“Do not use this type of magic again. If I find out that you have, I will strip your magic. I will not have you go dark.”
“I promise.”
“How did you even know how to use that kind of magic?”
Zara bowed her head slightly, as if she were a kid again being scolded by an adult. “I may have looked into the Book of Shadows that you keep locked away in your cabin to the point that I have it memorized.”
Raven’s eyes went wide, and her eyebrows nearly went to her hairline. “You found it? How? I have it spelled to not be found unless it is me.”
“I do not know. I have always been able to find it.”
“Never mind. I cannot even begin to understand how your magic works. Do NOT under any circumstances perform blood magic.”
“Why did it not taint her magic? should not it have?” Atara asked.
“What do you mean?” Raven looked confused.
Atara looked over at her sister. “Do you not see that there are no remnants of her using that magic? should not she be marked?”
Raven looked at Zara. Then she approached her, grabbed Zara’s hands, and placed them within hers. She closed her eyes and Atara watched her navy-blue magic slide across Zara, scanning her. “You’re right. There is nothing of that magic on you. How could that be?”
Lucus and Sophia emerged from the house. Atara knew they had heard every word. Werewolf hearing for the win. Lucus and Sophia smiled at Zara. Lucus spoke, “it won’t show on Zara because her intention was out of love. Not greed or lust for power. As an Empath, I can feel everyone’s emotions. The only emotion that Zara has right now and has since she learned who Atara was to her, is love. Love for her sister. Love for her family that she always has. Using blood magic for the good of someone you love will not harm the user or the one the spell was cast upon. At least if it is used only once.”
Raven looked over Zara and then to Atara. The anger disappeared and instead looked as though she was ashamed. She looked back at Zara. “I know you did this for your sister. I cannot say I would not have broken the rules for my own if given the chance again. However, I will say this one final time. Do NOT use blood magic again. I won’t lose you, too.” Then she looked at Atara again. “Your training begins tomorrow. Rest up, you’ll need it.” Then she disappeared.
Welcome to being a witch and wolf hybrid indeed.
Chapter Seventeen: Zara
Zara had plans to train with Tobias. It had been three days since Zara unlocked Atara’s magic. Raven had the coven come to the Midwest territory and tripled the barriers in hopes that it would be enough to contain their power. Atara had told her that wherever Zara was, she could feel it. Between her magic and wolf, her power emitted from her even without her notice. Even when she tried to contain it.
Tobias contacted her through the earth. It was weird and she considered it unnatural, but she was dealing with an Elemental. She was in the yard meditating when she felt the small patch of grass she was sitting on rumble, the ground opened slightly and then a small, blue looking sunflower popped out of the ground. On the petals it read “meet me in three days’ time at your training location - Tobias.”
Now that was an interesting power, she thought. She knew that he had asked the Earth to swallow the bodies so no one could find them. Now this. He made a flower sprout up to deliver a message to her. Her mind was racing with other possibilities of what his magic was capable of. She was already banned from performing another blood magicked spell cause everyone feared that she would go dark. That would never happen in her eyes. She only did it once to give Atara back what was taken from her. She had no intention of using it again. Her own magic almost rebelled against using it even that one time.
His scent wafted into her nose from behind her. She stayed still to see what he would do. Her instincts made her think that he would attack from behind, but instead he cleared his throat. Zara looked over her shoulder. He was wearing the loose-fitting white pants that he usually wore, no shoes, and a white tank top. “Why do you always dress as if you are a dojo master?” He smirked. It gave her butterflies in her stomach and she wanted nothing more than to turn it into a full, heart stopping smile. She resisted it. Get it together, Zara. He is a king and an Elemental. He is not on the menu. She at least attempted to tell herself that she needed to get him out of her mind. She briefly looked into herself to see how her wolf was responding and if she would help Zara keep it together. Her wolf had her face in between her paws as she laid down and ignored her. You are seriously no help.
Zara did not understand it. She knew from being around Xander and Sophia that being next to your mate without touching them was hard even after the mate bond was completed. Sophia told her years ago that before it is completed, you could not be away from your mate without feeling your heart break. Your soul desperately wants them by your side so the mate bond could be completed. You think about them nonstop. You never grow tired of being around them, you love them through their flaws and perfections. You could not cheat on your mate because they were the other half of your soul, no one else can compare.
Tobias has been on her mind since the first day that they had met. She did her best not to think about him, but she could not help it. When her memories came back, she wanted him there to tell him about it and have him comfort her. After her using blood magic to break Atara’s ring and everyone was mad at her for doing it, she wanted to run to the Elemental Realm to be with him. As he was standing before her, she wanted to claim his lips and demand he tell her that he felt the same way too.
There are times that she thinks that she sensed that he was battling it, too. Fighting the urge to claim her as his. Why would he be resisting? Maybe it was because he feared his people not understanding. But that is silly, there have been known soulmates of different supernatural species. I am a product of one. Whatever the problem was, she wanted him to be over it.
“Well, little wolf. Let’s get to training.”
Did he just call us little? Her wolf asked. Yes, yes, he did. Her wolf growled a little within her mind. Zara smirked. She noticed that Tobias tried to hide a smile. Ugh.
