by K. A Knight
Slipping on socks, I grin as Lane’s voice floats up from downstairs.
I rush down the steps and wrap my arms around her waist from behind.
She giggles.
“Guess who?” I demand in a lower voice.
“Erm, an annoying bitch? Brad Pitt?” She squeals, and I giggle as I pull away.
“Damn, I wish. That boy is fine,” I say, and we both sigh.
A cough sounds from in the living room, and I smile innocently over at the guys. “What’s the plan for the day?”
I drag Lane over to the sofa and sit next to Darius. He stretches his arm over my shoulder and goes back to watching TV.
“We thought we could do whatever you wanted, maybe work on some magic. Show you some fun stuff,” Ben gushes. “Make you understand,” he finishes quietly, so quietly I pretend I didn’t hear him.
“Sounds good!” I clap, excited I get to play with them again.
I love pushing myself now that power constantly runs through my veins, and watching the boys gape at me is fun, too.
“Can you grow wings?” Lane bursts out, then covers her mouth, embarrassed.
“Huh, I grew some wicked looking smoke wings twice. I wonder if I can grow actual ones?” I hope my failure at Perses’s was a fluke.
“Why don’t we find out?” Alex suggests.
Lane and I share a look before jumping up and racing outside, the guys laughing as they follow us.
When I reach the grass, I let go of Lane and blow out a breath.
Okay, wings.
Reaching deep, I grasp the darkness in me. It still hovers there, as if uncertain with my magic racing around my body. It comes willingly, but rather than rushing, it slowly crawls, covering my magic until it dots it out like a cloud in front of the moon.
Gasps come from behind me. Whirling, I open my eyes to see every eye on me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I frown. Fucking smoke wings again.
Alex must see my disappointment because he steps closer. “Maybe with you being half reaper, you can’t conjure full wings? Have you tried to use any other reaper powers? Time or place hopping?”
When he steps closer, I turn to face him. His eyes keep going back to the wings.
“Place hopping? Like you did?” I guess I don’t know much about what I am.
“Similar. Mine takes magic and drains me, but yours should come naturally. It’s how reapers get around so fast. They exist in the in-between. I’ve even heard stories of them being ghost-like. Being present but nobody but the dead can see them.”
Biting my lip, I touch my power, whispering what I want. Eyes closed, I imagine the spot behind Alex. A yell sounds, and when I open my eyes, I face his back.
He whirls, his eyes widening when he spots me, then he grins. “Good, let’s try again. Test how far you can go.”
I nod and close my eyes again, building the image in my head, but at the last minute it changes, and I scream as I reappear atop the house.
Scrambling for a grip on the tiles, they cut my hands as I slide down the roof, the ground coming up fast. Everyone yells from the ground, but I concentrate hard, not wanting them to save me again. As I fall away from the roof, my body plummeting to the ground, I build the picture in my head.
When I don’t feel the impact to the earth, I crack open my eyes and blow out a relieved breath.
“Aurora!” Ezra yells, searching wildly.
“I’m here, big guy,” I reply, laughing as I look around at the grass.
Shit, that was a close call.
“Aurora, answer me this fucking second!” Ezra yells again.
Puzzled, I step forward, almost touching his heaving chest, but his eyes go right through me.
“I can feel her, she’s here. She’s confused,” Darius says, searching around.
I wave, and when no one responds, I gulp. Err, maybe tell Alex… I think the whole invisibility thing is real.
Darius laughs. All eyes swing to him as he repeats my words.
Their shoulders drop as they peer around, calmer now that they know I’m okay.
I poke Ezra’s chest, and his eyes widen as he steps back. Oh, this could be really fun.
Don’t do it, princess.
Darius’s laughter floats in my head as I race over to Ben and trip him up.
He squeals as he falls, pouting when he sits up on the grass.
“Babe, that’s not nice. Now, kiss it better,” he demands, looking around, but I’m already moving away.
I brush a kiss over Jason’s cheek, and they tint even as he smiles. I stroke Alex’s arm, and he smirks. Stopping in front of Mikael, my eyes zero in on those lips I’ve been thinking about since I first met him in that cell.
Using the confidence of my ghost form, I lean forward, not touching him as I stand on my toes and brush a soft kiss along his lips. He gasps, his eyes shooting wide before he grins. He tries to chase me and ends up kissing my eyelid, making me laugh.
Obviously feeling my breath, he finds my lips and kisses me. I gasp, leaning into him as he kisses me softly. I bet it looks super weird, but I let him until someone laughs.
I pull back and glance at the others.
“It seems when you, erm, get distracted, you lose your ghost form.” Jason coughs, grinning at me.
Oops. Laughing, I pull away as Lane hollers, “That was amazing!”
“Okay, let’s try some more magic!” I shout, bouncing on my toes as they all grin.
53
Jason
Aurora avoids the magic with a twirl, faster than normal humans. It seems not only does her reaper half allow her to access the in-between and the dead, but she possesses their strength and speed. While she’s still upset about the wings, I’m impressed with how much power her body holds.
