by Lia Davis
Lex pointed to a spot on the blueprint. “The entrance is here. But we’ll go in here.” He moved to a spot at the backside of the castle. “It’s not on here, but there is a hidden entrance. Ryn told me about it.”
“How is he?” Lydia asked.
“Recovering. Hecate is taking care of him.” Lex worked his jaw then rolled up the blueprint and map. “The sooner we head out, the better.”
They all nodded and waited for Lex to lead the way.
“I have a feeling this isn’t just going to be a trap.” Lydia’s tone hovered between gloom and giddiness.
Lex returned to the room after putting the maps up. “It’ll be a full-on attack once they discover we’re inside.”
“A bloodbath,” Desiree added.
Lydia’s senses were on full alert. She heard every sound, scented every new smell. The castle was crawling with Regals. And there were Dark Divine within the walls somewhere. “I can’t pick up the hounds’ scent.”
“They’re here,” Lex said with a growl. “They’re separated and masked with a spell.”
Lydia’s gut twisted. Being apart for so long would weaken them. One or both could go insane from not having the contact with each other. “Do you know where they are?”
Lex gave a short nod and darted down a hallway in the lower level of the castle. She and Desiree followed. Zach took the tail to look out for demons from behind.
“Things are too quiet.” Zach spoke in a hushed tone, but Lydia could feel his concern and fear for what was ahead of them.
A few feet down the hall, Lex stopped and faced them. Gesturing to a door they’d stopped a few feet from, he said, “Teddy is in there. Zach and Lydia, get him. Desiree and I will get Bear. We’ll meet back at the Divinity House.”
Before Lydia could ask any questions, Lex gripped Desiree’s arm and disappeared down the hall. Glancing at Zach, Lydia said, “He knows something.”
“Yeah. But he is right about getting the hounds and getting out. This is too risky. I itch all over.” He surveyed their surroundings and then motioned to the door. “After you.”
Pursing her lips, she gripped the doorknob and opened the door. The room was dark, but with her new night vision, she could see well enough. Plus, she could hear Teddy’s shallow breathing. Her heart sank, and she rushed to the large cage in the middle of the room.
She conjured a lantern and lit it. The light of the small flame bathed the area in a soft glow.
Teddy lifted his head. “Bear?”
Lydia reached through the bars and stroked his head. “Lex and Desiree are going to get him and meet us at home.”
Focusing on her healing power, she scanned Teddy for injuries. When she didn’t find any, she healed his soul and heart. The two things that started to fail when he was separated from his twin. His body glowed from the inside.
He let out a soft groan. After a few moments, he stood and snarled. “Let’s blow this food truck.”
He teleported from inside his cage to the outside, then stretched. “Oh, that’s better.” His ears perked up at the same time Lydia heard at least a dozen or so pairs of boots pounding against the concrete floor, echoing down the hall.
Teddy and Lydia locked gazes and said at the same time, “We need to move.”
The three of them rushed out the door and down the hall, in the opposite direction the demons were coming from. When they reached the end of the corridor, Teddy stopped and listened. Lydia stretched out her senses but didn’t pick up on anything different.
A moment later, Bear barreled around the corner. The hounds butted heads and then merged into their two-headed, ten-foot-tall hellhound form. Bear announced, “Lex and Des are right behind me. There’s a bomb.”
In the next moment, Bear and Teddy said the incantation to open a portal. When the doorway opened, the hounds pushed Lydia and Zach through then jumped in themselves, slamming it closed behind them.
Several minutes ticked by, and still no Lex and Desiree. “Where are they? How much time did they have?”
Lydia’s heart raced, and she started to pace. When Jagger came out onto the porch, he said, “Lex is alive but not coming here.”
Zach whirled around. “Why? What happened?”
Jagger worked his jaw. “I don’t know. He won’t tell me anything else.”
Just then, Zach’s cell phone rang. He answered it and put it on speaker, not that Lydia needed him to. “Yeah.”
Ayden let out a relieved breath before dropping a shit-ton bomb on him. “The attack Kalissa saw earlier is happening in the next few moments. Somehow, the portals are opening. Get the hell out of the house.”
Lydia gasped, and then Jagger added, “Khloe and Kalissa’s parents didn’t live at the coven because they were protecting one of the portals. At the farm.”
Damn it. Lydia glanced around. “So, any minute now, demons are going to invade this realm, and we’re standing on one of the landing pads. Fuck.”
Zach echoed her curse. “Can’t we close it or seal it or something?”
“You can’t, but we can.”
They turned to Teddy-Bear, and standing beside them was Hecate, holding the Sinew. She nodded to Zach and Lydia. “I’ll need your help. With the power of three, plus the Sinew, we can close all seven portals around the world.”
Zach shook his head. “Me? Why? I’m not a Divinity.”
“No, but you are an elf with great power who is mated to a Divinity.”
Lydia watched Zach process the goddess’s words. When he didn’t look convinced, she took Zach’s hand and tugged him over to Hecate. “Guide us through what needs to be done.”
“We will link hands and open ourselves to our power as well as that of the Sinew.” When Zach still didn’t look convinced, the goddess placed a hand on his shoulder. “Your dark power is what I need to close the portals. It’s never controlled you. Your magic does exactly what you will it to do.”
He stared at her and smiled. “And everything happens for a reason.” He straightened his spine and tightened his hold on Lydia’s hand. “I’m ready. Use and abuse me, my goddess.”
Hecate closed her eyes briefly. A slight twitch of his lips told Lydia she was trying not to be amused by Zach. When she opened her eyes again, she held out her hands. Lydia and Zach each took one and then linked hands with each other to form a small circle.