Tobias’s training was intense. The way he worked with the elements was downright scary. His people better be proud that they have him as their king, she thought to herself as they trained. He split open the ground to make her stumble. Again. She had almost fallen in more times than she could count. The gusts of wind would knock her off her feet. Roots would come up out of the ground and hold her in place, effectively trapping her feet. The fire energy he harnessed was extremely difficult to avoid. It would spray sparks of fire like an explosion around the area it hit. He could also somehow spout water through the ground from under her and it would have her flying through the air. She eventually threw her invisible barrier spell up just so she had a moment to recalculate how to put this Elemental on his ass. Every time she managed to get close to him, he used air to push her backwards.
After what seemed like the fiftieth time she landed on her ass, her wolf came to the surface along with her magic. Let us show nature boy just who he’s dealing with, little one. Her wolf sounded confident and determined. Let’s do it!
Tobias was at least forty feet away from her. A devilish grin spread across his face, as if he could sense what she was thinking. Zara launched herself towards him, she saw him prepare to throw one of his elemental tricks her way. Zara flicked her wrist and sent energy to hit him in the chest. Once it connected with his body, he stumbled backward and at the same time she jumped and shifted midair. He threw fire balls at her, she jumped to the side each time evading them. Her wolf threw an energy flare again. What the hell? My wolf can control my magic? He stumbled once again and Zara jumped to put her front paws on his chest, knocking him over. She then laid on top of him so he could not move and put her muzzle in between her paws. He looked up at her and laughed. Is that pride that I am seeing?
“Well, that will teach me to mess with the hybrid of prophecy.”
; Zara stood up and moved over so he could get up. She shifted and stood before him. Her skin tingled all over from touching his body. “Just so you know, you cheated.”
“I did not cheat!”
“You did.”
“How did I cheat?”
“You used your wolf.”
“You did not specify that I could not. Therefore, I did not cheat.”
He closed the small gap between them and smiled. Ugh, why did he have to smile. The scent of ocean, campfire, rainstorm, and moss washed over her. It was intoxicating to her. It was slowly becoming her favorite scent in the world. He was only inches away now. His voice lowered, "so I get to make the rules now? You sure you want me to have that much power over you?" Oh no. Is he insinuating what I think he is? That thought made her knees buckle and sent her stumbling into his chest. "You think you have power over me?" He leaned in Zara’s ear and whispered, "I know I do."
I am a goner. Zara reached out to her wolf to help her, she ignored her. Some help you are!
Tobias grabbed her face with both hands and dragged her lips to his. When his soft lips met hers, like a flint to her flame, it ignited her. The warmth ran from her mouth throughout her face and traveled down her body until it reached her toes. He opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. His tongue slid against hers, causing a moan to escape her. Tobias moved his hands from her face to her hair and one hand around her neck. As the kiss continued, the hand on her face skimmed across the skin of her neck, to her shoulder, to her side, then to her back and then stopped on her ass. The path his hand took erupted into a burning sensation she had never felt before and she moaned into his mouth again. Zara knew Tobias was feeling the same way as he moaned against her lips and his embrace tightened around her hair and her ass, driving their bodies closer. She relaxed against him to soak in this moment. Is this really happening? Is he accepting what could be?
Then she felt a draft of cold air and no longer felt him against her. She opened her eyes, her knees wobbling, and she was trying not to collapse. Tobias was standing a few feet away, his chest moving up and down as he breathed heavily.
“I must get back to my realm.”
“Are we not going to talk about what just happened?”
“I gave in to temptation. It must not happen again.”
He was turning to walk away. “Hold up. You cannot just kiss me and expect me to forget about it! Why did you kiss me? Why do I still feel your lips against mine?”
“I do not know! But it cannot happen again.”
“Why not?”
“You are a wolf.”
“Thank you, King Obvious. What does that have to do with anything?”
“I cannot be involved with a wolf. I am to take the throne and to do that I need to take a wife.”
“Oh, do not even try that!”
“It is the truth. I am King Regent. I cannot go further than what just happened.”
As he turned his back onto her, Tobias shimmered and disappeared using air manipulation. Zara felt her heart ache and deepen to the depths of her soul. She wanted him close once more. She wanted to demand he talk to her. She became angry, balled her hands into fists, lifted them up and threw her hands down and let out an ugh! She felt energy flare out of her hand, but it was not her normal magic. She looked down and the grass below her hands was on fire. “What the hell!” She exclaimed and started to stomp on the fire. Did I just light the grass on fire? Was that my normal magic or did I just mirror Tobias’ Elemental magic?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Zara hurried home to find answers about what she experienced with the fire. When she walked into the house, she already knew that Xander was not home. Since she had brought Sam home, meeting Atara, and unlocking her memories; she had been able to feel the presence of other supernaturals. Xander especially because of his Alpha power. Zara could not feel the Alpha within the house, but Sophia was out in the yard.
