He was so mad at me I couldn’t even help in a fight. Tenn, please. I—
Before I could finish my thought to him, bright light pierced my eyes. I flinched and looked to the castle. The doors were wide open. But between us and them was a new squad of soldiers dressed in all-white running right for us. Their metal swords glistened under the castle’s golden lights.
Tennessee and Cooper charged toward them. Easton cursed behind me, and then my brother and soulmate were covered with silver metal armor.
The moon dropped low in the sky until it looked like it might hit the castle. Its glow lit up the area like dawn had come early. The vampires flinched and pulled their weapons back. It was all the distraction Tenn and Cooper needed. They slid to their knees and swiped the vampires’ feet out from under them. Emersyn ran by me with fire dancing from her fingertips. Lily was hot on her heels, and midday sunshine poured from her palms. Deacon sped by me, shooting red lightning into the sky.
“No!” I raised my palms and reached out with my magic to grab ahold of the blood running through their veins. They froze in place. “Defense only!”
“Let us go!” Deacon cursed. “They’re gonna kill us!”
I felt his magic brush over my face, but it had no effect on me. “Let them try.” We had to get the Fire Stone, so attacking them would only make that more difficult.
The vampires leapt back into the air. Their movements were soundless. Their fangs glistened in Henley’s bright moonlight. Cold magic soared by me. The air sparkled like glitter. Ice shot up from the snow and wrapped around their feet, then moved halfway up their legs. The vampires were frozen from the hips down. They hissed and tried to force their way out, but it was no use. The one in front threw his sword like a javelin, but it turned to solid ice midair and dropped to the snow.
I looked over my shoulder to where Timothy stood with his palms raised. I grinned. “Nice. I told ya’ we need ya’.”
Timothy smiled and winked at me.
Before we could celebrate any form of success, five more men in all white ran out of the castle to greet us. Tennessee stood and held his hand up to stop us. None of these new bloodsuckers had weapons. They slid to a stop when they found the others half buried in ice.
The biggest guy, the one in front of Tennessee with brown hair plastered to his head, stepped forward. He narrowed his eyes, and I thought I saw the twinkle of red but it was too dark to be sure. “Queen Sweyn awaits you.” Without another word, he spun and led the way through the double glass doors.
Tennessee and Cooper followed without hesitation. I had more than enough for all of us, but if my soulmate was going into a vampire kingdom, then I was going with him. Whether he was mad at me or not. I rushed to follow them into the castle.
My Coven-mates stayed close as we were led down a hallway right along the front glass walls. Our footsteps echoed along the white marble floors and matching walls. To our left, out the windows, I imagined in the daylight the view had to be spectacular, but at night, I only saw a black sky and thick white powder. The lights hanging on the ornate chandeliers looked like real candles, but the intensity of the light couldn’t have been natural.
We turned a corner....and my breath left me in a rush. We’d entered a grand terrace. Above me, built like a dome, the ceiling was entirely glass. The light filtering through made it feel like midday sun in the room. The white floors and furniture glowed. All around, there were sofas and lounge chairs, and these, too, were white. My gaze wandered around the room in amazement until I spotted our audience.
There had to be two dozen people hanging around the center of the room. They wore evening gowns and tuxedos, all in crisp white tones. They were beautiful, each and every one gorgeous enough to fill a modeling agency’s roster. They were statues. Works of art…and staring at us with blank stares. I wanted to move closer. I wanted to get a better look. I wanted to see them, smell them...then I saw her.
There was no mistaking who she was. She lounged in a jagged glass throne like a leopard lying on a tree branch. She was poised. Confident. Calm. But lethal and begging you to make the wrong move so she could pounce.
She had icy blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, and her skin was a luscious, perfect porcelain. The crown on her head looked entirely made of ice or glass, and the golden lights from above twinkled along the edges and shimmered against her pale hair. The gown she wore was the color of fresh-fallen snow, and it clung to her every curve. And then there were her eyes. They were bloodred and flickered with a burning fire.
She was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, and she eyed us like we were the dessert she’d been craving.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.”
