This magic could kill Astoria.
Nexi also knew there would be a cost if she tapped into these new powers.
A cost that apparently she’d pay for with her soul.
—
Kyden paced the lodge, unable to stand still, unable to breathe, unable to believe the predicament that Nexi had landed herself in. Questions rushed through his mind, frustrating him to no end, and still he had no answers. Yes, Nexi could fight—she wasn’t defenseless. But that didn’t change the fact that Kyden wanted her safe.
“Son.” Talon’s gentle hand cupped Kyden’s shoulder. “Nexi is powerful.” He hesitated, and then heaved a long sigh. “She is smart and clever—she’ll find a way to stay alive until we get to her.”
“I don’t give a shit if she is all of those things.” Kyden shrugged off his father’s touch. His muscles trembled as he fought against the desire to deck his father for implying Nexi should fight this battle alone. “I need to get to her, and I need to do it right fucking now.”
Talon’s firm grip grabbed Kyden’s shoulder again and then he forcibly turned him around. “I know you love her, but once, you dove into danger without thinking.” His voice was clipped, eyes ablaze. “I’ll remind you that you both almost lost your lives when you fought against Lazarus.”
“I. Do. Not. Need. The. Reminder,” Kyden growled, breaking free from Talon. Kyden vividly remembered the event; he and his pride were protecting Nexi when Lazarus captured him, then moments later he was almost killed by a pack of wolves when Nexi tried to save them both. Hindsight, he knew they should have asked for Otherworld help instead of facing down the threats on their own. But their hearts didn’t wait for backup.
“You’d do the same for Zia, and do not tell me otherwise.” It wasn’t outright knowledge that his father and Zia were a couple, because they felt their relationship needed to remain in the background because of their roles in the Otherworld. But Talon held a deep love for Zia—Kyden never doubted that.
“You’re right. I probably would. But I’d also form a plan first.” His father’s eyes softened, as did his voice. “Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment. We will get Nexi home safely, but allow the Council to deal with it as we would any other assignment.” He leaned down toward Kyden’s face, saying firmly, “I kept Finn out of it because it was too—”
Kyden came nose-to-nose with his father. “Don’t you dare—”
Talon sighed, backing up a step and giving distance. The light coming from the candelabra above him revealed a deep frown. “I’m not going to keep you from finding her, but you need to calm down. You cannot lose, Nexi. I cannot lose you.” Tender gentleness brushed across his features. “Believe that Nexi will be all right until we get to her. She is a fighter.”
Fuck, Kyden almost hated that about her, because he knew his Nexi. In the face of evil, she wouldn’t stay quiet and be smart about it. She’d fight. His stomach roiled as the horrific reality of this flowed over him. “I need her.”
“I know you do, son.” Talon returned his hand to Kyden’s shoulder. “But I beg of you, be smart about this.”
Annoyance might’ve filled him at what Talon implied, but…“I know I act impulsively when it comes to Nexi.” Even now he wanted to go to Ellery’s and question her further. Perhaps she’d heard something or been told more details about Astoria’s whereabouts.
He craved to bleed anyone painfully and slowly who didn’t give him answers to gain more information, but torture wasn’t the Council’s way. A long sigh spilled from his mouth as he rubbed his face, forcing the rage to calm in his veins. “Emotions fuel me instead of logic, I realize this.” He stared at his father, the sense of utter helplessness not one he enjoyed. “It doesn’t change the fact that I will tear anyone apart who stands between me and her.”
Talon tapped Kyden’s forehead, his voice lifting with determination. “Use this first to find her, not your sword.” His eyes flared with conviction, and Kyden wasn’t blind to Talon’s love for Nexi. “Then we’ll bleed that witch dry.”
“Nexi’s alive.”
Kyden glanced over Talon’s shoulder, meeting Zia’s teary eyes as she stood near the couches that were surrounding the large stone fireplace. The witches, who were all quiet, intensely focused to find one of their own, sat on the floor beside her. Kyden reminded himself that he wasn’t the only one missing and worrying about Nexi now. “How can you be so sure?”
