by Amy Sumida
“Be a dear and open a portal, Declan,” I purred as Kyanite rose to my bidding and music started to play around us.
“My pleasure.” Declan directed his energy out behind the gowrow, into the shallows.
A patch of sparkling light grew wider, pushing back the ocean to reveal a freshwater lake on Torr-Chathair. The gowrow paused, scenting its home, and looked over its shoulder briefly. But it was wounded and furious, and it instinctively knew that it needed to deal with the threat to its safety before it could go home. The gowrow roared and surged forward, but I was already into the chorus of “Ember” by Katherine McNamara. Fire flared up between Gage and the gowrow, and the monster shrieked as it fell back into a tangle of limbs and tail. It snapped at the air anxiously as it shambled to its feet.
I sang on, the lyrics shifting into exactly what I needed. The story had strong bones on its own; a woman burning the evil in her past to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. But the ember of Katherine's song sparked the real fire that I needed to drive the lake monster back where it belonged. Yes; I used fire a lot. My father is a fire witch, and I inherited a kinship for it. So, my spellsinging tended to do better with fiery music, but in this instance, it was simply the best tool for the job.
Gage drew away from the shifting flames and went to stand with the other men as I lifted my hands and swayed gently, moving the fire with my dance. The gowrow whimpered and backed further onto the beach. As the fire continued to shift forward, leaving blackened earth in its wake, the gowrow gave one last defiant scream and then dove through the portal. Declan immediately let go of his magic, and the ocean rushed back into the void.
“Torin—” I started to say, but Banning just grabbed my hand and slid my travel stone into it.
I looked to the left and saw that Declan and Gage were already gone. Banning nodded to me, and I held his hand tightly as I took us to Onyx Castle.
Chapter Forty-Seven
It was chaos, complete chaos. Shining ones screamed and shouted as magical blasts did everything from crushing stone to creating rain, but all it did was piss off the drekavacs more. I rushed forward and saw Torin standing on the castle steps, a sword in one hand, and the other stretched toward the sky. A shadowy haze was spread over the courtyard, protecting the fairies beneath it. Other onyx shining ones were lending their magic to the ward, but despite the help, Torin's arm was already shaking under the strain as the drekavacs dove into his ward over and over, slashing at the magic with beaks and claws. Eileen had brought the beasts directly to the courtyard, bypassing the onyx gardens, so Torin couldn't call upon them to defend the castle; it would simply seal the monsters in with his court.
My gaze shot to the flying creatures; oversized, bald heads bobbed on dappled, elongated bodies that seemed far too thin to support those skulls. Leathery wings beat at the air, causing an undulation in their limbs that stretched them slightly. But that was part of the horror of drekavacs; they were elastic, with skin like rubber and claws like knives. Like a child's nightmare, they were too ridiculous to exist, and that made them all the more scary.
My lovers and I ran up to stand beside Torin. Declan extended his hand and added his alexandrite renewal magic to the protection of onyx, reviving the ward. But I'd need Declan to open a portal. I started to say just that, when Gage pulled his piece of shell out and directed its energy before us. A portal opened in the courtyard, but it was beneath the cover of the ward.
“I can't project a portal past the ward,” Gage growled. “You're going to have to bring them down to us.”
“Call your people back,” I said to Torin. “Get them inside so we can handle this without casualties.”
“Everyone into the castle!” Torin immediately shouted.
The onyx shining ones abandoned the fight at the order of their king, and went running to safety. As soon as they were all inside, I nodded to Declan and Torin. Banning unsheathed his sword and flexed his shoulders, and I knew that he felt the power of our bond rushing through his blood. We could communicate without speaking when we connected like this. So, Banning sensed exactly where he needed to be when Torin and Declan dropped the ward. Gage looked at me and winked; he felt it too. Of course, he did; it was how Declan had known that he was free to focus his energy on the ward. I was kind of annoyed that the men had connected first, but then again, perhaps I had been a bit distracted by spellsinging.
I already knew what to song to use, and I didn't even have to wait for Kyanite to manifest some music for me. The intro of “The Wolf” by Phildel was a capella, and it drifted from my mouth in an eerie lament that shivered out and blended with the cry of the drekavacs. Nonetheless, they heard it. My voice carried where I willed it, and I sent it straight to the monsters above us. It made them tremble grotesquely and sent them diving for the ground. Once landed, they hopped forward on both feet like enormous, rubber robins, tails whipping the ground with enough force to crack the stones.
Despite their ferocity, a few of the birds could have been easily handled by a court of shining ones. The Fey were the most powerful magic users in all the realms. But there was an entire flock of drekavacs attacking Onyx Castle, and by that, I meant well over a hundred of the massive, repulsive, and resilient monsters. They filled the courtyard to overflowing, and there were still more of them bobbing about in the sky.
