by Larisa Long
A few of them glare at Shifter’s Fate who suddenly finds something else to do.
I look around. “The wolves?”
“They’re back,” Shifters’ Fate yells to me and points.
I look past the clock tower, and the wolves have found some more stalyke heads and are playing an intricate game of fetch, catch me, and bite and shake.
I turn back around and see all the dragon shifters. All of them bowing to me. Even Zephyr.
“Respect,” they say in unison.
I step back. “What the fae is this about?”
Zephyr starts laughing. “That’s my Zalia.” He gets serious again. “We honor you for your sacrifice. You could have kept the dragon shifter.”
“As a prisoner?” I shake my head. “He was not mine. He didn’t choose me.”
Zephyr puts his hand over his heart. “He would choose you in a second over me had he met you first. That much I know.”
“Lucky for him, you’re older.” I wave my hands at him to stop talking nonsense. “Get up. No bowing. Creepy. You’re the King. Doesn’t look right.”
The dragon shifters all rise to their feet, punch each other and laugh.
Something hits all of us ripping tiny slashes in our skin.
I notice Zephyr is bleeding.
“You are too. What the fae was that?”
“Duck,” Rella yells.
We all hit the ground as several large and very sharp swords are thrown over us. If we’d been standing, they would have ripped us all apart.
“Sorry,” Rella yells. “Got most of ‘em, but a few got through.”
Zephyr growls. “Dragons, let’s finish this.” Most of the dragon shifters shift into dragon and take to the sky. Zephyr and a few guards stay behind.
Now it’s my time to fall to my knees as my head feels like it’s exploding. “What’s happening?”
The shifters surround us in a circle with their backs to us.
Shifter’s Fate and Witch’s Fate return, and some of the faeries make their way through. Rella grabs my hand and looks into my eyes. From the worried look on her face, I don’t want to ask.
“What’s with the fae migraines?” Why can’t I just get a hangnail or something? There’s lots of noise, shouting and screaming and then silence. I can’t see much since I’m on the ground. Rella also has put a shield around me so there’s that. But I still don’t like the look on her face. She’s worried.
“It’s the King and Queen,” Rella says.
“Fae.”
She nods.
I feel like my face is wet. “Am I crying again?”
Rella shakes her head. I touch my face and look at my hand. “Blood. Mine?”
Rella bows her head.
Huh. I’m bleeding from my nose, eyes, ears and head. My heart speeds up like a train and then chugs along several times and then slows down and then stops a bit and then repeats. Can’t be good. “Blist? Where is he?”
Rella motions for something, and I’m hoping she’s going to get him.
I open my eyes, but we’re not … wait. Where are we?
Rella motions towards the window, and all of a sudden I’m looking out the window. How did I move? Someone’s holding me. I look at the glittery, muscular arms. And wings. A faerie. I look into his teal eyes. “Grang?” He’s usually in the background. I don’t know him well, but he’s gorgeous.
He blushes and Rella nods.
Oh, you two are …
Rella nods again.
I look at her. “Nice.”
Grang shakes me as he giggles.
I look out the window and see the dragons. Something is happening. I see the King and Queen. More stalykes. “Does she make them in a lab?”
Rella nods.
I curl my lip. “Must find that lab. Where’s Blist?”
“He’s … okay.”
I struggle to get down, but Grang holds me tight. “I don’t trust that pause.”
Rella looks down. “He was wounded. Slightly. I sent some faeries with them. He’s healed now.”
My heart practically leaps out of my chest. “I have to get to him.”
Rella grabs my hand. “You are wounded as well. We can’t risk it.”
“What’s happening?”
Rella shrugs. “Just minor clean up. They’ll be up to get you in a second.”
It must be alright. I don’t hear anything. So, I just have to chill for a bit. Cool. Great, now I sound like Raks.
Rella smirks.
My body feels weird. Like I’m discombobulated. I can’t move much like I’m not all the way attached. I don’t know if I’m going to survive this.