Chapter Ten
Chutney
I can do this.
I can’t do this.
I can’t do this. Why did the Goddess think I could do this?
Maybe she was punishing me. Our quest to the Old Lands was not a prime example of my abilities or proof of my worth. I still wasn’t sure why She chose me in the first place. My whole life, I kept waiting for it to make sense...and I was still waiting.
I grabbed the pouch hanging around my neck and squeezed. The Air Stone’s power pulsed through my fingers. Its blue light shined through the bad like a neon sign. The Shaman probably wondered why I was trusted with this responsibility.
The sky around us was still dark, but in the distance, it was light blue. I groaned. Why couldn’t we have left after sunrise? I kept thinking someone was following us, even though I had every reason to know they weren’t. The dragons were nice. They were our friends. They had no reason to follow us. But there was this little tingle down my back that felt like someone’s eyes on me. I looked over my shoulder for the hundredth time since we left Issale, but still all I saw was dark skies and twinkling stars. I knew the moon was full, but there were so many clouds I couldn’t see it. I bit my bottom lip and peered over Dace’s wing. All I found were more puffy clouds.
There’s nothing there. It’s just us up here.
I sat between two of the ivory-colored spikes on Dace’s spine. His scales were smooth and soft, and heat simmered from inside him. My whole body warmed, and it was soothing like cuddling under a heated blanket. Dace flapped his wings, and we dropped a little lower. I gripped the spike in front of me and held on. Beside us, Tyce flew with Devon and Hunter on his back. All three of them were the picture of ease and calm, like they’d done this a million times. Then again, they were twice my age or more, so maybe they’d done crazier things. Tyce hummed a tune I vaguely recognized but couldn’t place.
You okay up there?
I jumped at the sound of Dace’s voice in my head, warm but rough. I sighed and shook my head. “Sure. Definitely. Totally cool.”
Dace chuckled and a little puff of smoke left his mouth. Good, good. Mind not ripping my spike off?
“Oh, sorry!” I cursed and lightened my grip. “Um…can we fly a little lower?”
Sure thing. Dace flapped his massive ivory-colored wings and snorted. C’mon, Tyce, let’s fly below the clouds for a bit.
I hated not being able to see what was below me. That was why I hated swimming in the ocean or lakes.
Dace ducked his head, and we dropped like we were on a rollercoaster. Cool wind rushed through my hair, my curls stretching out behind me. We flew right through a massive cloud. The air was cold and thick. I reached out to try and touch it, but it dissolved around my fingers.
The air grew thinner and clearer. For a moment, I saw glistening city lights down below, sticking out in the darkness. But then a shadow passed in front of me, blocking all of the light. A gust of wind slammed into my face. It was hot and smelled like maple syrup.
I gasped. Demons.
DEMONS! Hold on! Dace roared. Fire shot out of his mouth and turned the demon to ash. He’s got friends! Hang on to that Stone!
I frowned and held on to his spike as hard as I could. Friends? What friends? Where? I couldn
’t see any others.
Dace tucked his wings and dove straight down. Big, dark objects flew by. The stench of maple syrup filled the air and seeped into my lungs. I turned my head left and right, but they were everywhere all at once. They were jet-black with long skinny wings and several legs hanging down. Like flying spiders.
My heart pounded in my chest so loud it sounded like thunder. What do I do? I don’t know how to fight while flying on a dragon! Kessler never taught us that!
Chutney, incoming. Don’t attack! Tyce yelled to me, though I couldn’t see him.
Something huge moved out of the corner of my eye, but before I could look, it landed on Dace’s back right behind me. I screamed. Where’s my dagger? Where did I put it?
“It’s just me!” Hunter shouted. He slid behind me and wrapped his arm around me. His massive hand covered mine, holding on to both me and Dace’s spike. Soft golden light spread from his palms. “Just me, just me.”
Warm, soothing energy spread up my arm and into my body. My pulse slowed to an almost normal beat.
Then Tyce’s words registered. “Hunter? Did you jump?”
