He sounded closer; my heart was hammering hard enough that it hurt my chest.
I quickly told him the condensed version of everything since I was stolen away by Josephina.
How I’d failed the final test.
I broke free from her cage. No one can hold a god. I just had to finally admit that’s who I am. This is who I am now.I shuddered, arms wrapping around myself.I have no idea what they saw in my future, Ash, but it must have been bad.
My power wrapped around me like a protective blanket, and I closed my eyes at how soothing it felt. Asher didn’t say anything, but he was moving closer.
His energy raged. A stormy sea filled with whirlpools, riptides, and debris.
I’m on my way.
This path is only for females,I reminded him.
His chuckle was low, dark, and rumbly, sending chills down my spine.Not any longer.
Before I could ask him to explain that, I felt a tugging on my power, and then in a flash there were three very large men standing around me. Two I knew well: Asher and Braxton.
The third was a vampire … uh, vampire with dragon energy? I had no idea what that was all about, but I could see a definite family resemblance to Braxton, so I was going with another quad.
Mischa’s mate no doubt, judging by the fury on his face. I mean, all three wore faces of men who’d had their mates abruptly stolen from them.
Scary, scary men.
Before another thought could cross my mind, strong, hard arms were hauling me into his body. Our bond sent a pulse through us both, and some of the chaos inside settled. The gold of Asher’s magic burst around us, and more storms rocked across the land.Before I could figure out what that meant, or how it was possible, all of my attention was on my golden god.
Asher held me with a desperation I’d never felt from him. “Fuck,” he growled, voice hoarse. “Don’t ever do that to me again. Ever. I almost destroyed the Academy.”
“He almost destroyed the world,” Braxton bit out, sounding far less relaxed than normal. His eyes were also very yellow, and since it was bad news when Asher’s changed color, I figured it was the same for this dude.
“Where are Jessa and Mischa?” Braxton asked. “And where the fuck are we?”
Beside him, the vampire’s chest rumbled, his eyes as black as the world around us. These two, both powerful, tall, beautiful … they reminded me of Asher. Those blessed in life with more than just stunning looks, but immense power. They were not used to being scared, to being out of control—this situation had them on the edge of completely losing it.
My heart ached at the pain we had caused our mates … unintentionally, of course, but it had happened.
“They were totally fine the last time I saw them,” I said softly, still cradled in Asher’s arms. I made no move to separate us, needing this closeness as much as he did. Our bond was practically purring. “When the trials started, all of us were separated. I have no idea where they are. I’m guessing somewhere in this darkness. The goddess called it the land of nothing, but it’s a weird adaptable landscape, and … maybe there’s a chance we can bend it to our will…”
It was a random thought, but I’d never seen anything like this world. It was almost fluid in its structure.
“This land responds to Heptashia’s magic,” I mused. “Maybe we can tap into it and get it to guide us to the others.”
Another figure appeared then, stepping through the shadows, and I tensed, expecting the goddess.
It wasn’t her. It was another dragon.
“Rayge!” I shouted, surprised by how happy I was to see him.
I wiggled to get down, but Asher growled and pulled me close. Titling my head back, I was about to remind him that I was not a possession. When our eyes clashed, though, I swallowed down my argument. “You’re keeping my power in check,” he murmured, his voice a blast across my senses. “I can’t let you go.”
I wrapped myself tightly around him. “You never have to,” I whispered. “I love you more than anything, and I don’t care what that stupid scale says. If you’re in my future, it’s bright. I might not be perfect, but together we will keep each other in check. I have to believe that.”
He was already tense, his muscles hard and unyielding, but somehow his body went even tenser. There was no time to explain though, because Rayge had reached our circle.
“Where the fuck did you go?” Braxton snapped.
Rayge just shook his head, addressing me instead. “Maddison, I’m glad you’re okay.” I got an actual smile, which I returned. Asher’s eyes were drilling into the dragon shifter, but he didn’t say a thing. We didn’t have time for any of their alpha bullshit, so I was grateful.
