“You have to keep trying,” Bash insisted. “Don’t give up so easily.”
“You’re right.” I went back to the beginning of the journal. Instead of glancing at one page at a time, I focused on the first symbol only. It was a picture of a bird, head facing left. Its wings were relaxed at its sides as if it perched on a branch. I wasn’t sure if the type of bird mattered. The bird twitched. I rubbed my eyes, looking again. Nothing happened. Then, the wing moved. Suddenly, the entire picture contorted. Just as fast, the bird returned to its original picture. Once more, it attempted to shift. It seemed to be fighting against the change.
I had an idea. I concentrated on my vibrating fingers, pushing my power into the tips. The exterior of the book glowed with a yellow hue. Something was happening. I was sure of it. The bird shifted into the letter A. It was working. I couldn’t believe it. All I needed to do was concentrate on each symbol, one at a time. Just as I was filling with optimism, my power flickered. A second later, it shut off completely. I tried to surge my energy once more, but nothing happened. Even the humming in my hands was gone.
Staring at my open palms, I said, “What the hell?”
“What happened?” Bash asked, eyebrows drawn together.
“My power … it’s gone,” I said, stuttering. “A symbol had changed into a letter. But when I tried to increase my power, it turned off completely. Now I can’t conjure my magic at all.”
“Your power can’t be gone. Keep trying.”
I closed my eyes, attempting to use the meditation techniques Rowan had taught me. I tried to visualize myself, but the image was fuzzy. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get into focus. I had a sinking sensation in my stomach. Something had gone wrong. Even when I had exhausted my power, I could still see my aura. I could sense my power. Now, when I closed my eyes, my vision was blurred. And beyond the blur, all I could see was blackness.
“This can’t be,” I said out loud. I wasn’t sure if I was talking to Bash or myself.
“What?” he questioned, pressing his lips together.
My heart pounded in my ears, hands shaking. “My powers are gone.”
Chapter Fifteen
Rowan
The last twenty-four hours flew by in a blur. Fire elementals from all over the territory arrived at the castle. They wished to see their new king, although I had not gone through a crowning ceremony—a line formed, running down the main hallway. I sat on the lava rock steps, still not ready to sit on the throne. Most elementals had come because they had some dispute to settle. I spent the last fifteen minutes listening to a three-foot-tall troll make her case against a goblin. She claimed he tried to poison her.
As I listened to each complaint, I tried my best to make the right decision. Fire elementals fight over just about anything. It could be something as silly as an argument over wine or as serious as murder. The truth was that the fire court had been in turmoil for many years. Prisma kept everyone in line by force, but Liana tended to look the other way. Most fire elementals had become accustomed to living in a constant state of chaos. Getting the court back in order would take some time and a lot of attention.
Unfortunately, I was out of time.
Reports from the mortal world seemed to come in hourly. Massive fires continued to break out, causing major damage and death. Attacks against the air and woodland courts continued. I’d set up a reward system to capture rogue elementals and bring them the justice they deserved. After just one day, I had over one hundred traitors in the cells beneath the castle. I had yet to decided what I would do with them. I wanted to make examples out of them, but I did not want to return the court to the same sense of panic that Prisma had kept them in for so long. I had to find a better way to control the elementals without forcing them to live in fear.
I had not been challenged by any more of Valac’s followers. Their silence was a relief, but I never let my guard down. It was only a matter of time before they would strike again. I was sure he would send more assassins. He might not be much of a fighter, but he was smart. Valac was able to raise an army after his exile and turn courts against one another. I wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating him in the future. But I did wonder about Selene. Kalin said she went against Valac, trying to convince him not to kill me. I had no idea what type of repercussion she had suffered for her actions.
I certainly hoped Valac hadn’t killed his sister.
“Your Highness?” the troll asked, rubbing the bottom of her oversized nose with a cloth. “Have you reached your verdict?” Black rounded eyes stared at me, awaiting my decision. Rows of canine teeth were exposed when she smiled.
“Unless you have some proof the goblin tried to poison you, I cannot punish him.”
Her pudgy fists clenched at her sides. “Proof has never been required in the past. Why do I need it now?”
I stood, wanting the entire line of elementals to hear me. “From now on, any fire elemental who commits a crime will get a fair trial and punishment. If there’s no proof, I will dismiss the charges.”
The crowd let out a collective groan. A reaction that I expected, but still amazed me. The elementals resisted change that provided them freedom and protection. “Does anyone have something they would like to add?”
The crowd silenced.
“Your turn,” I said, waving the next elemental forward.
By the time I reached the end of the line, I was ready to pass out. That was the most I’d ever spoken at one time. I reached a point where I was sick of hearing my voice. I scanned the cathedral-sized hall. At least a few hundred elementals had packed the throne room. They stayed to watch the proceedings. Some snacked on berries and other fruits while I dealt out the punishment. They even clapped when they were satisfied with my verdict. It was entertainment for them. It reminded me of the mortal television channel they called Court TV.