Teddy-Bear moved in behind the goddess and placed the Sinew around her neck. The sphere instantly started to glow. A steady stream of power flowed from Hecate, filling Lydia with magic so strong and pure that she felt as if she could fly and kill a thousand demons in one fell swoop.
“Focus on the purity of the magic and direct it to the portals. It doesn’t matter that you don’t know where they are, just visualize one of them and will them all locked.” Hecate’s words were calming, and her tone made Lydia believe they could do this.
Closing her eyes, Lydia focused on the portal close by while Hecate chanted. “Seven portals around the world hear us, obey us. Closed and no more open without the key, the Sinew. Hear us and obey us.”
Lydia and Zach started chanting with the goddess, saying the words over and over. Magic charged the air around them, pricking her skin and rushing through her hair. Whispers of evil swirled around her head. Lydia pushed them away and focused on shoving the negativity through the portals right before they slammed shut.
A moment later, the magic inside their circle expanded, growing stronger and larger. They chanted louder and raised their linked hands.
Then Hecate yelled, “We will it so, so shall it be!”
The power snapped outward like a rubber band, breaking their connection. Lydia flew backwards and landed on her ass a few feet away from where they’d stood. Glancing at the others, she noted they’d gotten thrown back, as well.
“It is done,” Hecate said and sagged.
The hounds went to her and nuzzled her. She reached up and petted both heads. “Come. You can recharge with me in the Afterworld.”
> Then they dematerialized.
Zach crawled to Lydia and hugged her tightly. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. You?”
“Good.”
They sat in the grass, holding each other for several long moments. Finally, Lydia stood and held out her hand. Zach took it. When he stood, she noticed a slip of paper on the ground where Hecate had sat. Odd. It hadn’t been there earlier.
Picking it up, Lydia read it, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
Zach bunched his brews. “What is it?”
She handed to paper to him. “It’s the counter curse for me. I don’t have to be a vampire for the rest of my life.”
“That’s great.” He studied her and then added, “Isn’t it?”
Lydia nodded. “Yes. But I think I’ll wait. At least until the war is over.”
Zach scooped her into his arms and carried her to the house. “Whatever you wish. I love you as a vampire or just a healer.”
“I love you, too, my dark elf.”
He kissed her briefly then teleported them to her room in the Divinity House. He laid her down on the bed and smirked. “Your elf, huh?”
“Yes. You’re mine. Just as I am yours.”
One side of his sensual mouth lifted. “Always.”
Epilogue
It’d been a month since Zach and Lydia had closed the portals with Hecate. They still hadn’t heard from Lex or Desiree. Not even the Porter’s mother had heard anything. Ayden and Zach had to go break the news to Eleese regarding what had happened in the Underworld.
Eleese felt that her daughter was still alive. And Jagger said the same thing about Lex. Both of who would know the moment they passed. The magical family bond was strong.
“Does anyone know where to begin to look for them?” Lydia said as she paced in front of the window.
Khloe sat at the desk, using the computer. “Demetrius kept records of the Dark Divine. It’ll take time to go through all the files, though. Oh, wait.”
Everyone’s attention turned to the computer genius. “What?
“A Porter child, age ten. Evolved as planned…” Khloe stopped reading out loud and drew her brows together. “Oh, this is crazy.”
“For the gods sake, what?” Zach said and walked to her.
Jagger chuckled. “It’s your funeral, elf.”
Zach flipped the Death Demon the bird and read the file over Khloe’s shoulder. “Holy fuck.”
“Yep.” Khloe read the rest of it for everyone else and then said, “The kid evolved into a changeling. He was able to take any form at will. Plus, he still had the power of a full-blood Porter.”
“Fuck. Khan will use the kid to create a damn army.” Zach straightened and ran a hand through his hair.
Lydia growled. “I bet wherever the kid is, is where we’ll find Khan and Samoan.”
“And Lex and Desiree,” Jagger added.
Khloe held up a hand. “I have a location.”
Jagger nodded to Ayden. “I say Khloe, Zach, Lydia, and I go.”
Ayden glanced at the four of them and nodded. “Agreed. Kris and I got it here.”
“Very well.” Jagger glanced to his mate. “Are you going to share the location?”
She shrugged. “I heard the Rocky Mountains are beautiful in the winter.”
Zach moved in close to his mate. “We vote to leave on the first flight out.” He wrapped an arm around Lydia’s waist and kissed her forehead. “Are you okay with that?”
She met his stare. “Yes. I saw Logan this morning. I’m good for a few hours.”
His heart ached that she still didn’t feel her son was safe enough. Hugging her closer, he whispered, “This will all be over soon. Then we can bring Logan home where he belongs.”
And Khan, as well as Samoan, would get what is coming to them.
The End
Continue The Divinities series with book 4, Divine Awakening
Coming December 2016
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About the Author
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it!
Learn More About Lia
Website: http://www.authorliadavis.com/
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Other Books by Lia Davis
Paranormals
Ashwood Falls Series
Winter Eve
A Tiger’s Claim
A Mating Dance
Surrendering to the Alpha
A Rebel’s Heart
Divided Loyalties
Touch of Desire
A Leopard’s Path
Jaguar’s Judgment
Birchwood Pack
An Alpha’s Fate
Bears of Blackrock
Bear Essentials
Bear Magick
A Beary Sweet Holiday
Sons of War Series
War’s Passion
Ashes of War
Artemis’s Hunt
Chaotic War
Sons of War Box Set: Volume One
Shifting Magick Trilogy
Moon Curse
Moon Kissed
Moon Mated
Shifting Magick Trilogy box set
The Divinities
Forgotten Visions
Death’s Storm
Dark Divine
Blood and Stone (Vampire Lords)
It’s A Vampire Christmas
Contemporaries
Pleasures of the Heart Series
Business Pleasures
Single Titles
His Guarded Heart