by Rachel Jonas
We made an attempt to strategize, hoping that the newcomers’ fresh perspectives might help us find a way out of this mess that we hadn’t considered before. Only, there hadn’t been enough time. The moment I sensed Noelle in distress, we had to act.
No matter how unprepared.
A questionably silent hallway beyond the passage led us to double doors, and what I was certain looked like nothing more than a blind alley to the others. However, I’d chosen this route because this was where I felt Noelle the strongest.
Ivan peered out through the narrow pane of glass of one door, clearly unsure of why I’d brought them this way, of all the directions we could have gone.
“It’s just a courtyard, a dead end. Nothing but a few trees and dead grass from what I can see,” he reported, unable to hide his frustration.
I peered out, too, first thinking my instincts had misled me. Only, a faint purple glow near the far wall said otherwise.
“She’s here,” I announced distractedly, staring in Noelle’s direction as she paced with impatience. “And I think she’s baiting us. This is exactly what she wanted.”
The queen stepped forward as soon as I spoke, placing her hand on the knob. My warning was, apparently, no match for the bond between mother and child. Queen Evangeline seemed hellbent on rushing full steam ahead, into the courtyard, which was exactly what I would’ve expected from Noelle under these circumstances. She rarely thought before acting when it came to someone she cared about.
A fact I discovered to be true on many occasions.
“Evangeline.”
She peered up at the sound of Liam’s voice. Her eyes followed his hand when he stepped closer, reaching to place it over hers. He met her gaze with gentleness I didn’t realize he’d been capable of before now, leaving me to guess that side of him was one he only revealed to those he loved. The gesture was enough to quiet the emotion simmering in the queen’s stare.
“We have to be cautious,” he warned gently.
“Cautious? That’s our daughter out there,” she scoffed, swiping a tear from her cheek.
There was a subtle bravery about her that somehow overshadowed her other emotions—sadness, fear. I’d seen it in Noelle before, only now recognizing it as an inherited trait.
“We’re going to help her, but we have to keep our heads clear,” Liam reasoned, holding the queen’s gaze. His jaw tensed a bit as he thought deeper. “We’re not the only ones here who love her, not the only ones willing to put it all on the line.”
He didn’t go as far as making eye contact with my brothers and I, but I believed we were among those mentioned. Among those he acknowledged did, in fact, love Noelle.
“We’re all working together,” was the final thought he conveyed to Evangeline before pausing. He clearly held out hope that he’d just convinced her not to rush in, guns blazing. When she gave a halfhearted nod, Liam seemed to breathe a bit easier.
“Okay then,” he sighed. “I think we’ll stand a better chance if we cross the yard in small groups. That way, if she takes out one wave, there’s another right behind them, ready and waiting. Maybe we can tire her out, and then hit her at full-force once she weakens.”
“And what are we supposed to do when we get to her?” Manny asked. “I’m guessing we’re not expected to fight her or … hurt her.” There was no missing how much it pained him, having to say those words aloud concerning a friend.
“Of course not,” Rayen chimed in. “Maybe we can distract her long enough to give the witches time to subdue her with magic, and then work on dispelling the Darkness from within her.”
I didn’t want to kill his Spirit, but Noelle was strong. There was no way three witches could even break her stride. Her inability to be fully affected by magic was one of the things that made her most dangerous. And likely one of the reasons the Darkness chose her as its host.
She was the perfect weapon—strong, practically impervious. The one chink in her armor was her susceptibility to the Darkness.
“Whatever we do, we stick together,” Ty insisted.
No one disagreed with that.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ori
“Footsteps,” Caleb whispered. “Someone’s coming and they’re not too far behind us.”
Again, I was reminded of why hybrids and wolves made good companions on a mission. Not only was their eyesight impeccable, but their hearing was as well.
“How many?” I hadn’t missed the worry in the queen’s tone when she asked.
Caleb gave a disheartened shrug. “It’s hard to say, but quite a few. And they’re closing in on us fast.”
‘Has to be the ones I spotted coming from the burial ground.’ Paulo spoke only to me, not sharing this information with the others.
Soon, we’d be boxed in, and there wasn’t much we could do about it.
“Move in,” Dallas said cautiously, pointing toward Noelle’s uncles first. His tone was like that of a reluctant commander, uncertain of the conditions into which he led his troops.
The five made it a quarter of the way in before Dallas signaled for the next wave to follow—The Eros Hive. Our brothers were brave and there was no hesitance in their steps as they started out. The three remaining hives followed. Meanwhile, the Omegas and I had begun to pace, watching as the hybrids finally made it within a few yards of Noelle. Not close enough to touch her, but close enough that when a burst of purple energy pulsed from her hands and moved across the yard, it leveled them all, our entire frontline.
Using her hands as weapons once again, she stretched them outward and the Eros met the same fate, leaving them to writhe on the ground in pain.
“Pull back!” Dallas yelled out to anyone still on their feet, prompting them to return to where the rest of us waited.
Those footsteps closing in from the burial ground were so close now. Close enough that we all heard them.