“Yes. Now hold on to that Stone,” he yelled in my ear over the rush of wind and hissing demons. “Let us do the fighting, okay?”
I nodded, because my mouth seemed unable to work. My eyes widened. I looked up and found Tyce flying above us with Devon on his back. Several Devons. I could barely even see the charcoal-gray dragon among the clouds. Tyce roared and shot fire into the sky. Demons hissed and screamed. Behind me, Hunter sent golden lightning bolts of magic into our enemies.
I wanted to help. My brain screamed at me to do something, but I was frozen. My mind went blank. I wasn’t a fighter. This was not my strong suit. Especially not thousands of feet in the air on the back of a dragon. I wasn’t Tegan or Tennessee. I didn’t know how to fight like this.
Chutney, guard that Stone! Tyce screamed. To anyone else, it would’ve sounded like a hiss, but I heard his words. They’ll try and grab it!
These demons were flying so fast I couldn’t see them before they were too close. If Hunter hadn’t been shooting them out of the sky from behind me, I definitely would’ve taken a hit already.
I looked down at the leather satchel around my neck. The blue light coming off the Air Stone seeped through the material. Its energy sang with every gust of wind like it knew it was in its element.
A demon dropped out of the sky and swung at the satchel. I threw my hand up and covered it just as its yellow talons slashed at the material. The skin on the back of my hand split open, and blood poured out.
“Chutney!” Hunter shouted as his golden magic slammed right into my attacker’s chest. It erupted into ash. “Hide that!”
I hissed at the pain shooting up my arm. But this was my one job. I couldn’t fail. I clenched my teeth and stuffed the leather satchel under my shirt, then pulled my coat tight over me. Protect the Stone. That’s all I have to do. And not die. I can do this. I can do this.
Tyce roared and fire spread over my head. I gasped and looked up. Devon and all of her clones stood on Tyce’s back like she was surfing. She swung two daggers through the air, slicing through demons without hesitation. She was incredible, a force to be reckoned with. She ran up and down his back, jumping and ducking while slicing.
My jaw dropped, and all of my attention zeroed in on her. Hunter’s golden lightning lit up my peripheral vision, but all I could watch was her. I didn’t know if her clones were killing demons, too, or if she was just that fast. Her magic was astral projection, but I’d never stopped to ask how that worked. Either way, the demons didn’t realize they were fake because they kept dive-bombing at them and only finding air.
Chutney! Tell her to jump! Tyce shouted.
“Devon, JUMP!” I yelled before I even registered what he’d told me to say.
But it was too late. Devon didn’t hesitate a fraction of a second. She leapt into the air like a gladiator and buried her daggers into the back of a demon. It hissed and screeched while trying to shake her free.
Hunter cursed. A wave of cold energy brushed over my back as he watched his wife and soulmate.
Tyce flipped upside down and roared. Fire shot out of his mouth like a volcano eruption, burning a dozen demons at once. Flames rained down below us and dropped onto a few more demons. Tell her to kill it now. I’ll catch her!
They were both insane. “Devon, kill it now!”
She pulled her daggers out of the demon’s spine then slammed the blades into the back of its head. The demon bellowed, and its oily blood hit her clothes. Its wings froze and it dropped like a rock. Devon’s eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw fear.
Tyce snatched the demon out from under her. Devon dropped out of sight.
“DEVON!”
Dace cursed and we dove lower. I screamed and ducked down to hug his spike. Two demons flew right over my head and reached out to grab me, their talons sliding through my curls. Hunter’s magic pulsed through the air.
You okay back there?
I gasped and glanced around. The two demons were gone. “We’re okay!”
Wait, where’s Devon? I looked up in time to see Tyce scorching the demon to ash. But Devon was nowhere in sight. My pulse quickened.
Tyce rolled back over then swan dived straight down. I leaned over Dace’s side and spotted Devon falling toward the ground. Hunter made a panicked cry, and I almost couldn’t watch. But Tyce was faster than I realized. He swung one charcoal-gray wing down and scooped her up. She flew up…and landed on her feet on Tyce’s back.
