fight when she stepped closer.
“Let’s just say … your friend, Rayen, isn’t the only one who’s tasted death and lives on to tell the story.”
“What does that mean?” Ori spoke out.
She smiled again. This time, a deceptive one that concealed her thoughts. “Your Chief is a smart man,” she concluded. “He knew of my expertise where this particular matter is concerned and figured it would serve his cause well to have me on this side of the dirt to give council.”
Ori’s frown deepened. “He had you brought back from the dead?”
“Minor details,” she sing-songed. “Minor details.”
It felt like we’d been left to solve a riddle, and the witch’s smile made it clear she was pleased to have only confused us more.
“Have yourselves a good evening, gentlemen. That is, while you still can,” she added with a wicked laugh, shrinking back into the shadows. “We’ll meet again, and when we do, I give you permission to call me by name … Maisy.”
Chapter Nine
Noelle
Putting my things away in Ori’s drawers made it feel real. My time at the academy had come to an end.
It was like being rejected by the Guard all over again.
Rayen lifted a heavy tote that contained my schoolbooks as well as the box I received my first day in Sorcery-101, and my domain pins, placing it all on the top shelf of the closet. I wouldn’t need any of it from here on out, but they were mine, not the schools, so I took them.
Might as well.
He stared from across the room and I felt it long before glancing his way.
“What?” I asked, somehow smiling despite feeling lower than I think I ever had.
He shook his head. “Nothing, just trying to remember why you being here indefinitely is, technically, a bad thing.”
I laughed a bit. “Because I’m an academy reject. That’s why.”
Heavy steps brought him to where I stood and the hanger I had halfway inside the neck of a hoodie was snatched from my hand. The next second, the warmest hug in the world made me feel safe and loved.
“All things happen for a
reason, and we have to believe that’s the case even in this situation.”
Even without him saying so, I knew he was speaking about more than just me getting kicked out of school.
My arms slipped further around his waist and I squeezed him back. “Thanks. I needed that.”
He released me after placing a kiss in the top of my damp hair, and I suddenly didn’t feel like unpacking anymore. Already, I’d put it off until after I showered, and it was nearly midnight. The others were still out, and I wanted to wait up for them, so it made perfect sense to get in some quality time with just Rayen.
He’d been different since that night in the caves. I didn’t see the changes all the time, but when I did, they were so obvious I wondered if the others noticed as well.
It was more than just the increased aggression. Sometimes he seemed … lost. Like now, as he folded a bag of t-shirts for me, he just kind of stared off at nothing in particular.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
He smiled and glanced up toward me. “Don’t waste your money. Nothing going on in my head worth repeating.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I knew I disagreed.
“Well, sit with me anyway,” I suggested, moving toward the bed before patting the space across from me for him to take it.
He humored me and dropped down on the mattress. My hand rested there, on Ori’s comforter and I smelled him everywhere.
“It’s so weird being here, knowing he isn’t coming home with the others tonight.”
There was no hiding the sadness that came with those words, so Rayen didn’t pretend not to notice. When his hand came down on top of mine, I met his gaze.
“Like I said, everything happens for a reason,” he reminded me, and I tried holding on to that.
“Anyway,” I sniffled when tears threatened to fall, “enough about that.” The laugh I forced next clearly hadn’t fooled Rayen, but he let me get away with it.
“You okay with everything? Having to leave your friends, I mean.” This subject was only marginally less sad than the first.
I breathed in deeply. “Yeah. I’ll have to be, I guess. After you left to take my things down, there were a few tears, but it’s not the end of the world. I told them to drop by whenever they can. Which I’m sure translates to every weekend in Toni’s mind,” I added with a laugh.
“They’re welcome here whenever,” he assured me. I hadn’t even thought to ask.
Since first being acknowledged as part of the hive, I felt like this place was as much mine as it was theirs. That was one-hundred-percent thanks to the guys welcoming me in the way they had.
There was a breadth of silence and I decided to use it as an opportunity to change the subject.
“You haven’t patrolled in a while,” I observed. “Miss it?”
A casual shrug lifted his shoulders, ink marking the skin where the straps of his fitted tank didn’t cover.
“Depends on the day.” He smiled with the answer.
There hadn’t been much talk about why he’d stayed behind so much, but I had a few theories.
“How have you felt lately?”
Without having to explain, he knew I referred to his state since being brought back. The few seconds that passed marked the time it took for him to sort out an answer. I guessed it was more complicated than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response would cover.
“Most days, I’m good. I’m just me,” he explained.
“And other days?” I looked him over after asking.
“… Other days, I’m scared of the thoughts that enter my head.” He peered up after speaking. “I haven’t patrolled because, honestly, I’m terrified to shift. Terrified that what I sometimes feel will feed my dragon’s rage and—”
“Come with me.” I didn’t wait for him to finish before grabbing his hand and pulling him from the bed. He trailed me down the hallway and out onto the porch. I used a flame on my finger to light the torches as we made our way down the dock next.