“Shay is still seeing her,” was Zia’s reply.
Shay, an Earth Witch in the Council’s Guard, held the gift of premonition. The fact that Shay saw Nexi in the future meant Nexi still had one, and that was good news as far as Kyden was concerned.
He slid his glance to Shay, near what he assumed to be the welcome desk. She sat on the floor next to Haven, as all the Earth Witches held hands in a circle. Shay’s long, dark hair trailed over her shoulder, as the strands on her forehead were stuck to the beads of sweat gathered there. Holten and Zade stood behind the circle, and the rest of their group stayed by the entrance in silence. Apparently, everyone knew what had happened and who was missing.
Kyden rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, willing the hot anger to cool. His soul pulsated to act, but what could he do? All he could do now was not accept a reality where Nexi didn’t come out of this alive. “What is Shay seeing?”
Zia wiped at the tears trailing over her cheeks. “She’s seeing Nexi in the Earthworld because she can spot the sun, but she’s not getting a sense of an accurate location or seeing anything more than Nexi’s face.” Zia hesitated, then gave her head a hard shake. “I’m not sure why Shay can’t get a closer feel on her.”
Kyden wondered aloud. “Astoria must have her somewhere where magic is disrupted, or she has somehow magically altered Nexi so we can’t find her.”
Zia nodded. “I’m guessing you’re right. There are many Earth cities that could disrupt our magic, but it’s impossible to pinpoint the location without more details.” Her eyelids lowered, shoulders slumped. “Typically any place that has large rock deposits hinders Earth Witches. The high levels of natural elements conflict with our elemental magic.”
Kyden grunted. “There’s no way to break that hold?”
“I’m afraid not,” was Zia’s grim reply.
He drew in a long breath rich with frustration, and he looked at Shay. Kyden was unsure what he felt more, sadness or anger that he couldn’t find a way to get to Nexi himself. He loathed depending on others to find what belonged to him. For this one moment, he allowed the anger simmering inside to consume him, since that was an emotion he could deal with. Sadness or grief he could not. “Can you not track her somehow?”
“If we had a starting point, then maybe.” Zia shrugged. “Tracking a witch with magic takes time—hours, even. But the magic would need a place to start.”
Kyden had no doubt in his mind that if Zia knew how to find Nexi she’d already be on her way. He stuffed away any further questions that would lead him down a road with no answers. Besides, the dark edge to Zia’s features told Kyden she was equally frustrated to be at a dead end.
More than his concern over Nexi’s safety, and past the desire driving him to madness to somehow find a way to help her, he couldn’t believe Nexi was in such a dangerous position…again. He ran his hands over his face and murmured to himself, “When is this all going to end?”
“Nexi is special,” Zia replied to his aloud thought. “That specialness will bring others who want to steal it. Her life will settle, Kyden.” She cupped his shoulder, offering him a warm comfort he appreciated. “She simply needs to find her place is all.”
Kyden bowed his head, inhaling the cool air to push past the rage slowly building in his chest. The lodge was quiet and Kyden almost wished there was more panic—the silence was eerie, unsettling. “I’m afraid she’ll die before she fully settles in to this life.”
“As am I,” Zia stated.
Taken aback by Zia’s admission, he lifted his head and noticed
tears flooding Zia’s face as she said, “After Tillie died, and when Drake made the decision to send Nexi away to the Earthworld, blocking her powers, I disagreed with him. I believed she should’ve stayed with us.” Another tear ran down her cheek before she cleared it away. “Now I realize why he did it. She would’ve been safer, lived a life of happiness, without all this constant danger. Her specialness will always make her a target.”
Kyden wasn’t sure how he felt about that. If Nexi hadn’t returned to the Otherworld he wouldn’t have her in his life. He’d always been strong in his purpose and duty to the Council, and he had a habit of disagreeing with strong guardians who chose not to work for the Council.
Now he didn’t know how he felt, and that ate at him.
He never doubted himself.
Nor did he question his actions.