Once outside Zara hit the Omega’s wall of calmness, as she liked to call it. Her anxiety lessened to the point of non-existent. The tension in her body relaxed. Zara wanted to complain because she wanted to feel frustration so she could scream about it like a normal young woman, but the power was too great, and she had never been able to overcome Sophia’s powerful ability. “I felt your angst as soon as you crossed onto the property, Zar. What has you so tense?” Sophia was pulling clothes off the line now that they are dry. Zara would protest this old fashion way of drying clothes often and Sophia would just smile and ignore her rants. “Tobias.” Sophia turned to Zara and cocked an eyebrow. “The Elemental King?” Zara nodded her head. Sophia chuckled. “Come inside and help me fold these.” Zara followed Sophia to her room. This was Zara’s favorite room. Not only was it decorated in earth tones, this room was in lighter tones of the colors as well as decorated with wolves. There was a wolf mural on the wall where their king-sized bed was, there were statues of wolves throughout the room. The walls were a soft forest green and there were accents of creams and browns. It was like being in the woods, and it was just as relaxing as being in them.
“Tell me more about this King.” Sophia said as she placed the hamper of dried clothes on the bed.
“It’s not like that, Sophia.”
“I have known you all your life, Zara. I even held you the day you were born because your mother came here to have you. You have never been this frustrated over a guy, friend or love interest. You clearly feel something for this man.”
Zara let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. I yield. This man frustrates me. He came into my life only a short time ago, and I can’t stop thinking about him. The day I met him; this crescent moon shaped tattoo showed up on my finger. Every time he comes anywhere near me, my body ignites with emotions and tingles that I have never felt before. I yearn to be near him every second of the day. What is this?” Zara ranted as she angrily folded clothes. She refused to talk about the kiss. That would force her to accept what had happened and she was not ready to do that.
Sophia chuckled. “Do not take it out on Xander’s clothes. You’ve destroyed enough of his property.”
“I will never live this down, will I?”
Sophia laughed, “Not a chance, little one.” Then she stopped folding Xander’s pants. “Wait a minute. Did you say you have a crescent moon tattoo? Let me see it.”
Zara placed her left hand in Sophia’s. She examined the tattoo closely. Then looked at Zara. “You got this the moment you met him?” Zara nodded her head. “Does he have one?” Zara shrugged her shoulders. “When I am near him, I can’t even think straight half the time. I also can’t seem to ever get a glance at his hand.” Sophia put the clothes away and sat on her bed.
“Zara, I want you to stay calm and think this through. You received a mark the day you met Tobias. Since that day, you cannot stop thinking about him, your body ignites with emotions and tingles. You used fire magic. No normal witch can cast any kind of elemental magic. What do you think this means?”
“I have a parasite living inside of my brain and one day it will eat my entire brain then I die.”
“Smartass.” She said with a smile. “Your serious answer now, please.”
“I am trying to evade the answer. What does that tell you, Sophia?”
“Come sit with me.” She said as she patted her bed. Zara walked over and sat next to her. Her eyes matched her smile, amused. “Do not fight it, Zara. It will only agitate you and your wolf until you accept it and complete the bond.”
“He is a King, Sophia.”
“Within the month, you will be a Queen. It is fitting for your soulmate to be a King.”
“He does not show any interest in me.”
“Maybe he is afraid, too.”
She left Zara with that thought to ponder. Zara continued to sit on the bed, staring at the wall. She looked inside herself and spoke to her wolf. “He is ours, isn’t he?” Her wolf looked at her with her bright, crystal blue eyes. Yes. Now let’s make sure he knows that we are his when we see him next.
Zara sighed. I have a soulmate…
Chapter Eighteen: Atara
Raven was not kidding, she started Atara’s training the next day. Atara had thought that she would have been able to immediately cast spells and begin to hone in her magic. That was not the case. Raven had told her that they would begin with a simple exercise, bringing her magic to the forefront. When Atara had asked her what that meant, she told her when Zara’s aura is visible and on display. Raven explained that Atara must meditate to begin.
Atara sat on the ground, the grass still wet from the morning dew, but she did not mind. She crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and began taking deep breaths. Raven was speaking in a language that she could not understand, just like Zara spoke to cease the blood magic spell. Before Atara could speak to ask Raven if she was going to perform blood magic, Raven cut her off. “Keep your eyes closed. I want you to look within yourself. Find the magic within.” Raven spoke another word in the same language. Atara’s eyes remained closed, but now she saw sparks of light within her. She only saw black, but then saw sparks of different colors of light. There was a cord that was illuminated by a vibrant, but deep red. She felt her wolf within that cord. Okay, that must be the pack’s bond. She then saw a silver cord with little bolts of blue within it. Hmm...that must be my bond to Zara...that looks like her aura.
Atara took another deep breath. Pushing her further into her meditation to find her own magic. It felt like she has been meditating for hours. She pushed through the bond with the pack and felt that something was off. She felt like there was a coat of oil on it and did not proceed further. She figured if she would alarm Cyrus and he would find her. She looked further within the bond. Atara could feel her sister, her power, and her magic as if she were standing right next to her. At least I know how to contact her if things go sideways.
Wolf Unleashed (Hybrid Prophecies Book 1) Page 11
