by R L Medina
“Rose?” His voice faded.
“Grayson!”
He was gone without warning. A numbness filled me. I turned to Jesse. “Can you get him back? Please?”
She shook her head no. “I’m sorry. The connection is gone. Did he tell you where he was?”
“He’s at the academy. We have to get out of here. Now.”
“Then we have to break the lock. Maybe a reversal spell?”
“Can’t you just break it? We don’t have time, Jesse.”
“I’ll work on the door. You work on the lock. A reversal spell is easier and takes less magic than breaking something.”
I bit back a groan and turned my head to focus on the chain around my ankle. A reversal spell. I could do it. I had to. Grayson and the others needed me.
Blowing out a breath, I closed my eyes and raised my hands palm up. The pull came immediately. I tried to picture all the elements of the locking spell like Jesse had shown me. The threads appeared once more and turned into the strange shapes. Slowly, I separated them and focused all my attention on the last step, trying reverse it. Pain spliced through my head at the attempt, but I pushed through.
You have to do this. Come on.
Wind whipped around me, whooshing in my ears. Sweat dripped from my brow, but I didn’t move my hands. A loud pop rang through me, making me wince.
“You did it.” Jesse’s proud tone broke my concentration.
I opened my eyes to find she was right. The chain around my ankle was open. I was free. A happy cry escaped me as I rushed to my feet and hugged Jesse.
“Someone is coming.” Her words chilled me.
We turned just as the window and door shattered. Jesse’s arm was raised as she stood in front of me.
“Michael!” I spotted the familiar wolf right away.
He ran to me and I wrapped my arms around his broad frame.
He returned the embrace before pulling me away to look at me. Concern etched his face as he studied me.
“Rose!” Javi’s voice cut in.
I turned to find him and Shiloh racing toward me. Brady and Rafael trailed them. Javi barreled into me, picking me up off the ground as he hugged me.
Blinking back tears, I returned their hugs. They’d all come for me. Even Tío was there with the other GRIMMs, streaming into the room and scouring the place.
“How did you find me?” I asked.
“I told you I had a tracker on you.” Tío nodded toward my ring.
“Then what took you all so long?”
He grunted. “You were shielded, but Gloria told us where to find you.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Gloria? But she’s the mole. She’s the one—”
“Yes. We know. We have her in custody,” another GRIMM cut me off.
“Where are the witches?” one of the agents asked interrupting us.
“Gone. They left.” I shuddered against my cousin.
“We have to follow them. She’s going after Grayson.”
“Luna Negra has Grayson?” Tío asked.
My lip curled. “Not yet. It was Cassiano. He’s the wizard.”
They gaped at me.
“And he’s chosen Luna Negra.”
Javi and Brady swore in unison. Everyone else still looked shocked at the revelation.
“Are you sure?” one of the agents questioned me.
“She’s not an idiot. Send a team to the academy. Find Cassiano. Now,” Tío barked orders.
He turned to me. “You kids should return to the mansion. There’s a safe house for you. I’ll—”
“No. I’m going after Grayson,” I cut him off.
We squared off, everyone watching us now.
His eyebrows knitted together. “Rosa… please.”
Javi stepped between us. “We’re going, Dad. All of us. We’re a part of this fight too.”
Tío sighed. “You are not properly trained for this, Javier. I know you want to help, but please. Let me keep you safe for a little longer.”
I reeled at the desperation in his voice. I’d never heard my hard ass Tío sound so… vulnerable or human before.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. The O.G. is calling all capable GRIMM to arms. Including academy seniors,” One of the other GRIMM stated.
Tío’s head shot to him. “Since when?”
The man shuffled his feet under my Tío’s glare. “As of now. They just issued the mandate. We need every able agent we can get. There’s been another wave of attacks.”
His words rattled me. Did that mean they were already done with the spell on Grayson? Were we too late?
