* * *
Scott rammedhimself at the door, hearing the crack of the magic breaking.
He was an idiot not to have realized that—even for his cunning and intelligence—Loki was also the god of tricks. He knew Quintus and Sareena were still in Vale Valley, but Loki had the power to transfer them to another realm or make it seem as if they were in different worlds. Like the trick he’d used in the diner to make Scott believe he’d been the only one in the restaurant.
Intentional or not, Loki had also given Scott a clue as to where Quintus and Sareena could be. But at the time his uncle said it, Scott had been more focused on not trying to kick Loki’s ass and on finding Quintus. It was only after he’d calmed down a bit that words had come back to him.
He’s living his worst nightmare.
Scott remembered the last dream Quintus had told him about—being in the house he’d bought and a being tormenting him. It was only a hunch, but Scott decided to go to the house he’d purchased. The instant he’d touched the property, he’d felt the change in the magic. It had no longer been the magic of the witches, but belonged to someone or something sinister.
The smell of rotten flesh had taken over everything, and Scott could see the fabric of the other realm seeping through—trying to engulf the house. Scott couldn’t see or hear Quintus, but he knew his mate was in the house. He was going to rescue him, even if he had to burn down the entire world to do it.
He was about to ram into the door one more time but stopped when he saw Loki appeared in front of him.
“You’re not as dumb as I thought you were, nephew,” Loki said. “But you’re too late. He’s dead.”
“Get the fuck out of my way!” Scott growled. He didn’t believe Loki—he knew what the man was trying to do, and it wasn’t going to work.
Before Loki could say anything, Fenrir landed in between them, swinging his large head and knocking Loki across the yard.
“Go, I’ll keep him busy,” Fenrir said, shifting into his human form and then back into his wolf.
“You wretched child,” Scott heard Loki scream at Fenrir.
Scott was about to ram into the door again, but he felt light-headed. His knees buckled, as if something was pulling him to the ground. His heart started beating faster in his chest, and his skin burned as if it was on fire. His veins pulsated, feeling as if they were going to burst at any moment.
No, not yet. It’s too early. I need more time.Let me get to my mate first, please.
It was his imperium, and it was happening before midnight. Scott struggled to his feet. Each time he tried stand, his body wouldn’t let him. He tried getting up, was finally able to move, but every fucking bone in his body hurt. They felt as if they were going to break with each step he took. Reaching the door, he banged into it—screaming in pain. He’d seen others receive their manifested powers—it had never been painful, so he didn’t understand why he was experiencing so much pain.
“Scott, stop,” he heard Donald shout at him. “You’re…”
“Leave me alone,” he bellowed. With all the strength he had, he rammed his shoulder into the door and bursting it off the hinges. He didn’t take the time to figure out how he’d managed to do that, because his mate needed him.
“Quintus!”
* * *
“It’s okay,Reena. You’re doing good,” he told his sister, wiping the sweat off her face.
“It hurts, Quinny.” She panted.
“I know, baby girl.”
Quintus was praying they would be rescued soon. He wasn’t sure how long before he ran out of ideas to keep them both calm. The being was still standing by the door, waiting to pounce on them. Sareena’s contractions were twenty minutes apart. Each time she had one, a dark mist would fill the room before dissipating again. He refused to let Sareena open her eyes. He was sure if she knew the being was there, she would still be afraid.
“I’m so proud of you. Do you know that?”
He rested a hand on her stomach and started rubbing, knowing one of her contractions was near and hoping to soothe the pain. He started humming a song their mom had sung to them at bedtime.
“I plan on singing that to my cubs when they are born,” Sareena said.
“Yeah, I think they will like that. I think you’re going to be a good mom. You’re going to have to teach me all the mom tricks.”
“I’m scared, Quinny,” she whispered. “What if…”
“You will, Sareena,” he said, not letting her finish those words. "We are both going to get out of here, and you’re going to watch your cub grow up and be whatever they want to be.”