Rella grabs my chin hard. “Listen to me, Zalia. We’ve been friends forever. You’re the only witch the faeries have ever trusted. You. Are. Not. Dying.”
I look into her eyes which have become like flames.
“Do you understand?”
I nod.
She pushes away from me and returns to the window. “We will not lose our best ally. We won’t. Say it.” She glares at me.
I nod. “You’re fae’ing frightening. You know that?”
She smiles briefly but nods. “Good. As long as we understand each other. You succumb to this, and I’ll send you to the haunted realms myself and set a faerie guard to never let you out.”
“Didn’t know sweet little Rella was so hardcore.” I nod or try to. “Why does it feel like my head is screwed on weird?”
“You’re fine,” she mutters without looking at me.
I try to relax but something nags. Then I feel it. The pixies.
I struggle again, but Grang holds me tighter.
“He can’t let you down, Zalia, because you wouldn’t be able to stand.”
The pixies. Xury. I can feel her fear. The pixies are so scared. “Are they alright?”
“They’re fine,” Rella rolls her eyes. “They’re pixies. We’re moving them so they stay safe. They’re just being dramatic.”
One of the dragons flies towards the window and blows out the glass as his body is furled inside. We fall backwards, but Grang never drops me.
Rella gets to the dragon instantly but can’t heal him. Her tears fall as she looks at me. “I’m sorry. He’s gone.”
“Let me down. I can try to …” Then I realize I can’t even heal myself. I concentrate with everything I have on the dragon, but nothing happens. Maybe someone else can. If they get to him in time. Just have to get to him before his soul figures out what has happened and transitions. Maybe his shift will give him time.
“They’re coming, right? I don’t hear anything. What’s happening?”
Rella waves her hand, and the sounds surround us. Everyone is screaming. The dragons are hisses and snarling. I hear wolves howling in the distance. Explosions are taking place all over the realm. Every noise amplifies around my brain, and it almost feels like my brain has liquified and is just sloshing about for fun.
Some of the dragons roar.
“We can’t stay here,” Rella says.
Grang starts to turn around, but I struggle. “Can’t I walk? What’s wrong with me?” I look down but I don’t look much different. Sure, there’s ash on me. Blood. Bits of stalyke. Maybe part of someone’s ear. Okay, enough looking down. “Can you heal me?”
“We have.”
Then the jolt hits me. “Zephyr said he brought me back. Did the spell kill me?”
Rella nods. “Many times. Over and over. Then the King and Queen’s spell …” Rella trails off.
“It’s continuing to do damage, isn’t it?”
She can’t look at me.
I cringe. “Do I want to know?” Faeries can’t lie. I love that about them. Sometimes.
Rella takes a deep breath. “The spell is intended to turn you inside out. Drain all of your blood. Liquify your organs. We’ve put a hold on it, but it’s temporary. That’s why you feel like you do.”
“Is that why my brain feels sloshy?”
She nods. “You’ll h
eal, but we need more power. We need Witch’s Fate, and your Shifter’s Fate.” She looks me over, and I hadn’t realized Grang had put me down on a table. “We need more. We need the power of the shifters. We need more time.” She looks me over again, and I don’t like her expression.
There’s a high pitched shrieking. “Faeries.”
Rella lunges to the window. “They have Ceru. They’re going to rip her apart.”
“Go.” I want to wave them off, but I can’t move my body. “There’s nothing more you can do for me. Help them.”
“Grang, you stay—”
“No one’s staying with me. They need you out there. Both of you go. Now.”
Rella takes my hand. “Thank you, Zalia.”
Grang nods as they both rush out.
Why do I think that’s a goodbye? Lying on a table staring up at the ceiling. This is not how I thought this day would go. I can’t move my … I try to jiggle my toes or wiggle my fingers or whatever. Nothing. Completely incapacitated. Helpless. What class am I in? If it’s crystal or botanicals, maybe there’s something I can use to …
I move my head as far as I go. “Fae. Had to be rune class.” Hey, where exactly is Professor Sway or Professor Kreyl? In fact, none of the professors except the bad ones are here. Weird.