She darts around me, hiding as magic shoots her way. I block it effortlessly, this game one we’ve played since we were children. It’s similar to paintball the humans play, but instead of little paint bullets, we dodge magic attacks. One hit and you’re not out, but you’re usually frozen, singed, or hurt.
Alex was reluctant to play, but when she turned those eyes on him, he gave in.
Besides, none of us would ever let her get hurt.
She fires back, dodging again as she races through the trees. We started on the grass, but it soon turned into a forest game. We split into teams, with Darius, Ben, and me on Aurora’s team and the others against us. The team with the most players standing at the end of ten minutes wins.
Lane is our unofficial ref. We keep her well out of the way, and Nev protects her from any stray magic.
Aurora tosses a fireball at Ezra, and he manages to block it, but he doesn’t block her next hit, which lifts him from the ground and sends him flying into the trees.
She hesitates, obviously scared she hurt him.
“Brother, you better let our girl know you’re okay!” Ben shouts, darting it and blocking a hit from Alex.
“Ugh, I’m good, baby,” comes a muffled yell, and she relaxes, getting back into the game.
We all trade blows.
Aurora slips into our groups easily and decimates the other team.
Even Alex goes down just as Lane shouts from the tree line. “Time! Aurora’s Power Rangers win!”
I laugh. She gave us a name? Out of breath and sweating, I get dragged into a group hug by Ben.
Aurora grins at us, her eyes sparkling as her power rides her. She’s so fucking beautiful it takes my breath away.
Sweaty and laughing, she snuggles into us.
Darius stands behind her and wraps his arms around her. It’s nice to see him happy, too.
It finally feels like we’re catching a break.
54
Aurora
After Magic Ball, we all slump on the grass as Jason and Lane go inside and grab us snacks and drinks. The sun shines down on us as I lean back into Alex’s side. Ben curls up on my other.
“I wonder what happened to her?” I murmur and feel them all look at me.
Alex runs his hands through my hair. “Happened to who, kitten?”
“Hekate. She loved her life so much. Perses said she died. How do you kill a goddess?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we can find out?” Jason suggests, rejoining us.
He passes me a bag of cookies with a smile, and I sit up and rip it open.
“That’s a good idea, but first I need a shower,” I say with a cookie stuffed in my mouth.
“Cute, real sexy, babe.” Lane, sitting opposite me, laughs.
Opening my mouth, I stick my tongue out with half-chewed cookie, and she shakes her head in disgust.
“So, tell me about the hotties at the club,” I say after swallowing, and all the guys groan.
“Don’t like girl talk, head inside now,” I warn.
I swear, they’ve never moved so fast, and soon Lane and I are left giggling to each other.
We spend hours catching up, talking boys and anything that comes to mind.
It’s nice not to hold back, anymore. She knows every part of my life and sticks around anyway. If my dad saw me now, with a human for a best friend, he would die, or whatever reapers do.
55
Ezra
While Aurora and Lane have their girl talk, we all clean up, and Alex and Ben nip to the shop to buy supplies for tea.
They make sure to buy our girl more cookies.
Sitting back on the sofa, I listen to Jason and Darius laugh as they brew tea, Ben no doubt joining in as Mikael and Alex sit in the living room debating what to watch.
A girly giggle reaches my ears, and I tilt my head as Aurora and Lane come in. She gives me a soft smile before walking Lane to the front door.
After she says goodbye, she joins me on the sofa, curling up at my side.
Kissing her head, I lean back and listen to my brothers. I can’t remember a time when we were this happy.
“Food will be ready in thirty. You pick what we’re watching yet?” Jason shouts.
Alex rolls his eyes as he starts to yell back, but I sit up straight and he falls quiet, his eyes narrowing. “Ezra?”
Holding my hand up, I close my eyes. Something’s wrong; a disturbance. The air practically vibrates with it.
“Magic,” I growl as five forms appear in the room.
Aurora jumps to her feet, her magic already forming as I push her behind me.
Alex stands slowly, his face pained before he clears it.
The others must feel it too because they all crowd into the living room, Aurora between us.
Fuck. I thought we’d have more time.
“Alexander, what a surprise. And Mikael, it seems they have found you,” William sneers, stepping forward from his little guards.
“Yes, we found him today,” Alex replies.
Aurora stares at us all, but I make sure to block her view.
“Indeed, why don’t you tell me why I had to track our best witch hunters to the corner of fucking nowhere?” he sneers, and his guards laugh.
Aurora gasps, her hand falling away from my back. The sound cuts straight through me, but I need to concentrate on the now, to make sure I’m ready in case they attack.
Alex looks at me, his face resigned. Fuck, no. I shake my head, but he turns anyway, straightening his shoulders as he faces the council elder. “We found a witch. We were gathering information before we reported back.”
While not a lie, it’s not the whole truth. It’s unheard of to lie to the council. We’ve been doing this hunting gig since we were seventeen and not once has Alex disobeyed them. Until now. Until Aurora.
“I see. Bring her forward.” William waves his hand as we reluctantly part.
“Hide your reaper power,” I whisper, turning my face away from the council member so he can’t read my lips.
Eyes hard, she doesn’t look at me as she steps forward, her head held high.
