His eyes were pained. Aidan looked down at me and I felt the inferno of emotions tearing him apart. I funneled the calming energy toward him, hoping to help reduce the intensity of what he was going through.
“No,” he said as he pulled away and shoved my hands down, shaking his head. “Don’t do that. I need to feel this. I am finally part of something, Amelia. They are my family and it’s my job to take care of them.”
The anguish in his heart and eyes killed me. I reached back up toward him and laid my hand on his cheek, holding my power back.
“I’m sorry, Aidan. I was so focused on the end, on what I was supposed to do, I didn’t think about what this might do to you.” I was ashamed, and I didn’t hide it. He deserved the truth.
Aidan reached out and wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, lightly pulling me toward him. He touched his forehead to mine and his words were choked.
“How am I supposed to make the right choice? What even is the right choice?” he asked, his voice thick with conflicted emotion. “I can’t walk away from you, Amelia. I couldn’t leave you if I wanted to, but I left them. I left the people I was supposed to protect. My people, my father’s people. People who trusted me and made me their leader. I left them because I will always choose you, but how do I know I made the right choice? Since we came into the castle, I haven’t been able to hear them. We don’t know what’s happening over there and I left them to handle it alone. If anything happens…” he trailed off, and I was left with the weight of his guilt and the soul-crushing shame he felt at failing his duties as AniMage King.
My heart ached for him. Aidan was so patient. He fought for me, for this cause he barely understood, with everything he had. We were always so busy making the next choice, I hadn’t stopped to think about what it cost him.
I reached up and threaded my fingers through the hair on the back of his head, pulling back to look into his eyes. “Aidan, we won’t ever know if the choices we make are the right ones. We have to trust our instincts, trust our hearts, and trust each other. I know you can’t feel it like I do, but we are in the right place. We are on the verge of solving this puzzle. When we do, we will get back to the States as fast as we can. We’ll find the AniMages, we’ll find our friends, and we’ll end this. Together, we will end this. There is no other option. We have needed each other every step since we got off that plane. I can’t do this without you, Aidan.”
He swallowed and closed his eyes, nodding. When he opened them, a forced calm layered over his frustration. I felt his power stretch and unfold through him. “I’m with you, doll. Just tell me what we need to do.”
I balanced on my tiptoes and softly kissed him, both a thank you and a promise.
I turned to stand next to him and we stared at the wall of light. “We need to identify the symbols and decide what order to pull them down in,” I said.
“These are clearly the sun and moon,” he said. “This one looks like the Elder symbol you drew me, and these are fire, earth, air, and water.”
“I know you weren’t listening while Micah explained these. Impressive, Montgomery.” I smirked and gave him a playful shove. “These four are the symbols for our people.” I waited and watched, finally pointing as they drifted down toward us.
“You were right,” I confirmed. “The four intersecting circles surrounded by a circle is the symbol for the Elders. The shield with two arrows intersecting is for the Hunters. The circle with the small offshoots that look like claws represent the AniMages, and the one that is a diamond with two of the edges extended into what looks like tails, that is for the Mages. Micah also explained the two moon-looking slivers on each side of the circle is the symbol for mother. I have no idea what to do with that one.”
We stood and watched the symbols repeat, floating from top to bottom. It looked like a flashlight was behind each one, setting it off from the sheen of light making up the wall.
“Elements, the sun and moon, the races, and a mother,” I mused, running the options in my mind. “We know the races are having issues getting pregnant, so what if this is tied to that? The mother is first, followed by the races, who use the elements, which are influenced by the sun and moon?”
Aidan didn’t look away as he replied, “Makes sense to me. What’s the worst that could happen?”
I shrugged, having no real idea. “Think we should ask Charlie and Onyx?”
Aidan took a step into Onyx’s path and he immediately started to growl. It came from deep within Onyx’s chest and with each step, we saw more of his teeth. I grabbed Aidan and pulled him back to my side.