Javi gave his Dad a pointed look, arms folded across his chest. I couldn’t help but admire him for sticking up for himself, but I was also terrified of this new mandate. Students were being called to the front lines? Did that mean we were losing that badly? A shiver ran up my spine.
This was war. The witches meant business and now they had a wizard’s help. Anger stirred in my belly. They had Grayson and if I didn’t get there soon, he’d become another pawn in their game.
“They’re in one of the hangars at the academy. Luna Negra and Cassiano,” I yelled above the noise.
“Then let’s move.” Tío motioned the others out.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jesse, James, and Ash embrace. Their tearful reunion made my heart flip. I scanned the crowd.
“Brady?” I turned to Shiloh and Javi.
“Right here,” Brady drawled.
I spun to him and gave him a fierce hug. He returned the embrace and grunted. “Did you think some vampires and werewolves could take me out? Please.”
“Let’s go. Through the portal. One at time,” Tío boomed.
Michael followed us, but I didn’t see the other wolves. Were they okay? I didn’t have time to ask as I stepped through the portal.
All I could think about was going after Grayson before it was too late.
The school was in an uproar when we arrived. Agents were everywhere, preparing for battle. I reeled at the sight of giant machinery being wheeled out and groups of GRIMM students gearing up, running drills.
Only these weren’t practice drills for test scores or exams. It was war. The sight left me chilled to the bone.
“How the Hell did Cassiano, and Luna Negra get through here without anyone seeing them?” I demanded.
Tío frowned. “He must have a portal.”
Heat rushed across my skin. Cassiano had been hiding his identity for years right under their noses. How could they not have seen or known what he was up to?
“Call in back up. We’re going to scour every hangar,” Tío addressed the other GRIMM.
They moved to obey his order.
I turned to Javi. “Your mom and sisters?”
“Safe. In hiding,” he assured me.
A relieved sigh left me. Everyone I loved was accounted for. All except Grayson. My stomach clenched with dread.
“The fae have come to help,” Shiloh added, nodding to a group of armored people moving past us.
“I found something!” a GRIMM interrupted us, drawing my attention.
My heart skipped. Grayson?
Not wanting to lose any more time, I ran toward the agent, everyone following.
Please be okay.
We surrounded the empty hangar. Dread filled me. He wasn’t there.
“It’s shielded and glamoured.” Shiloh squeezed my hand.
“Rose. Here.” Javi’s voice caught my ear.
I turned to find him with my sword. He handed it to me, his eyes meeting mine. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I took it from him and gave him a grateful nod.
“We recovered it from Gloria and some of the other witches. James helped us track,” Shiloh explained.
My gaze snagged on the quiet witch. Though it didn’t make up for the fact that he’d tried to strangle me, I was glad he was on our side now.
“On my count. The shield comes down. Everyone, get ready. There’s going to be alarms set off. Safeguards trigg
ered.” Tío’s voice rose above the others.
“Powerful ones,” another agent added.
I gripped my sword in one hand and turned to face the hangar. The others drew their weapons, arms raised to start defensive chants. Though no one said, I could tell that we were up against something much stronger than the vampires, werewolves, and shifters we’d faced before.
Even the witches we’d fought paled in comparison to Jimena and Cassiano. The supreme and wizard on the same side wasn’t something anyone would have foreseen.
Wind rushed around us, the noise nearly deafening. I couldn’t hear the chants over it, but I could feel their magic stirring in the air. The familiar pull of earth magic tugged at me. I grabbed hold of it, uncertain what I could do with is, but ready to try if needed.
With an ear-splitting crash, the shield came down. Fire rained down on us followed by a burst of wind and ice. All the elements swirled into one. My sword’s shield went up, protecting me. I moved forward cautiously, trying to get a view of the hangar.
GRIMM blocked me out, my tío ordering them forward. Voices rang around me as I tried to get in. I had to see Grayson. Make sure he was okay.