We brought the monsters she ran from right to her door, and the worst part is, I can’t even explain why to her.
56
Aurora
Swallowing hard, I lift my chin and face the man who spoke.
I don’t look at my men, shock and horror coursing through me.
The signs were all there. I should have pushed harder. Should have guessed. But I didn’t. The men chosen to be mine are hunters. Not just any hunters. Witch hunters. All this time. The reason they probably got close to me was to turn me over to their precious fucking council, one of who no doubt stands before me. They make no move to protect me.
Instead, they let the man take me in from head to toe. “Her magic is strong, but I sense something else. Tell me the truth, Alexander, now.”
The last word booms around the room, making me swallow a scream as it seems to rip through my soul. The power behind that one word is unimaginable, but it also leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
“Councilman, if you would allow us to—” Alex begins, and he cuts him off.
“The truth, or I shall rip it from the girl.” He doesn’t even look at me as he talks, already dismissing me.
“She’s half witch,” Alex says, his voice tired.
Every fucking word cuts to my core. He works for them; they all do. The men who tried to kill my family, the people who rejected and terrified my mother. The very same people Hekate wants me to end.
“Interesting. A halfling? It’s unheard of. Human, I presume?” the man says, looking back at me with fresh light, but I can see the disgust in his eye. “Pity. She’s strong, but to sully the bloodline like that? Never mind. You will, of course, be rewarded for your find. Guards.”
The men at his side step forward, and I let my magic fill my palms.
It only makes the man throw back his head and laugh. “Oh, she thinks she can fight us? How cute.”
Alex steps forward as fury washes through me. “Sir, we shall bring her in.”
“No need. I’m here now. Head back to debrief. We’ll take the sullied.”
Alex hesitates, and the man’s head swings as he offers Alex a look. Without glancing at me, Alex steps back, and the guards surround me.
There are too many. I know I can’t fight them. Even now, their magic pushing on me, wrapping around me to extinguish mine. How fucking stupid of me, to think I was powerful. To think I could trust…
I stare at Alex’s profile, but he refuses to look at me.
“Alex—” Ezra begins, but Alex turns to him and cuts him off with a glare.
“This is our job. Now, shut up and do as you’re told,” he speaks clearly, his tone threatening, and I almost stumble back.
Who’s this man? He isn’t the man who held me the other night, who touched me and kissed me like I was his light. This man is a hunter, and I’m nothing but prey.
My heart shatters when no one else voices a protest. Not one of my men tries to stop the guards surrounding me.
Princess—
My heart shattering drowns out Darius’s words, not that I want to hear them. Gasping, I draw everything inside, throwing up walls once again, but at the last second, I build a bubble around my bond with Darius. Even though he betrayed me, I can’t stand to break my promise to him.
Tears fill my eyes, but I push them back. I refuse to shed them. They might have taken my heart and stomped on it, but they don’t get to see me weak. Not ever again.
The room begins to spin as the guards join hands. A glow emanates from the circle and fills me.
Looking up, I meet Alex’s stricken eyes. They implore me, but I turn away.
Fuck them. Fuck all of them.
Perses was wrong. Hekate was wrong.
I was wrong.
57
Aurora
Abomination. Sullied. Monster.
Just some of the names they’ve called me. I let each one bounce off me harmlessly. They can’t hurt me more than what’s already been done today.
Once I woke up from whatever magic they pulled from me, they dragged me to a cell where they chained me to a stone wall. The chain, they helpfully to
ld me, stops all forms of magic.
Basically, it makes me human and weak.
I know; I tried to attack them. It didn’t go well. My ribs still hurt from their beating, but I refuse to lay back and wait for someone to rescue me, especially when the people I thought would protect me betrayed me.
When the guards finally leave, losing interest in their councils’ new toy, I tug on the chain and manage to get enough slack to walk around the cell.
Nothing but three stone walls and magically electrified bars. Not even a fucking bed or a pot to piss in. Darkness shrouds my cell, but instead of being scared like they hoped, I hide in it, letting it surround and comfort me.
“Where’s the freak? Did you hear she’s part human?” a voice laughs from outside my cell.
I lean back into the wall, closing my eyes, but when Alex’s last expression flashes through my mind, I quickly open them. I’m trying to ignore my heart, but whenever I think about the guys, it sends a stab of agony through my body so strong it nearly doubles me over.
“I heard they played her; grew her trust so they could find out who her parents were,” another voice says, and I breathe through the anger and hurt.
“It doesn’t matter. The council will execute her like the others,” a deeper voice replies as they walk away from my cell.
The others? More half breeds like me? And my men—no, not my men anymore—brought them here to their deaths?
Leaning over, I heave. Tears fall from my straining eyes before I drop to the floor and wrap my arms around myself. How could they? I trusted them. I touched them for fuck’s sake.
Time passes slowly as I replay every word they ever uttered to me, but when all that does is make me angrier, I try to think of other things.
I hope Lane looks after Nev. I hope she forgives me for disappearing again. Tom, God, he’ll be so mad. It’s better than grieving for me, at least.
Princess? Hold on, okay?
