Farther down the hall, Lander stumbled into the hallway, holding his head. Blood seeped through his fingers. Groaning, Lars pushed to a stand from where he’d fallen. The redhead cradled his head as well, just as the sound of the front door opening and closing came.
Alec came into view, sauntering toward the kitchen. He carried a tray of steaming mugs of coffee. “Who’s ready for some fresh—” Alec’s jaw dropped. He lunged toward the counter, trying to set the tray down, but his movements were too hurried.
The coffee fell to the floor in a tumbling array of tipped beverages. Hot coffee spilled everywhere, and all of the mugs shattered into a hundred pieces. But Alec didn’t even pause. He leaped toward the others.
Every single one of them descended upon Bastian, Lander and Lars joining too. It was a mess of flailing limbs and grunts.
Yet Bastian kept rising.
“How is that possible?” I whispered.
Grunting, Jax and his friends grappled for Bastian, groaning and heaving.
I plastered myself to the wall to stay out of their way as the strong scent of coffee permeated the air.
“You’re going to have to knock him out,” Lander panted. He sat on Bastian’s leg, but impossibly, Bastian began to push him off.
“He’s right. It’s for his own good.” Phillen’s biceps strained when Bastian tried to wrench out of his grip. “It’s the only way we’re going to stop him. Nothing else has worked.”
Jax’s brow furrowed, his expression crestfallen, but then in his commanding Mistvale voice, he said, “Bastian, go to sleep. Now.”
Powerful Mistvale magic spiraled toward Jax’s brother, engulfing Bastian in a sweep of energy.
I waited for him to pass out. Waited for his eyes to close. Waited for this craziness to end.
But it didn’t.
Bastian kept moving, still rising inch by inch. It was as though Jax hadn’t even spoken.
My eyes flashed wide. “That anklet’s control of him is repelling your magic, Jax.”
Wildness filled Jax’s eyes, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the first time anyone had ever resisted his Mistvale command.
“Shite!” Bowan flew back when Bastian swung his head and nearly impaled Bowan with his antlers. He grabbed Bastian’s left antler at the last moment, dodging the blow. “What are we going to do?”
“We can’t take him to Harrivee like this.” Phillen grunted again, then ducked when Bastian swung a huge fist for his head.
“Bastian. Stop!” Jax tried again in his commanding voice.
But Bastian kept fighting.
Looks of terror descended upon all of their faces, and my mind raced.
With my eyes flashing wide, a thought struck me. I would have to call on the semelees. I hadn’t done such a thing since I was a child, and I didn’t know if I safely could now, but we were out of options.
Breathing heavily, I closed my eyes and dove my concentration inward, down to my bottomless well of power.
My soul instantly detached and hurtled through the galaxy, and not even a second later, I punched through the Veiled Between’s mist as though it were tissue paper.
Come to me. Now! I need you in the fae lands,I commanded the nearest semelee.
It swirled forward, eager to do my bidding, its demeanor curious, its fangs dripping with venom.
Fear cascaded through me. I needed to maintain control of the shadow creature. They were pure power, complete might. One wrong command on my end and?—
I faltered. Images of what had happened when I was five assaulted my mind, but I shoved those thoughts away.
Hurry. I need you in the fae lands.
