“What do you mean, triggered?” Everett asked before realization struck him. “Blood,” he muttered. “Shit.”
“You bled on it?” Xavier’s tone grew sharper.
Everett nodded. “Accidentally. I cut my hand when I was prying open the drawer it was in. I bled on it as well as this.” He held out the journal.
Xavier set the nephrite onto his desk and took the book. When he opened it, he swore softly. He turned several pages.
“It’s written in runes, right?” Everett pointed out. “Can you read it?”
“I can.” Xavier went silent as he slowly read through some of the pages before he looked back at Everett. “I’ll need to keep this here and study it. It’s written in some kind of code that I’ll need to break. But I’m afraid what was never meant to happen is already in play because of your blood. You’re bound to this cage now.”
“Cage?”
“Something lives inside the stone, and your blood has triggered the spell that was keeping it there.”
Everett’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean it can get out now?”
“What it means is that your blood bound you to whatever this being is and to the spell that imprisoned it. It also means that others will be after this—and you—because your blood connected you to the spell. Only you can release whatever this being is.”
He stared at the nephrite in horror. “Yeah, I don’t want to do that. If a being was put inside that, I’m sure there was a good reason.”
“As am I.”
“So do you think that’s why I was attacked at that restaurant?”
“No doubt. The bite of the chimera’s snake head paralyzes a human. You would have been unable to move, but perfectly capable of answering questions. Whoever was controlling the chimera wanted this stone. And they will be relentless now if they learn you’re actually blood-bound to the spell. You must stay with Dax at all times.” Xavier looked at Dax. “I’m going to send Ivor and Emory to patrol the grounds around Everett’s house, but you must stay with him constantly. I’d expect them to bring in warper wizards.”
“What’s a warper wizard?” Everett couldn’t help but ask.
“A wizard who uses magic to teleport anywhere they choose. They can blink into being right beside you and whisk you away.”
“Seriously?” Everett glanced up at Dax, whose face held a fierce frown, before looking back to Xavier. “They can get in anywhere? Like, even if I’m in the shower?”
Xavier inclined his head. “Anywhere.”
Utter fear swept through him and made him feel dizzy. His legs buckled and he sank into one of the chairs in front of the desk. He put his face in his hands.
Dax’s hand gently pressed into his shoulder. “I won’t let them get to you,” he said softly.
Everett opened his eyes as Dax came around and squatted in front of him. He stared into that beautiful face and worked hard to focus on the man and not the terror slicing through his insides. “This has all been a bit much, Dax,” he whispered. “It’s a lot to take in.”
“I know. You’ve learned there’s a whole other part to the world than you knew about, and that you’re in danger from that world. But there will be three of us watching over you now, Everett, and you need to understand something. I will not let anything happen to you. I would walk through fire for you.”
Everett could see the truth of that statement in Dax’s expression. Warmth curled inside him, chasing away the terror. He forgot that anyone else was in the room and reached out to touch Dax’s face. “Fire, huh?” he whispered.
Dax nodded, expression solemn, but his eyes blazed with a mix of determination and affection. “You will be safe.”
Chapter Thirteen
Dax
Everett was unnaturally quiet the whole drive back with Emory and Ivor following them. The sun was setting as they pulled into the drive. Dax looked over at the silent man, taking in his pale skin and pinched lips. He reached out and put his hand over Everett’s. Everett surprised him when he turned over his hand and threaded their fingers together.
“At least we know what’s going on,” Dax said.
“But do we?” Everett’s eyes were wide. Bleak. “My blood triggered a spell, and we have no idea what that spell is. Xavier said I’m tied to whatever is in that nephrite. So not only did I learn that I’m surrounded by magical beings, I’m somehow caught up in some kind of dark magic. I’ll admit, I’m scared.”
“How about we go inside? This time, I’ll cook for you.”