“We need a plan B,” Dallas admitted through his frustration. “And we need one fast.” He thought deeper, but I already knew there was only one way to move forward.
“It has to be us,” I spoke up, causing every eye to turn toward me.
My gaze met my brothers’, and then shifted toward the narrow window. Noelle’s eyes were already locked on mine, and even from where I stood, her sinister smile could be seen.
“We’re the ones she wants,” I reiterated. “The ones it wants.”
“Then we’ll go,” Kai said bravely, stepping up so we were shoulder-to-shoulder.
“Can you all handle the ones headed this way?” Rayen asked, nodding toward the loud footsteps. “We’ll need you to hold them off at the door. This could take some time. We’ll need to find a way to appeal to whatever humanity she has left.”
He was right. No one was strong enough to restrain her—not even us—so our only hope was to reason with whatever small sliver of the woman we loved still remained.
Was it a flimsy plan? Yes … but it was the only one we had.
“We’ll do our best,” Dallas assured us, turning to face the oncoming threat, while the biggest one yet dwelled inside Noelle.
I’d taken one step when my bicep was gripped. Lifting my eyes, I stared into Liam’s.
Seconds passed with nothing shared between us other than a look. One from a father who wasn’t used to leaving the fate of his princess in the hands of others. However, he seemed to have found a reason to trust us, having at least a morsel of confidence in my brothers and I now. It hadn’t been there before, but had perhaps grown after seeing us storm into this land of eternal midnight and treachery. Whatever the outcome, it proved our devotion.
Only love could drive anyone to such great lengths.
“Save her,” were the only words he uttered, and then released me. Next, he took a stance, facing those approaching us from behind.
My brothers and I pushed through the door. A total of ten bodies lie unconscious in the scorched soil, having been overpowered by Noelle’s magic. With every step we took closer, I expe
cted us to be taken out of commission just the same as the others, but so far, she’d only kept watch.
‘Easy. We don’t know her plan,’ I said to the others. On my command, their steps halted.
“I knew you couldn’t stay away.” One corner of Noelle’s mouth lifted into a dark smirk. Her gaze slipped over each of us and the expression quickly shifted, becoming a scowl filled with disgust as she leered. “Pathetic.”
My chest rolled with anger, hearing that thing speak through her. Its deep, menacing voice contrasted every single detail of who she was.
“So, what’s the plan, Omegas?” it taunted, lifting a brow above that pitch-black stare. “Your precious queen and I have gotten so close now this evening. Actually, I’m almost positive you’re no longer sure you can defeat me.” It landed a glare on each of us. “Because, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, killing me means killing us both?”
We chose not to feed into the taunting, holding our ground. The only distraction was the sound of our comrades heavily engaged in battle. The walking nightmares from the burial ground had finally arrived.
“Who could have guessed it would come to this—having to choose between saving your precious island and the woman you love?” Its gaze shifted, focusing solely on me next. “I don’t envy this choice you’ll have to make, Ori. Although, I suppose you’ve got somewhat of an advantage,” it jeered. “You’ve already let so many loved ones slip through your fingers, what’s one more, right?”
A wicked laugh left its mouth as my fists clenched. We expected this. The Darkness would inevitably use our weaknesses against us. The key was keeping a cool head.
“Your father would be so disappointed to see what a failure you’ve turned out to be,” it continued. “You’re no more of a man than you were the day he left you.”
Fire rushed up from my clenched fists, dispersing in my forearms.
‘Keep focused, Ori,’ Rayen warned.
At the sound of his voice I came to my senses. The Darkness took a few steps closer and I think we all held our breath, unsure of what it would do if it reached us.
When it reached us.
Now only a few feet away, her head tilted, causing the dark curtain of hair to fall from her shoulder.
She breathed deeply and the smirk was back. “You’ve presented me with a rather unique predicament, coming here together,” it shared. “How will I ever decide which of you to devour first?”
At its words, the Darkness sprang toward me, locking icy fingers around my throat, despite the heat that filled this realm. My brothers each lunged to protect me, but before they had the chance, their bodies lifted from the ground, their limbs bound by invisible restraints.
“I must admit,” it said sharply, “I never imagined she’d be so powerful. There’s never been a host that suits me so well.” Smiling up at me, it winked and I nearly swung a punch, forgetting that I’d also injure Noelle if I connected.
“Simmer down, dragon. We both know which one of us will win this fight. I waited too long to have her to give her up so easily,” it teased.
“Let her go,” I managed to force out. “We’ll make a trade.”
It blinked at me curiously, those ink-like eyes sending a chill down my spine. A moment passed and intrigue must have made the offer too tempting not to inquire.
“What could you possibly offer me that is better than … this?” With the question, it looked down, surveying Noelle’s form before meeting my gaze again.
Feeling its grip loosen a little, I drew in a breath, offering the one thing I could. “Me,” I gasped. “You can have me.”
“This wasn’t the plan, Ori!”
“What are you doing?”
My brothers’ pleas barely even registered with me as I thought. For a moment, I saw the Darkness consider the proposal. When the guys continued shouting threats in protest, those dark eyes shifted from me.