“I’m going to venture a guess that we’re on our own here,” I said sarcastically. “But they would have warned us, don’t you think? I mean, really, why would they bring us all the way here and then give us nothing to work with?” I asked. My rationalizations didn’t sit well in my gut and I felt Aidan’s wariness, but neither of us voiced our fear, so we stepped closer.
I reached toward the full moon offset by the two slivers, the symbol for mother, when the nagging in the pit of my stomach stopped me and I turned to Aidan. I looked up at him, and he watched me, questioning. I reached out and grasped his hand in mine.
“We’re going to do this, and we have no idea what it means or what will happen, but I wanted to tell you…” The words stuck in my throat as his eyes widened. “I…um…thank you,” I croaked, and his face fell, but he quickly hid it.
I rushed to salvage the moment. “Thank you for not giving up on us — on me — and thank you for coming for me. For embracing Bethany, taking care of Charlie, and being more than I ever expected.” It was all true, but once again, I had chickened out.
Aidan squeezed my hand, his expression morphing into amusement. He cupped his free hand under my chin and tilted my head up, leaning down to brush my lips with his. “You’re welcome, Ame. And, I appreciate that. But, let’s get on with it.”
I smiled against his second kiss and resumed my position. I reached up and as soon as my fingers grazed the river of magic, I felt a tingle all the way to my toes. It was euphoria, but also distracting. I wanted to curl up inside the feeling and lose myself there.
With a quick shake of my head, I stood on my tiptoes and reached for the mother symbol. With my other hand, I grabbed the Mage symbol. As I pulled the shiny symbols from the stream of magic, the glowing silver faded to a dull metal. Each one became a small weight in my hand, the size of a golf ball, while retaining its original shape.
“Now, you, Aidan. Get the AniMage and Hunter. Charlie said we have to do this together.” I felt the weight of the two symbols in my palm and watched as Aidan turned. Without hesitation, he grabbed the two symbols as they reached him.
As the magic stream closed in on the space where the Hunter symbol had been, I heard a crack. We turned, looking into every corner of the room. Seconds later, both dogs stilled and Aidan shoved me behind him as the ceiling above the first door we’d come through crashed down around us.
30
A caravan of vehicles headed south on Route One. We didn’t know where we were headed exactly, but we knew we had to outrun the Hunters who would be at Derreck’s property soon. There were too many women still pregnant and unable to shift, so we traveled the old fashioned way. And I hated it.
I sat in the passenger seat, Baleon behind the wheel, both of us silent. In order to pack all our supplies, we had to bring multiple vehicles. The pregnant women were spread across them, just in case we were ambushed. Lilith took up the back of Elias’s Suburban, the massive Tigress ready to give birth to her kittens at any moment. Willow brought up the rear. The healer who helped remove my mother’s spell was now a leader among the women.
Our SUV held the most occupants, but the majority were unbound and not pregnant, which meant they shifted into smaller animals to stay more comfortable. Most took the form of small cats, curled up together and sleeping through the journey. The rest watched out the windows, likely holding conversations telepathically.
And she would.
I sat straighter, looking at everything and nothing at once as my mind churned with possibilities. She would take me back. She would trust me if I told her I was coming back, because she couldn’t prove otherwise. It had irritated her to no end that she could never read my mind, but she had at least acknowledged that it gave me some right to my position. I was more than “just a Mage”.
“Prince Mikail?” Bale questioned softly, giving me a sideways look. “I do not like the look on your face.”
I smirked, and responded, “No, Bale, I don’t suppose you do. You won’t like this at all.”
He sighed. His eyes closed briefly as he shook his head. Bale was used to following me into situations he disliked. The fact that I was able to keep him out of sight in Brighton was a feat of wills, especially the day Bethany and Amelia showed up at Esmerelda’s. Bale had been around a corner with a message from Tragar when they arrived to ambush Aidan and me.