I was about to return to my chambers when I heard a roar that shook the walls.
The floor rumbled like an earthquake. A thumping beat got louder as it seemed to be heading my way. When I could stand, I reached for my sword. I squeezed the handle as the door pushed open. Gabriel hounds poured into the room, lining the walls. They each found a spot on the barrier, sitting back on their hind legs. Many of the remaining elementals panicked. No one could exit, which caused a few of them to scream out in fear. Then the last hound entered, heading straight for me. He stopped in front of me and bowed.
It was Marcus.
“Welcome back, my friend.” Addressing the crowd, I said, “There is no need to be afraid. I invited the hounds to return to this castle.”
While I waited for Marcus to shift into his mortal form, I sent someone to get clothes for him. Within a few minutes, his curly brown hair and forest green eyes had returned. Something was different about him. He seemed bigger than I remembered. Perhaps this was something that happened when one of them became the pack leader? I handed him a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. None of the other hounds had shifted. They remained in their same positions, watching over the crowd, and snarling when one of the elementals got too close.
“Were you going for fashionably late?” I asked Marcus.
With a gruff voice, he said, “My stay at the air court castle lasted longer than I expected. I need to talk to you—”
“We’ll have to talk about that later,” I insisted. “Right now, we have an announcement to make.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We do?”
I pointed to the spot next to me. “Stand beside me.”
Marcus cautiously made his way up the steps. He stood at my side, arms crossed. “Are you getting ready to propose?”
“Don’t you wish.”
He shook his head.
I addressed the crowd. “Effective immediately, all gabriel hounds are released from their duties. They are now full-fledged members of our court with the same rights as any other. If they choose to remain in their current positions, they will receive payment for their work. Guardians who wish t
o continue their service will become knights of our court.”
The rest of the room gasped. A goblin came forward, pointing a sharp finger at one of the hounds. “They cannot be members of our court. They were made, not born. Prisma created them to guard and serve us. Who will protect us now?”
Rage bubbled in my chest. It took everything I had not to slice through the goblin’s throat. “How they came to be is irrelevant. From this day forward, they are members of our family. Marcus, their new pack leader, will have a spot on the council as one of my advisors.”
An ogre stood next to the goblin, triple his size. “They are animals.” The crowd cheered in agreement.
I never thought I’d see the day when these two creatures would agree on anything. It figured it would be on this topic. A fire ignited in my palms, and everyone but Marcus took a step back. It took a lot more than fire to scare a hound. “If you challenge my decision, be prepared to face me. This ruling is final. There will be no exceptions.”
The horde silenced while the two creatures backed away together. I took that as my cue to leave. I’d had enough for one day. I signaled for Marcus to follow me. He said something to one of the hounds before we left, and they stayed in position as we exited out of a side door. The hallway was quiet for the first time today. The silence was a relief.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Marcus said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, I did.”
He bowed. “Thank you, my king.”
I rolled my eyes and punched him playfully on the shoulder. “Come on.”
As we headed toward my chambers, I took a closer look at Marcus. Not only had his muscle mass expanded, but his facial features had become defined, chiseled. My best friend could put the WWE wrestlers to shame. “Damn, bro. What kind of steroids have you been taking?”
He chuckled.
I couldn’t stop staring at him. It was as if he had aged ten years. “Seriously, what happened while you were gone?”
Marcus glanced at his enormous forearms. “The change happened gradually. Each time I shifted, I got bigger. I first noticed after I left the woodland territory.”
I opened my bedroom door, walking in after Marcus. He made a beeline for a platter of fruit and pastries someone had left. “What does Ariel think of the new you?” I asked, watching him stuff a whole muffin in his mouth.
Once he had chewed and swallowed his snack, he replied, “It took her a minute to get used to it. I have to be more careful with her. Sometimes I forget how much stronger I am.”
“Do you think you could take me?” I joked.
He laughed. “I could rip you in half.”
I poured myself a glass of wine. “I don’t doubt that.”
Marcus ate half the platter before he spoke again. “Rowan, there is something serious we need to discuss. Something that you’re not going to like.”
I raised my eyebrows, curious. “If it’s that bad, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I wanted to wait until we were alone.”
An overwhelming sense of worry came over me. “Okay, tell me now.”
“It’s about Kalin.”
My entire body tensed when he said her name. I tried not to get angry, but he knew me well enough to know that anything involving her was a top priority. He shouldn’t have waited to tell me. “What happened?”
“I want you to promise you’ll hear me out before you react.”
“Tell me,” I said, teeth clenched.
He let out a long breath. “Kalin is set to marry an air elemental named Sebastian in six months, but Ariel said it was all part of her plan.”
Setting a wedding date was never part of Kalin’s plan. I had warned her this would happen. This asshat had no intention of helping her. He wanted the throne. Fire ignited from my fingers to my shoulders, burning away half of my shirt. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Easy now.” Marcus waved his hands in front of him. “You need to hear the rest of it.”
