The tendrils of darkness lashed out, striking the air with crackling bursts of energy. The ground shook harder, the fissures widening, and the smoke thickened, forming a towering column that seemed to reach toward the sky.
And then the chanting stopped.
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the low, ominous hum of theNushtonia’s power. Synica’s heart raced as she stared at the book, at the darkness spilling from it, and she knew—whatever was coming next, they weren’t ready for it.
Synica’s breaths came in short, shallow gasps as she stared at theNushtonialying on the ground, its ancient cover glowing with malevolent energy. And then the darkness began to rise.
More black smoke poured out of the book, shimmering faintly in the pale light of the clearing. Synica’s eyes widened as the smoke began to take form, coalescing into a massive figure that loomed above theNushtonia.
It was Raja.
But not entirely.
His grotesque upper body emerged first, twisted and monstrous. His gray, mottled skin stretched tight over bulging muscles. His massive shoulders heaved as if he were pulling himself up from the depths of the book, and his sharp teeth bared in a snarl of unrestrained rage. His ruby-red eyes blazed, like molten fire burning through the thick smoke, and his clawed hands gripped the edges of the book, straining at his efforts.
But his legs—his lower half—remained trapped, swirling with black smoke that refused to solidify. It writhed and twisted like a genie’s form still tethered to its lamp. He was not free. Not yet.
The air around the clearing grew colder and heavy with the oppressive weight of his power. Raja’s deep, guttural laughter echoed through the trees—a sound that made Synica’s stomach twist in fear.
“You think you’ve stopped me?” Raja growled, low and mocking. His blazing eyes swept over the group, lingering on Shade. “You’ve only given me what I needed. You’ve opened the veils. You’ve brought them all here. And soon,Iwill be free.”
Shade stepped forward, his jaw clenched with rage, and his hands trembled at his sides. For all his power, for all his determination, Synica could see that he didn’t know what to do.
And then the book thudded against the ground again, and the world exploded.
TheNushtonia’s glow intensified, the runes along its pages spinning wildly, rearranging themselves into patterns that no one could decipher. The energy pouring out of the book surged outward, and the earth beneath them buckled, sending everyone staggering.
Synica’s eyes widened as she watched the book tremble. The pages whipped back and forth frantically and then sparks erupted from it, but that wasn’t the only thing that erupted. Suddenly, objects—no, not objects, she realized, bodies—were literally being ejected from theNushtonia,passing Raja as he bellowed in absolute fury.
The first ones out with a crack of magic were Peri and Lucian, who were tossed to the ground. Wrapped in their protective arms were Hope, Slate, Titus, Thia, and Torion, their expressions wild with confusion. Gavril, Dillon, Jezebel, and Myanin followed the high fae and her mate. They smacked onto the ground on their backs or sides.
With another burst of power and light, Stella, Decebel, Kale, Bethany, and Thad were hurled through the book. Their bodies hit the ground with jarring impacts. Decebel was on his feet in a blink, as were Kale and Thad, all in crouched positions ready to attack. The two wolves had glowing eyes as they took in the scene.
More and more forms shot forth from the book’s pages, spilling their occupants into the chaos. Jen landed hard, her body skidding across the ground before rolling up gracefully to her feet. “THIA! DECEBEL!” She immediately searched the people around her. Tanya, Ciro, Disir, and Dain came through after Jen had, all looking worse for wear.
One after another were ejected, until the clearing was filled with dozens of figures, each one hurled back into the human realm with violent force. Lilly, Cyn, Jacque, Gustavo, Gerick. Then Zara, Sally, Drake, Tenia, and Thalion, followed by Anna, Wadim, Nick, Kara, Sorin, and Dalton.
Synica turned as she heard a shout and out came Crina, Costin, Skender, and Rachel.
Then Fane, Heather, and Andora, the Sprite Queen, erupted out. Fane landed on his feet. He immediately turned to face Raja, and Fane’s body seemed to grow in size as his alpha form took over. He didn’t fully shift, but claws extended from his hands, and he stood at least seven feet tall as he faced off with the Ruler of the Realm of the Dead.
As the now reunited pack members gathered, holding onto one another—some crying, some growling, and some looking like they would kill anyone who stepped near their mates—the clearing was quiet, other than the swirl of the magic from the book. In that quietness, a voice spoke.
“Myanin.” Shade gasped, his gaze so intent on her it was as if he’d forgotten the hell he’d just unleashed.
The female djinn looked at the warrior who’d released a horror on them— all because he wanted her— and she stomped toward him. “What. Have. You. Done!” With every word she shoved him back, closer and closer to where Raja’s half-form emerged from theNushtonia.Synica wasn’t sure what was going to be worse: Raja’s evil or Myanin’s wrath.
Chapter 9
“I once read a book about Helen Keller– I know, shocker– and there was something she said that they quoted in the book that has stuck with me. ‘Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.’ Vasile Lupei was a perfect example of that, and what is even greater is he passed that quality to his son. I’m going to let that marinate in your minds for a bit.”
~Helen Keller, Heather
“Just when you think you’ve seen it all.” ~ Jewel
Several hours earlier…
“Have I ever mentioned to you guys that the last thing on my bucket list is to die in hell?” Heather sat on the reddish-colored ground beneath them, her back leaning against the rough rock and dirt wall behind her, absentmindedly drawing circles in the red dirt with her right index finger. Even though there seemed to be some form of light in the underground space, balls of light also floated around them, courtesy of the sprite queen so they were able to see. “And the bonus is that I even get to die with some ghostly apparition thing, no offense Jewel.”