Bethany. That memory took me in directions I did not want to go. I hated not knowing where she was or how she was. I hoped Cole was taking care of her like he’d promised. If he didn’t keep her safe, there was a good chance I’d kill him myself. And it wouldn’t be hard now that he had no power and Amelia wasn’t around to protect him.
I sighed. Bethany deserved more than me, though. She deserved someone who could truly protect her, and love her, and age with her. Her frustration with Immortals was apparent when she left. She didn’t need me, even if I needed her.
I had to focus. Realizing what I had to say next couldn’t be overheard, I switched to telepathy.
We’re going back to Cresthaven.
We will not, he responded. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his eyes flaring orange. I dug into the glovebox and handed him a pair of dark sunglasses.
We will. We must. She will never expect it. I settled back in my seat, looking out at the road ahead. We were on the Pacific Coast Highway and the winding road gave me the opportunity to stare out at the ocean.
I heard Bale grind his teeth together. What is it she will not be expecting, Prince Mikail?
Me, to come home, and kill her, I responded without looking away from the crashing waves.
The car jerked as Bale swiveled in his seat, his mouth open. He quickly righted himself, and the car.
Of all the statements for you to make, that was the one I had hoped you wouldn’t. He sighed. You do not understand the weight of a life, Mikail. It will take a part of your soul. And your own mother? That is not what you want. Why now? What has changed?
I held out my hand and a thin piece of leather appeared. I yanked my hair back and quickly secured it before rolling the window down halfway. The salty sea air rushed in, taking his words away and giving me renewed strength.
In a low whisper, I said, “We searched for her hidden chamber for years, Bale. We knew she was taking women, but we didn’t know why and were never able to find them. My mother was kidnapping our people, essentially raping them, and then forcing them to have children she either killed or took. She would have made Amelia do the same, or likely worse. She is mad, and this cannot continue. I am the Prince of the Immortals. If she is gone, I can rule. Amelia and Aidan may or may not find anything of value in Syria, but in the meantime, I can put us on the path to the right future. And she will never suspect a thing.”
It seemed like the only logical solution, yet Baleon looked at me like I had lost my mind. He flipped on his signal and pulled to the side of the road. When the SUV was in park, he ordered everyone to stay inside, got out, and came to my side. As he opened my door, he waved at Elias and Willow to stay in their vehicles. I slowly got out, wondering where this was going. Bale looked down at me, his eyes suddenly sad. Then, he knelt in front of me, and I immediately understood.
He tried to speak, and I yelled for him to get up. I pulled at his jacket and eventually launched at his shoulders, trying to knock him over, to stop him in some way. Left with no other choice, I finally yelled, “I command you to get up and be quiet!”
Baleon’s mouth snapped shut and he stood, but his eyes burned orange and he glared, furious. He couldn’t refuse my command, it was part of his original oath to me.
“I will not allow you to make that oath, Bale. You have already made one to me and I will not put that on you. This is my choice. My mother damaged our people, our future, my friends, and…me,” I finished quietly, my eyes dropping as my anger deflated to resolve. “This is my choice, Bale. I appreciate what you tried to do, but the best you can do for me now is help me. We both know the world will be better for it. Now, speak your turn.”
His glare faded. “It has been many years since you exercised that ability,” he said with a smirk. We both remembered the night I decided I would run away. I commanded Baleon to help me. He packed my bag and ushered me through the halls toward the grounds of Cresthaven. We were almost at the main gate when he started to ask me questions. “Where will we go, how will we eat, what will we do for money in the human world…?” Questions I had no idea how to answer at eleven years old. Eventually, I was more scared of the outside than the inside.
“I will not dissuade you now as I did then,” he said. “You are a man, Prince Mikail, a fine man. And you know your own soul and what it can withstand. If this is the will of the Gods, then so be it. I will protect you as I always have.” Baleon pulled his fist to his heart and gave me a small bow.