In that moment, Tegan made perfect sense. She wasn’t crazy. She was fierce like her mother. They were warriors, meant to fight in every way.
“Jesus, woman,” Hunter groaned behind me.
Tyce cheered. Damn, I like this woman!
Tyce, focus! We’ve got more company! Dace yelled. Watch your right!
I frowned and looked to Tyce’s right side. My heart skipped a beat. The sun may have been rising on my left, but another round of demons were coming in hot on my right. Devon must have heard something because she spun around with her daggers drawn.
“Hunter!” Devon looked over her shoulder and screamed over the incoming hissing demons. “Get that Stone out of here! NOW! We got these guys!”
Hunter cursed and shot another demon out of the sky. “Dace, you heard the lady!”
Is he serious? Leave them? We can’t! Dace answered.
I agreed. “Hunter, we can’t just leave her!”
“Yes, we can.” Hunter leaned forward and placed his palm to Dace’s scales. “Get us gone, now!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TEGAN
Her voice was hypnotic. Her stare mesmerizing. Her aura beckoned me forward like a siren’s song.
For a brief moment, I forgot I was the most powerful witch alive. For a moment, I was willing to be whatever she wanted. But I was the strongest. I was the Aether Witch, the first one in a thousand years or more. And this was my Coven. My magic, my rules.
She batted her thick black eyelashes and watched us with those glowing red eyes. Cooper took a step forward, his face blank like he was in a trance. My magic answered my call instantly. It shot out in front of my group then wrapped around us in a circle. Rainbow mist swirled through the air. Our gorgeous host turned her fiery gaze right to me. I arched one eyebrow. Not today, Satan.
“So the Aether Witch has returned.” Her dark red-painted lips curved into a wicked smirk. “And brought her Coven to Avolire.”
Tennessee stood in front of me with his hands behind his back. He pointed one finger then shook it side to side. Translation: don’t speak yet.
I nodded once.
Her smile vanished and her eyes burned with a cold fire. “I am Queen Sweyn. This is my kingdom, not yours. We have broken no Coven laws. You better have a good reason for showing up unannounced and uninvited. Speak. Now.”
I looked to Tennessee, though he couldn’t see me. I had more magic,
but he was our leader. I knew how to play the Devil’s advocate, but I knew nothing of kissing her ass. My soulmate was charming, intelligent, and held a smooth, calm confidence that echoed his powerful aura. I trusted his words far more than mine.
Tennessee bowed his head slightly, just enough to acknowledge her ranking within this castle. “Queen Sweyn, I offer sincere apologies on behalf of my Coven and myself that we have not yet had the opportunity to meet until now. More so, we apologize for the surprise of our sudden arrival. Avolire has caused no problems nor broken any laws, as you said, and therefore The Coven likes to reward that by staying away.”
Queen Sweyn giggled and cocked her head to the side. “My, my, Emperor. You are a charming one. If that is all the case, then what brings you to my throne now?”
I made a mental note to remember this queen was no dummy. She was old and observant. She recognized the magic of the Aether Witch instantly. But she also knew Tennessee was our Emperor. With his black coat covering his Mark, she had no physical proof, yet she knew. We needed to keep a close eye on her. She was half Unseelie fae, after all.
“As I’m sure you’re aware, The Coven has a task we must complete by Samhain’s end in order to keep our realm safe.” Tenn’s voice was warm and steady, packed with power and confidence. “To do so, the Goddess has informed us that we must borrow the Fire Stone that was given to you many a century ago.”
Sweyn’s eyes narrowed. “Borrow?”
Tennessee nodded. “Of course. Once our task is complete, we will return it to you. We do not wish to sever the peace our species has created.”
An ice-cold draft slammed into my face. She arched one eyebrow and pursed her lips. I got the impression she wasn’t entirely fond of the arrangement.
She stared at Tennessee like she was trying to read his mind. “Everest?”
The Eternal Witch (The Coven: Elemental Magic Book 5) Page 8