“I already know. Kalin told me about the betrothal, but she said it would go no further than that.” Every inch of my body burned like my blood was boiling in my veins. “I knew I was right about him.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Marcus countered. “Kalin may have no other choice. She’s under a lot of pressure from the council.”
“Yeah, she told me all about her issues with the council.” Since her arrival, they had done very little to support her. “But I still don’t believe Sebastian is helping her out of the kindness of his heart. The guy has an agenda. I’m sure of it.”
“You could be right, but Ariel confirmed that Sebastian is helping her,” Marcus insisted. “When they’re together, Kalin is attempting to read the akasha journals.”
“What do you mean when they’re together? Where are they going? What are they doing?” I didn’t trust Sebastian as far as I could throw him. But I still wanted to throw him. I also wanted to punch him, burn him, and slice his throat open.
“Nothing has changed, Rowan. I followed them around for a while after I left Ariel. Kalin is keeping up appearances. That’s all. There’s nothing between them.”
“I think I may need to see for myself.” I rubbed my hand over my knuckles.
A knock at the door startled us both. Marcus moved first, opening the door. One of his hounds stepped inside, looking nervous. He was small compared to Marcus, and unlike the other hounds, he had a soft demeanor. Blond hair fell into his blue eyes as he bowed to Marcus, and then to me.
“What’s wrong, Ethan?”
Ethan glanced at Marcus, then to me. “There’s an army of elementals outside of the volcano.”
I didn’t need any other information. I had no doubt who waited for me. I narrowed my eyes. “Valac.”
Chapter Sixteen
Kalin
The sun had begun to set, painting the skies with a golden yellow tint. Shades of purple highlighted each cloud. Flocks of birds flew overhead, singing their sweet songs. I admired their tranquility. With the temperature dropping, I threw on a black hoodie over my t-shirt, then returned to my meditation. I’d spent the last several hours in this same spot on the side of the mountain—the place where Dad once went for peace. I tried to reconnect with my power, but nothing was working.
Bash stayed close, completely silent while I focused. Things had gotten about as bad as they could get. Instead of gaining the akasha powers, I had lost my own. When I closed my eyes, my mental pictures were shaky. It was as if I were watching myself on a scrambled television station with nothing but static and broken images. An overwhelming sense of anxiety flowed through me. The more I concentrated on my mental projection, the worse it got.
When I worked with Rowan, my aura was affected by my fear. The panic I couldn’t release made it impossible to relax. I worked tirelessly to get to a calming state. It took an incredible amount of time to learn to concentrate. My body was nearly at rest before my aura changed from deep orange to bright yellow. Once, when I reached the color, I had a perfect handle on my power. Now, I couldn’t see my aura at all. It wasn’t dark or light.
It was nothing.
After the mental images faded away, all I saw was an eerie blackness. There was a total disconnect from a part of myself. I didn’t know where to go or how to fix whatever had happened. All I could think about was how many elementals I would let down. Dad still was not getting better. As akasha, I might be able to regenerate his power. At the very least, I could restore the air court, bring balance to all four of the courts, and stop the out-of-control natural disasters in the mortal world.
Without any power, I was helpless.
I pulled my knees to my chest, resting my head inside my crossed arms. “I don’t know what to do.”
Bash put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him. “Why don’t you talk to your father? Maybe he can help.”
Dad couldn’t help himself or his court. Why burden him with my problems when he already had so much on his plate? “It’
s my body, my power. I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
Two of my father’s knights appeared next to us. Both bowed in unison. “Princess Kalin, the king requests your presence.” The knight’s eyes turned to Bash. “The king has also requested to see Sebastian.”
“Why would he want to see me?” Bash asked, looking at me.
I bit my bottom lip. “I have no idea.”
As I stepped inside the throne room, my mouth fell open. Mom straddled Dad’s lap. They were all over each other. It was like watching two teenagers kissing and touching as if no one else were in the castle. Knights stood in each corner of the room, looking every which way except in their direction. It was unreal to see them like this, especially Mom, who always rolled her eyes at others when they made public displays of affection. I covered my eyes. “Okay, your impressionable teenager has just entered the room.”
Bash leaned closer to me and nudged my elbow. “Oh, come on, you have to admit they’re adorable. I guess it’s safe to say the feelings they had for each other are alive and well.”
“They can be alive and well all they want, but I’d prefer they do it when I’m not around.” I lowered my hands in enough time to see Mom adjusting her bra. Did she let Dad make it to second base? I shook my head, needing to expel these thoughts and images from my memory permanently. “Did you send for us, Dad?”
“Yes,” he said, wiping the lipstick off the corner of his mouth.
Mom had certainly adjusted quickly to life in Avalon. The high bun hairstyle she chose gave her a Greek goddess vibe. As she slipped into the chair next to him, I noticed that she wore the same garments as the other air elementals. She looked fantastic in a yellow tank top with a long, flowing skirt. “I’m sorry, Kalin. We got a little carried away.”
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 39