I come to. Didn’t know I was out. Then I come to again. Fae it all. There’s more screaming and yelling outside, and I’m helpless inside napping. I try to say a spell, but nothing makes sense. I know I’m barely alive.
The King and Queen must have a time release spell on me. I don’t think I have the energy to do anything. More blood drips down my nose and face. I can hear it drip down the table and hit the floor. My entire body is draining blood.
All I can think of is Blist. He has to be safe. If I can just see him one more time. Just one more time to look into his eyes. He’d calm me. Maybe he could lie to me and pretend I’m going to be alright.
My breathing becomes more shallow. I’m going to be in a textbook. Studied in class with bored witches memorizing the slow time release death. Everything slows, and I know I’m minutes away. Maybe seconds. I’ll see my ancestors. My mother and father. But Blist? I can’t leave him. I try to move, but I can’t.
Then I feel my heart tighten. What is happening?
“Hold on, Zalia. Just hold on.” I hear Zephyr’s voice as he whispers to me.
“What’s happening to me?”
The windows of the classroom blow out, and luckily I’m far enough away that only a few pieces of glass land on me. There’s another explosion. Only closer. There are screams and then silence. “Fae.” I try to move. Try to say a spell.
“It’s okay, Zalia. We have it. It’s over,” Zephyr says.
“Over?”
“The King and Queen are gone.”
“Dead?”
“Exiled.”
“We’re coming to you. Just hang on.”
I hear noise down the hall, but I have a sick feeling it’s not them. I don’t know why. Then I close my eyes, and I know exactly who it is. Fae. No need to get worried though. I also know who’s right behind them. Closing fast.
The door flies open, and I’m glad I don’t have to see the Penn brothers. I’m sure they think they have me completely helpless, and their smirks grow bigger than their heads as their teeny minds swirl with gruesome plans.
What more could they do? My body is almost drained of blood. I can’t move. Luckily I can’t see their faces. That would be painful. Fex is so … cringeworthy.
I do wish I could see what’s going to happen next.
They don’t even get to say anything before a group of shifters force them into the room. I don’t have to see them to know. It’s Blist. Liam. Vax. Their growls and hisses and snarls merge with one another. Poor Penn brothers.
I close my eyes as the shifters tear them both apart. Didn’t even give them a chance to spell. Good shifters.
Before everything is finished, Blist has shifted back to himself and is carrying me out. I know there was some discussion. Some shouting. Some tears from those who saw me, but I drifted in and out before my eyes finally opened again.
Chapter 9
The first thing I realize is that I can feel. The next thing I realize is that Blist is holding my hand. Then his fingers gently run down the length of my face. “You’re okay, Zalia. We’re safe.”
I open my eyes expecting to be in the middle of the school. I assume I’ll see the carnage. Bodies. Blood. Ash. Smoke. But I look up to see the ceiling of the cavern’s medical recovery ward. Then I look into Blist’s eyes. Never thought I’d see him again. Didn’t want to freak myself out by thinking that.
He looks the same. Although, I trace my fingers along the side of his neck. A deep scar.
“Who?”
“The Penn brothers.”
“And they’re …”
“Still digesting,” Liam says, sucking on a popsicle.
“A popsicle?”
“Bloodsicle. Got too nauseous.” He grabs his stomach. “Warlocks are gamey.”
“Liam.” I look him over. Not a scar or wound anywhere. “You’re good?”
He looks himself over. “Always.”
Then I realize what he said. I don’t know whether to be sick, laugh, cry, what. “Ew.”
Zephyr rushes into the room and is by my side instantly. “Zalia, I’m so sorry.”
“I think I died.”
Zephyr nods. “Several times.”
Blist tightens his grip on me. “You can’t do that. Ever again.”
“Agreed. It wasn’t as fun as you’d think.”
I sit up and am glad my brain is solid again. “That sloshy feeling was just creepy.”
