Crina frowned. “There was definitely an evil presence, but it was verysubtle.”
“You think the dark magic that created that spell is affecting your realm?” Antonioasked.
“I think it’s doing what any form of evil does. It’sspreading.”
Lucian breathed out a heavy sigh. “I think your suspicious are right, Adira. Volcan is probably hiding out in the draheim realm. Thad, Adam, and Elle have had dealings with Volcan in the past. They know his magic so they can confirm it. We’ll have to break the spell on the draheim veil in order to get to Volcan. Even if we don’t find Volcan hiding in there, we’ll still have to break the spell so the pixie realm is no longer being saturatedinevil.”
“Can you do it?” Bannan asked as he turnedtoThad.
“I do not know. I can siphon power from other supernaturals, which will make my magic even stronger. But it is not something that is lightly done. Adira, here, has been trying to convince us that, if we combine multiple races, our power will be even stronger. But this presents a problem. Dark magic has a mind of its own. If we are not careful in wielding that amount of power, the dark magic could quite literally wrest the power from us. It will thrust itself into the hands of the strongest supernatural it can find that wants to wield itforevil.”
“Volcan.” Lucianbreathed.
“Exactly,” continued Thad. “We must be very intentional when wielding that kind of power. If we do this, we must be in one accord, and we must not let the dark magicaffectus.”
“That doesn’t sound ominous or anything,” Adam said dryly, causing the tension to break alittle.
Lucian looked at the group of unmated males. “I think it would be best if you four left without speaking to your pack mates. Their emotions are a bit unpredictable, and while you aren’t at fault for what happened earlier, their wolveswon’tcare.”
Drayden nodded. “I agree. I do not hold it against my Beta for attacking. I would have done the same thing had it beenmymate.”
“It is settled then,” Lucian said and took a step back. “Elle and Adam will flash you to the draheim veil. And keep me updated on how things areprogressing.”
Elle nodded. “Gotit.”
Adam gave a thumbs-up as he wrapped his hand aroundCrina’s.
Lucian watched as Elle and Adam flashed the group from Farie. When he was left standing in the empty yard, he let out the breath he’d beenholding.
“Tell me you are alright,”he said, reaching out through the bond tohismate.
“Only if you tell me that you’re alright first,”Periresponded.
“I won’t be alright until you’re by my side, where youbelong.”
“Touché,mylove.”
“Be safe, Perizada. Iloveyou.”
Lucian felt her love through the bond. The caress of her hand against his face only made his heart ache more. Would there ever be a time of peace? Would there ever be a time when he could just be with her, love her, and hold her? He hoped so, but deep down, he didn’t think that day would ever come. He would have to treasure every moment they hadtogether.
He turned and headed back toward his home, back toward two males desperate to find their mates, back toward the newly mated wolves who would no doubt be driving the three healers insane with their overbearing possessiveness, back toward the empty bedroom he shared with his female. She would be home soon, he told himself, because he had to. If he didn’t tell his wolf over and over that she would return to them soon, his wolf would force them to hunt her. That would simply irritate her beyond measure. He smiled to himself. Maybe he should hunt her simply for that reasonalone.
Chapter17
“I’ve lost track of time. The days have run together, and all I know is pain. The hours are marked by how long I may rest until the next round of anguish. But Anna and I refuse to give up. We still talk about how we can defeat our enemy. But deep, deep down, I wonder if there will still be enough of me left to fight back once this is over. I hide it well, but the darkness that now lives in my blood is gaining ground. I fear it’s only a matter of time until my light is snuffed out.” ~Jewel
Volcan flashedinto the room and smiled at the two women huddled on the floor. He was eager for them to continue his plan. He knew they would now be much morecompliant.
“I do believe the message has sunk in,” he said, motioning to their stomachs where his fae blade had cut into their skin. “Though perhaps there is still somethingmissing.”
He walked over to Jewel and held his hand out. As he raised it, her body rose until she was standing with her back against the wall. He shoved her shirt up and then pressed the palm of his hand to the flesh below the word that had been carved there intoherskin.
“If something ever happens to me, not that it will, but if it did, you will have me forever with you, branded on your skin.” His hand began to glow a bright red just about the same time Jewel began to scream. To her credit, she didn’t beg him to stop, or even cry. When he was done, he pulled his hand away, and she crumpled back to theground.
Volcan turned his attention to Anna and smiled. “Yourturn.”
Anna didn’t cry either, she did, however, call him many unsavory things. Volcan didn’t care. It wouldn’t be much longer and his magic will have filled every part of them, leaving no room for their ownlight.