“If you’re about to ask me to teach you how to do some flying trick, it’s completely out of the question,” he teased. “Last time you dragged me out here I came back in pieces.”
My lips tightened when I tried to fight the smile he brought out of me. “For the last time, that had more to do with your piss-poor teaching skills than it had to do with me sucking at flying.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he scoffed.
I sighed and struggled to keep from laughing again. “I’m being serious here. You helped me when I needed it, now I’m gonna help you.”
His brow tensed with confusion.
I rolled my eyes playfully when he didn’t get it. “You’re scared to shift, so I’m gonna stand here with you while you do it.”
He opened his mouth to protest, and I already knew what he’d say.
“And before you even go there, you won’t hurt me.”
I didn’t want to emasculate him by saying so, but honestly, I’d felt kind of invincible lately.
“That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Tell you what, if you start looking like you’re gonna go nuclear, I’ll use magic to protect myself.”
There was a silent standoff while I waited for him to cave.
“Don’t hesitate,” he insisted.
“You have my word.”
When he took a deep breath and stretched his neck, I stood back to give him some room. He didn’t need instructions on how to shift, but he did need support. That I could do.
His hands opened and closed a few times to get his blood pumping and then I saw it, the perimeter of his dragon outlining his frame.
Only … something was wrong.
I nearly begged him not to open his eyes, but that would only alarm him. Instead, I could only stare.
Where brightly burning, orange fire should have engulfed his skin, the flames were unlike anything I’d ever seen in my entire life. They were black, darker than smoke, darker than even the night, and they were all over him. Broad wings exploded from his back and their force released a rush of air that blew out the torch nearest to us.
And then, he opened his eyes. Eyes filled with darkness where white light should have burned. I knew the moment panic took hold of him, because he backed away from me. Naturally, I moved toward him, wanting him to know I wasn’t frightened. Concerned, yes, but not afraid.
“Noelle, keep away,” he urged. The harshness in his voice was only meant to warn me not to come closer.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s okay?” He scoffed at that.
My head reeled as I observed him, and neither of us had words. But then, as soon as I’d started trying to come up with my own explanation, the black flames brightened. First, only at their base, and then the light flowed upward, until even the darkness in his eyes was gone. It was as if the odd fluke had never even occurred.
A wave of relief hit us both, and I finally released a breath.
“Maybe it was just a side-effect of the spell,” I reasoned, praying that was all.
He didn’t offer a counter-explanation, but he did speak. To make a request.
“We don’t need to tell the guys about this. I think we should keep it between us.”
As he awaited my response, his dragon retreated, until it was just him again. Both my hands were taken into his and I didn’t have the heart to tell him I thought this was too big a secret to keep. After all, he’d only given shifting a try because I promised him it would be okay.
His eyes were pleading with me and I, admittedly, have a terrible soft spot where he and the other Omegas are concerned. So … I conceded.
Nodding, the answer he hoped for was given. “Okay. I won’t say anything.”
I didn’t say as much, but this promise was conditional. If I ever had cause to think he was in danger, I would break my word in a heartbeat. Any day of the week, I’d rather have one of my mates angry with me versus having them harmed.
I’d known the ago
ny of losing him, and I wouldn’t survive such a thing a second time. For Rayen’s sake and for mine, I prayed this was a onetime event, prayed it was just his dragon clearing its throat after having returned from the other side.
If it was more than that … I was ready to go to the ends of the Earth for him, for our hive.
Always.
Chapter Ten
Noelle
Caged birds had more freedom than I did.
Must be why I jumped up so quickly when a knock hit the door. With promises to visit on weekends, it had to be my friends.
I nearly snatched the door off its hinges. Then, laying eyes on all four—Toni, Blythe, Manny, and Marcela—I attacked them with hugs.
“Easy, girl,” Toni laughed, steadying herself against the doorframe to avoid losing her footing.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” I gushed, still holding on to her.
With the Chief somewhere out there with his witches, and considering I hadn’t been on my best behavior lately, I’d been strongly encouraged to stay indoors. And with Rayen taking things slowly, it was just the two of us most of the time. Both bored with an ever-worsening case of cabin fever. The only thing that kept us sane was how well we got along, both finding the other to be good company.
Finally, I stepped aside to let them in, gesturing toward the couch for them to sit.
“Ok, tell me everything I’ve missed,” I insisted, dropping down onto the coffee table across from them. “Don’t leave anything out.”
If I seemed desperate to know what went on in the outside world, I totally was.
Toni smiled. “Well, you want me to start with what’s going on inside or outside our circle?”
My brow tightened with curiosity.
“Inside, I guess?” When the statement left me, it sounded more like a question. Mostly because I was more than confused by what could possibly be going on within our little group.
Toni side-eyed Blythe and the first thing I noticed was that nearly all of the animosity between them had disappeared. I guessed it was because I’d become their shared common interest, which gave both a chance to realize the other wasn’t so bad. Then, the next thing I noticed was that coy smile Blythe wore.