“Silence!” it yelled, the force of its voice sending the others flying backwards, their backs slamming the trunks of nearby trees. Exploiting Noelle’s powerful magic, the branches began to creak and groan like the joints of a thousand aged staircases. The sound echoed across the courtyard, the branches contorting with the Darkness’ command until my brothers were bound, locked into place, struggling to break free.
I had its full attention again, but for now, it only seemed amused.
“Now that it’s a bit quieter, I believe you were just about to explain the reason why I’d foolishly give her up? Her strength, her magic? All for what? To take on the body of a … Firekeeper?” A dark laugh not belonging to Noelle left her lips. The chill of her breath grazed the side of my face when she brought me closer, whispering words that rang truer than I wanted to accept.
“We both know you’re nothing without her.”
My throat was released, and I landed on both feet, shifting a glance toward my brothers still struggling against the thick branches that held them firmly in place. Instinct sent me running toward them, but after a few steps, the ground where I stood softened like quicksand. I was sinking fast, and even faster when hands stretched up from the earth, pulling me deeper.
Noelle’s toes dragged lightly across the charred blades of grass as she levitated, the Darkness bringing her to me. She stared down, unconcerned as I struggled to stay above ground. Suddenly, the soil hardened again and my arms were locked beneath the surface, leaving me completely vulnerable, unable to defend myself—or anyone else for that matter.
“Still think you stand a chance at winning?”
It hadn’t just been those words that shined light on what a total loss this had been. All around me, there was only evidence of this being over for us. Even those who stayed on the opposite side of the threshold were running out of steam—outnumbered, cornered.
It had been a death trap from the start. I don’t know, maybe some of us knew that all along. Still, I couldn’t convince myself we’d done the wrong thing coming after her. I had a feeling that any man worth his salt would have done the same thing—followed the love of his life into darkness.
Straight over a cliff if he thought he stood a chance to save her.
My gaze rose to meet hers, not that of the Darkness. For a moment, I was able to see past the sinister shadow it cast over her sweet face. For a moment, I only saw my girl.
“I know you tried fighting this, Noelle, and I know I didn’t always see that, but you did,” I said to her, unsure of whether any part of her even still existed in there. Only, I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance to say what was on my heart, so I spoke anyway.
“I’m sorry for not always seeing the good in you. I was blind,” I admitted. “It was always there, even when I was too stubborn to admit that. It’s the reason I felt my heart skip a beat the very first time I laid eyes on you, and the reason it does the same every time you walk into a room.”
Her chest heaved as I shared what I believed to be my final words to her, words I refused to let die with me.
“No matter what happens, the love of my brothers and I will always follow you.”
Anger flared in her expression and, keeping her stare trained on me, she stretched a fist out toward the others and squeezed. The action brought agonized screams out of them when the branches that held them cinched tighter.
“Does that look like love to you, Firekeeper?” It asked. “You’re wasting your breath on her. Whatever light you think existed within her is gone now. I made sure of that.”
Feeling my breath weakening as the hands beneath the surface tugged harder, pulling me deeper until my chest was restricted by the strangling earth.
“You may have her body, you may have her will, but her light will never be yours to take,” I said just above a whisper.
The same rage shown toward my brothers was aimed at me now, and with the sudden twist of her wrist, it felt like every bone in my body began turning to stone.
Noelle stooped, seemingly oblivious to my pain—or perhaps loving it. Through clenched teeth, I st
ruggled for air, struggled to stay conscious. Nearly nose to nose, she breathed slow and steady.
“How does it feel to know she’ll never even mourn your death?” A quiet laugh fluttered from her mouth, and I found myself wishing I could hear from her just one last time. The real her.
As badly as the Darkness wanted to steal this moment, I wouldn’t allow it.
“Noelle, I love you.”
I’d never confessed my feelings to her before then, but I knew it went without saying.
“I love you,” I repeated for good measure. “And in the next life, I’ll love you still.”
Deep, labored breaths puffed from her nostrils and I half expected that this would be the moment my head would be ripped from my shoulders. Only, for reasons I had yet to understand, I was still alive, still in one piece.
But that’s when I saw it, that sign I’d been searching for that my girl was still in there—tears.
There were tears in her eyes.
A rush filled me with energy I didn’t know I still had. “Noelle, fight!” I yelled out, believing she was strong enough to push through if she wanted it badly enough.
“Fight!” I shouted again. “It can’t have you if you don’t let it.”
The black that stained the whites of her eyes began to fade slowly, and the beautiful hazel centers gave me hope I wasn’t sure I deserved. I watched as she strained against the entity. The inward struggle caused thick veins in her neck and forehead to protrude.
“Breathe,” I managed to say calmly. “Just breathe and … come back to me.”
This was the plea of a desperate man, a man not certain a happy ending was still within grasp, but desperate enough to beg for such a thing.
With a loud gasp, she collapsed in front of me, and the ground softened just enough for me to break a hand free. And the first second I was able to, I grabbed her, held her to me as best as I could.
“I knew you were strong enough,” I said into her hair, placing a kiss there right after.