I look at Zephyr and notice the official royal necklace he wears. “King?”
He nods.
“And the previous ones?”
He looks at Blist. “You didn’t tell her?”
Blist shakes his head. “She just woke up.”
“They are exiled to one of the prison realms.”
“Huh.”
“I took away their powers.”
I nod.
“They’d forced a siphon to steal powers from others.”
“Wow,” Zephyr says while looking at me.
Blist smiles and kisses my hand. “That was beautiful.”
I look at both of them. “Okay. What’s happening?”
Zephyr can’t control his grin. “How did you describe my eyes when my shift awakened?”
“Like a bloodstone.” I immediately sit straight up and touch my face, my hair. I see there’s a mirror across the room. “Can I stand?”
Blist nods.
I get up slowly, and there’s no weakness. My limbs aren’t like the applesauce they were before. I race to the mirror and see my eyes. One green eye and one blue. Are they fae’ing with me?
Zephyr stands behind me. “They siphoned the powers from others and made them weak.”
Just then, my blue eye shifts darker and merges with a dark brown. My green eye swirls to the colors of black and red and dark green. Before both return to normal, I step back. “What am I?”
“You have the blood of both dragons and wolves flowing through you. So, that blood asserts itself when you get angry.” Zephyr smiles before bowing his head. “We lost three dragons during the battle.”
“A bear shifter.” Blist also bows his head. “A lion shifter. Four wolves.”
Something inside me aches. “So much loss?”
Zephyr nods. “Our most powerful, Sheel.”
I gasp. “She was your fated.”
He nods as he touches his heart. “My shift aches for her. We also lost her chosen.”
The admission is almost too much. I didn’t know them that well, but I feel their losses.
“There was another. You didn’t meet her. She was new to her powers.”
“And the shifters?”
Blist closes his eyes. “Harst.”
“The wolf alpha?”
<
br /> Blist nods. “Ash.”
I wipe tears away. I’ve known them both since I was five. “Masimu? Both of them?”
“They’re fine. Vax’s Masimu is wounded.”
“He’s going to be alright,” Vax yells from across the room.
I hadn’t even realized they were there.
“Masimu the wolf shifter is with his family. They suffered several losses during the battles outside the realm.”
I look over at some of the other occupied beds in the recovery room. “All shifters?”
“Some are still unconscious. They’ll recover,” Blist says. “As will you.”
I listen intently. “All this happened when I was lying on a table in rune class.”
Zephyr steps back. “You sacrificed everything for us. For me. You died thirteen times.”
Still doesn’t seem like I did enough. “If I’d been strong enough.”
“Did you hear me?” Zephyr asks. “Thirteen times?”
I nod almost like an afterthought.
“Listen to your King, Zalia.”
“Ha.”
Zephyr looks at Blist. “Didn’t think that would work.”
Rella appears above me hovering. She pats my head.
“I know. You told me. Inside out.” I shiver. “I try not to think about that.”
Blist frowns. “You can hear the faeries now?”
I nod. Maybe I’d always been able to. Just seems so natural.
Rella stomps her feet in the air. Doesn’t make a sound, but it’s still impressive.
I nod again. “I know. Liquid brain. Organs all smushed. Internal bleeding.” But still …
Blist blows out a breath and shrugs. “See what I have to contend with.”
I look at Blist like he just spoke camel, another language I’m not adept in.
Zephyr grabs my hand. “Come with me.” It wasn’t a request. He yanks me through the underground cavern to a large desk where Shifter’s Fate and Witch’s Fate are looking over papers with Professor Sway.
“You’re all alright.”
Professor Sway smiles. “You gave us quite the scare.”
The three bow to Zephyr. “Show her please.”
Witch’s Fate smirks. “Let me guess, she doesn’t think she did enough?”
Zephyr nods.
Shifter’s Fate sighs. “Seriously?”
What is everyone’s issue? The final battle, and I’m lounging on a table like I’m at the beach.