A pained scream ripped through air. I stumbled back as one of the agents went down in front of me. When I looked up, I met Cassiano’s dark gaze.
We were too late.
21
Cassiano was strong. Goosebumps covered my arms. Too strong. How were we going to stop him?
With one wave of his hand, he sent a whole row of GRIMM flying back. Luna Negra witches stood with him, casting spells of their own. But I couldn’t see their supreme. Or Grayson.
Where was he?
“Rose, get back.” Javi jumped in front of me, bringing his sword down in a wide arc as a witch launched an attack at us. It bounced off my cousin’s sword and shattered in front of us.
“Shit.”
I looked to Javi.
His eyes met mine. “They got fairy bombs.”
Before I could ask him what he meant, the ground shifted beneath us. Everything looked distorted. The hangar was gone—a gaping hole in its place.
“Up there!” someone shouted.
I looked up to find the hangar floating above us. My heart raced. Was Grayson still in there?
“How do we get up there?” I turned to my cousin.
“I got you,” James answered for him.
Before I could question him, I was flung into the air. My stomach leapt into my throat. Below, I saw more GRIMM joining the fight. Javi joined me in the air, Shiloh directing him as Brady shielded her and James from oncoming attacks.
Beside us, more agents sprang up around us, rushing toward the hangar. I tightened my hold on the hilt of my sword and grit my teeth as I was launched forward.
Once we reached the hangar, James’ hold fell away, and I was on my own. The ground was unsteady underneath our feet, but we pressed forward. Other agents swarmed the space first, battling it out with the withes.
My eyes snagged on a familiar figure in the center. Grayson. Alive. He was casting, keeping the witches away with his shadow magic.
“So, that’s why everyone wants him.” Javi’s words rang in my ear.
His eyes were on Grayson, brow furrowed in determination. “Come on. Let’s help him.”
I followed, glancing around for the supreme or Cassiano. Did they leave? I didn’t see them anywhere among the witches or GRIMM.
“Grayson!” I called, running toward him.
He spun to face me, eyes lighting on me as he blocked a witch’s attack. Relief washed over me at the sight of him. In the flesh, fighting like the true GRIMM he was.
Beside me Javi was swept off his feet by a blast of magic. I reached out for him, but another blast sent him flying back even farther.
“Javi.” I turned for him.
A blast of fire rushed toward me. I barely had time to bring my sword up to shield myself. The flames bounced off and spread on the floor of the hangar.
I sidestepped it and looked for Grayson. The witches were closing in on him, pushing him toward a glowing ring—a portal.
An icy fear washed over me. If they got him through, that would be it. We wouldn’t have enough time to go after them.
Trusting Javi was okay, I raced forward, using my sword as a shield as I moved toward Grayson.
My eyes snagged on a familiar figure moving through the crowd. The supreme. She stepped through the portal and disappeared.
“Grayson!” I stopped short as Cassiano appeared in front of me.
His eyes narrowed on me. “It’s over. The GRIMM have lost.”
“Is that why you and your friends are running away through the portal?” I met his glare.
A cold smile spread on his face. “We’re not running. We’ve already won.”
I followed his gaze to the GRIMM. Most of them had been pushed off the hangar and only a few remained but they were outnumbered by the witches. My heart leapt into my throat. Where was Javi? Tío?
“I will say that you surprised me. You had more fight in you than I gave you credit for. Too bad it wasn’t enough, wolf.” He spat the last word out.
His hand shot out toward me, ripping my sword out of my grip. He flung it across the hangar. I sucked in a breath and raised my arms in front of myself in defense.
“That shield is pathetic. You should have been a better student.” He frowned.
I glared at him. “You should have been a better teacher.”
The breath was knocked out of me. He lifted me in the air, an invisible iron grip on my throat. My legs flailed as I tried uselessly to break his hold.
“Rose!” Grayson’s voice caught my attention.
I met his desperate eyes.
Cassiano raised his other hand and I saw it in his eyes. This was going to be the killing blow.