Kyden didn’t know where to stand or what to do, and it all unnerved him. Taking a quick look at the witches, he spotted Shay sweating profusely, her hand trembling around Haven’s. That told Kyden she was trying desperately to get more information out of her visions through Haven’s link to Nexi.
“We’re not out of hope yet,” Zia said, drawing Kyden’s focus to her. She squeezed his shoulder, softening his voice. “We need to keep believing we’ll get her back.”
He wondered if Zia said that for his benefit or hers.
Kyden hated that he couldn’t agree with what Zia had said, more than he hated how unstable the world was around him. He didn’t need hope. He didn’t want positive thinking. He needed to act. He needed Nexi, nothing else. “Please, just keep thinking of anything else that could help find her.”
Zia inclined her head. “Of course.”
Without another word, she strode to the witches, and Kyden looked down at Willow. She’d shifted back to cat form immediately after the fight, but now Kyden wasn’t seeing her as a useless rodent—she was the one who’d alerted Kyden to Nexi’s peril, and he felt grateful. Yet as he regarded her, even for a cat, he spotted the sadness and frustration in her eyes. “Can you not get to Nexi, either?”
Willow shook her head with a hiss, baring her tiny teeth.
A heavy sigh had him lifting his head. He found Shay with her catlike pupils staring right at him. “I’m sorry, Kyden. I keep getting the same image of her somewhere near trees and a lake, I believe.” Shay released Haven’s hand, along with the other witch, turning to Zia. “I’m not able to get any more details than that.”
“That is just not good enough. We must find her,” Haven implored, with red-rimmed eyes. “She’s safe now, but who knows if that’s going to change. We can’t leave her out there…alone.”
Kyden’s stomach churned, knowing that’s exactly what Nexi was…alone.
The rage bubbling within threatened to explode and the wall next to him looked like a great target. But he knew he needed to think. Nexi needed him to think. To find her. To not lose his cool.
There was no way he would accept that they were out of options. It couldn’t even form as a possibility in his mind. There had to be a way to find her—he simply needed to see it. He asked Shay, “You do see her face, though?” At Shay’s nod, he added, “Does she look afraid?”
“No,” Shay said grimly. “She looks pissed off.”
Classic Nexi Jones. She’d always been a spitfire ready to fight. He scanned over the Council, who all watched him in return. Then his gaze fell to Finn, who had stayed near the entrance with the others.
Next steps…
Shay and the witches were of no use in locating Nexi. She was near trees, nature, mountains most likely. They couldn’t track her because they had no starting point; even the wolves needed a scent to follow. He ran his hands over his face, controlling his thoughts. No one in the Otherworld could locate her; if they could, they’d be out doing so.
No one in the Otherworld crossed again through his mind. They needed a starting point…Werewolves…Portal…
He dropped his hands, and with the world spinning a little bit faster now, he stared at his father as an idea slowly formed. “What if…”
Talon’s head cocked in curiosity. “What are you thinking?”
Kyden’s mind raced as an idea cemented in his mind—one that gave him hope. He’d done things the Council’s way, but he wouldn’t sit by any longer. He couldn’t stay in this lodge and do nothing. “I know a way to find her.” Then he turned on his heels and ran for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Talon called.
“I’m listening to your damn advice,” he yelled to his father without looking back. “Instead of hunting for blood, I’m going to ask for help.”
Chapter 16
A scream of agony cut across Nexi, sending iciness into her soul, until she realized it had come from her mouth. The shield at her front grew stronger, thicker, more powerful and hinted at something even deadlier. Her soul fought to rid itself of the energy flickering within, yet Nexi knew if she let it go, she would die.
“Accept the power.”
The smooth and deep masculine voice didn’t brush through her mind, it sounded right next to Nexi’s ear. She turned, not seeing anyone, but sensing someone standing behind her, as if he stood right at her back, protecting her.
“Draw it in. Use it to fight. No longer refuse how talented you are.”
She didn’t recognize the man talking. Nor did she understand what he was trying to tell her. “Use what?” Her voice sounded rough, and not much like herself.