Once back on the road, the cell phone we’d picked up from a gas station along the highway started ringing. Elias explained since we were already heading toward Brighton, we should just take everyone back to the caves the AniMages had previously used. There were supplies, it was well hidden, and magic barriers helped reinforce the cloaking. I couldn’t disagree with his logic, and was glad to know we had a destination. Now, I also knew how quickly Baleon and I could get back on the road.
To Cresthaven. To kill my mother.
I said those words in my mind, over and over, waiting for them to make me feel guilty. The guilt had yet to show. The only reaction was a need for action. My foot tapped a quick rhythm on the floorboard and I jumped as a hand reached out and grasped my shoulder.
“It’s only me, Micah, don’t be alarmed.” Cora’s soft voice floated up from behind me. She crouched just behind my seat. I turned to her and brought a forced smile to my face.
“We should be to our destination in a few hours,” I said. She nodded, sliding her hand from my shoulder to my elbow.
“I know. Dillon is quite anxious to show me where he’s been living while I was…away.” Cora looked back over her shoulder to Dillon’s sleeping form. Her eyes were filled with such love and I hated the twinge of jealousy that rose inside me.
“But that’s not why I’m here,” she continued. “Micah, you should wait for Amelia and Aidan to return. I know you’re planning something, but they will bring back knowledge you need. Do not act hastily. What has happened to our people occurred over decades, it cannot be undone in a day.”
I sat straighter. Indignant, I leaned in, my words just above a whisper. “I would kindly ask you to stay out of this, Cora.”
Her hopeful expression faded as she nodded. “I see. I will do that then. Good luck, Prince Mikail.”
I turned to face forward and caught a knowing look from Baleon that I chose to ignore.
I hadn’t actually been to Elias’s caves, though I’d made the trek there from the confines of Amelia’s mind when she went to rescue Bethany. The steps were foreign, though the landscape was familiar. I picked my way through the trees, distracted by my own thoughts. I was ready to go. I was ready to be alone in the car with Bale so we could make our plans and get on with it.
Once on the larger path, Willow stepped up beside me. “It’s str
ange not being able to read you like we can normally read each other. Your emotions are a blank space, but your body is not. I see the weight you carry. Would you like to talk about it? I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”
Her voice pulled at me and I briefly considered asking her opinion, but I shook my head quickly and dismissed the notion. “No,” I barked out, before backtracking. I swallowed my defensive tone and tried again. “I mean, thank you, Willow, but no, I do not need to talk.”
Willow looked up at me, her green eyes the same color as the magic flowing through her. Green grass on a summer day after a good rain, that’s what her eyes made me think of. She continued to stare at me, both of us stopped in the middle of the trail. The moment I decided to look away, she brought her hand to my chest and placed it over my heart.
“Your pain is buried, but it won’t stay that way. Be careful what reason you give it to come forward. You can either rid yourself of it, or it will consume you,” she said, eyes filled with compassion and worry. Then she turned away and continued up the path, leaving me standing there, missing the warmth of her hand and wondering how she knew.
At that same moment, Dillon streaked past me, a jack rabbit in human form. I caught a high pitched “‘scuse me” as he rushed past. I shook my head and followed him. Baleon was a few steps behind me and I motioned him forward. As we walked in stride, he spoke.
“Do you feel right leaving them so soon, Prince Mikail? We cannot guarantee their safety here, and we need them for the same reasons your mother did. They can carry life. We have no future to protect without offspring.” Bale’s words were true, and I’d thought over this issue myself many times.
“Elias says they will be safe. And we won’t be gone long. We have to do this, Bale. There is no other way into Cresthaven. You know Rhi will have taken charge of the Hunters. My mother will want vengeance.” I squeezed my fists, the muscles in my body coiled tight. I had never fought my mother overtly. I made choices she didn’t know of and I helped those opposed to her, but I never stood against her like I did the day we rescued Amelia.
Bound by Prophecy (Bound Series Book 3) Page 16