My eyes clenched shut. His hold dropped. I was falling, but I wasn’t alone. Grayson was there.
He cushioned my fall, the collision jolting through me. I blinked in confusion. I was alive? My head swiveled to Cassiano.
His eyes were wide in horror. The witches were running for the portal now. Anger flashed on the wizard’s face. He moved toward us.
I scrambled to put up my shield.
“It’s too late, Cassiano. I’ve lost too much blood.” Grayson’s voice startled me.
I whipped back toward him. Realization struck me. Grayson had shadow jumped in front of me before the last blow. I stared in horror at the gaping hole in his chest.
No.
“We can still retrieve the chip,” Cassiano insisted.
I rose to my feet and summoned my sword. It flew to my hand. “No.”
His eyes darted to me and Grayson, and then to the portal. The ground shook beneath us and my stomach dropped. I stumbled back. The floor spun. I gasped. The hangar was falling out of the sky.
Cassiano turned on his heel and disappeared through the portal.
Dropping my sword, I turned back to Grayson and knelt beside him. “It’s okay. I can heal you. You’re going to be okay.”
Please be okay.
His weak smile made my throat constrict.
“So, you’re not only part wolf, but you’re a healer now too? Seems like I missed a lot.”
I blinked back my tears and held my hands up over him. “I’ll fill you in on everything once we close this hole up.”
His eyebrow shot up. “Rose, you can’t fix this. It’s a death shot.”
“No, I can do this. Just let me concentrate.”
Dizziness swept over me. The sensation of falling stole my attention away. We were tossed around.
“You have to get out of here before it crashes.” His fingers traced my face.
He gave me a sad smile. “You saved me. Now I saved you.”
Tears blurred my vision. No. I couldn’t lose him again. Anger rolled in my gut. I didn’t want saving. All the people I loved most sacrificing themselves for me.
It wasn’t fair.
�
�No.”
“Rose!” Javi’s voice called me.
I looked up to see him racing toward us. The ceiling of the hangar was caving in now, falling in chunks.
“Help me get him out.” I turned to my cousin.
He made it to my side and swore. I looked down at Grayson. His body had stiffened, and his eyes stared unseeingly up at the ceiling.
A strangled cry escaped me, echoing in my ears. My chest heaved. It felt as if my heart had been ripped from my body.
No. Grayson was dead. Just like Papi. Just like Mama.
I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe.
“Rose, we have to go. Please.” Javi pulled me away.
My body was numb. I let my cousin drag me to my feet and pull me to the edge. I held onto him as we jumped from the hangar. My eyes clenched shut as wind whipped around us. A tremor ran through me.
Grayson was dead.
We landed back on the school field just as the hangar came crashing down hard. The GRIMM swarmed around it, containing the debris as it flew. I pushed out of Javi’s hold and ran toward the crash site.
“Grayson!”
“Rose, he’s gone.” Javi ran after me.
I sobbed, grabbing the first block of concrete I could and pushing it away.
Realizing what I was doing, my cousin joined me. Shiloh and the others too. They moved the rubble faster than I could. I could barely see anything through my tears.
His last words echoed in my ears. You saved me. Now I saved you.
But I hadn’t saved him.
“Here. Rose.” Shiloh’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.
I stumbled to her and dropped to my knees. There he was his body crushed and bruised from the fall. Tears ran down my face.
Shiloh hugged me, tears streaming from her eyes too.
“He dead?” a familiar voice started me.
I leapt to my feet and spun around to find the fairy-elf from before. Princess Maloret. Heat washed over me at her callous question.
She ignored me, wandering over to Grayson’s body and waving a hand over him. I rushed to his side.
“Get away from him.”
Her eyes met mine. She smiled. “He’s already dead. What else could I do to him?”
The amusement in her tone made me bristle.
She regarded me, lips pursed in a thoughtful look. “I can save him, you know. Bring him back.”