“Stand against this witch. Welcome the power. Then unleash it.”
The moment she heard his advice it was as if she could no longer deny the power protecting her. She wouldn’t let this witch kill her, no matter that she didn’t know if Kyden was alive or dead. Tonight she would not die, not after all she’d gone through—she wouldn’t die like this, and not by the hand of Lazarus’s mate.
This power slithering inside her told her she could fight, and she could win.
She centered herself on the rich energy, realizing that her fear of the unknown and of the new energy tempting her had kept her from taking action against Astoria. The power was right there, ready for her to grab. It was stronger than the magic thrown at her. She tasted the richness of it, the way if she pulled the magic in it would fuel her strength.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled the energy, drawing it deep into her soul and savoring it on her tongue. The elements hummed within her, rejecting the idea of what Nexi proposed, but she fought against what the elements wanted, knowing she had no other choice.
The only reason she still lived was because of this magic that was foreign to her. How could she reject it? Going against her soul, Nexi wrapped herself around the energy, feeling her soul reaching out to accept it. The tendrils of magic weaved around her like a warm hug, pooling right into her blood. Yet in the seconds she yanked it inside and settled it into the center of her core, she realized the mistake she made.
It felt dark.
Wrong.
The power wasn’t safe, it was designed out of pure hatred to kill, not to protect others. But it was too late for her to go back—she became an incubator, sucking in the power and allowing it to brew. Strength filled her that was bottomless, lonely and cold to the core. Evil crept in, and darkness filtered through, invading every molecule of her being.
“What magic is this?” Astoria screamed, the fire banging against her shield vanishing. “What are you doing?”
Nexi didn’t know what Astoria saw, and she couldn’t see anything but a dark cloud in front of her. She couldn’t recognize anything but the rich power crawling at her soul, rejoicing that she’d accepted it, as if was meant to be a part of her.
Astoria attempted to pull the smoke away, but it was too late. The magic fed Nexi’s blood, becoming a single part of her. It tangled like energy weaving its way around her soul. Part of Nexi fought against the horror of it. The other part welcomed it.
This magic made her stronger, unstoppable, confusingly made her hungry for more.
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br /> With a push past what the elements and her soul wanted, the evil so rich and dark consumed her. She pinched her eyes shut tighter, her screams blending together in a loud roar she didn’t recognize. Gripping the dark sensation, and the evil lurking all around her, she allowed the magic to own her. The heady energy centered in her chest, controlled and determined, and she told the magic what she wanted: Kill the witch.
She screamed a sound that she’d heard in Astoria’s portal as the magic poured from Nexi’s shield, the wall of energy moving faster with a punishing vortex of air that was unbreakable.
The strength was endless, and it tempted Nexi to never let it go.
Astoria’s shrieks of horrific agony washed over Nexi in a sound so beautiful she wanted to hear it for a lifetime. Astoria would die, and that dark shadow withering inside of Nexi approved, desperate to hear her death over and over again.
Only when the screaming stopped did Nexi’s magic go quiet—as if the hunger had been satisfied—though the fight inside Nexi began.
Keep me. I will protect you, no one will get close, the magic whispered.
Her soul rebounded, the elements pushing against all the wrongness. Fight, the elements roared.
Screaming from the inside out, Nexi fought to stop the evil from taking hold, and she battled to erase the dark energy flowing through her veins. Visions sped through her mind of what the power could offer her, and of all that she could gain.
She didn’t have to stand by and watch her loved ones die.
No longer would she be a victim.
The dark visitor stole what was good in her soul. It crept into everything that she’d once believed, forcing her to forget her true self. Rich evil seeped like thick black blood into her body and held tight against her moral fiber, fighting to own her.
Nexi pushed against those dark desires. She hadn’t come this far to fail now, and her soul denied the power to kill the good parts of her. With the sheer force of her stubbornness, her soul rallied to fight back. She didn’t want this power, nor did she need it. And she knew, deep in her heart, that if she accepted it she’d be lost forever.
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