I would have been impressed by Eileen if I hadn't wanted to kill her so badly.
As soon as the drekavacs were lower than the castle walls, Declan sent a new ward shimmering above them. Torin looked at him in surprise but quickly added his magic to Declan's. Torin wasn't a part of our collective, so he didn't know what we were planning; that we wanted the monsters trapped within our cage so we could round them up and send them back to Torr-Chathair. But I was too busy singing to explain it to him, and Declan was having too much fun keeping Torin out of the loop.
I hit the line I needed to manifest a creature of my own. How do you wrangle a flock of monster birds? Get a monster wolf to chase them. I called forth a pack of enormous wolves, and their bulk alone pushed some of the drekavacs into the portal. Torin's eyes widened as my manifested wolves snarled their way forward, gigantic paws streaking through the sky to knock drekavacs down to earth. Banning drew back, but kept his sword at the ready, while Declan and Torin both raised their weapons as they simultaneously kept the ward up. Gage was buckling under the strain of keeping the portal open with so many creatures passing through it, but he too had his sword in hand. I was glad that they were smart enough not to depend solely on me. With this many monsters, we couldn't be sure which direction they'd take or what desperation might drive them to do.
As I hit the second round of opening lyrics, music began to play around us, distracting the drekavacs further. They were monsters, but they were also birds, and their brains weren't the sharpest. The wolves circled the fowl creatures (pun intended) and wrestled them from air and earth, with claws and teeth, into the portal. A couple of them tried to fly off and were knocked back by Torin and Declan's barrier. Unfortunately, their trajectory sent them straight toward me.
“Elaria!” Torin let go of the ward and swung his sword out to deflect the lethal claws coming my way.
His magic flared along his sword in an inky cloud, and Torin sliced the drekavac's head from his body with one lop. But he hadn't been quite fast enough. One of those deadly claws had made it past Torin's blade and sliced into my shoulder. Declan floundered as I screamed, but stayed focused on the ward, knowing without looking at me that I was wounded badly, but still alive. My magic winked out without the music to sustain it, and the wolves faded away with eerie howls. The remaining drekavacs—maybe thirty or so—turned toward us in a group, as if they sensed our weakness.
Banning and Gage jumped forward to protect us, but Gage had to let go of the portal to do so, and it flashed out of existence just as a drekavac flew through it. A horrible screech echoed across the courtyard as the tip of a rubbery tail fell to the stones and flopped like a dying fish.
&nbs
p; I saw it all in the instant that I fell backward into Torin's arms. I gasped through the searing pain as I stared up at him. Blood poured down my arm in a torrent, and Torin tore a strip of cloth from his tunic to bind around my shoulder and staunch the flow. He lifted his head to shout for a healer, and then rocked me back into his embrace. I started to sing again, just a murmur of magic, but it was enough to bring the wolves back to life. I had to protect the men I loved, and I would do it with my last breath if necessary.
I felt Torin trembling around me and glanced up to see tears streaming down his cheeks. I reached the hand connected to my good arm up to wipe away his tears and then laid my palm to his cheek. Torin held my hand there and stared at me as if I was all that mattered to him. The world was literally crumbling down around him, and he didn't care.
“Move back,” Gage said as he knelt behind my head. “King Torin, I can't heal her if you don't give me some space.”
Torin leaned his torso away from me, glancing at Gage in surprise, but then he fastened his stare back on my face. I couldn't hold his gaze, though, I needed to focus my song. I rolled my head toward the courtyard, in too much pain to wonder what Gage was about to do. I saw then why Gage had been able to come to my aid; the Onyx Court had disobeyed their king as soon as I'd gone down. They saw that we were in trouble and had come to help us. A group of them opened a portal, and a few more blended their magic with Declan's to hold the ward. Along with my wolves, it was enough to take care of the drekavac stragglers. Within minutes, the beasts were back where they belonged.
As all of this occurred, and I continued to sing, Gage shifted his hand into a bird's talon and held it over my wound. He set his sword tip to the ground beside us, angling the blade to where he held his hand, and scraped a claw against the sharp edge. A fine powder fell over my seeping blood and began to glow. With a liquid slide, my blood flowed backward, into my body, and my wound knitted itself shut. I gasped as the pain winked out as if it had never been.
“Thank you,” Torin whispered brokenly to Gage.
“She's mine, Onyx King, your gratitude is unnecessary,” Gage said sternly.
Torin flinched.
As soon as the portal was closed, Banning and Declan had hurried over to us. They were standing behind Gage when he spoke those possessive words, and now they watched Torin warily, waiting for his answer.
“I know she is.” Torin let out a long, shaky breath. “But she was mine first, and I should never have let her go.”
Gage's massive bird talon shifted back into a hand, and he used it to sweep the hair away from my face. He kissed my forehead, gave me a serene smile, then stood up and stepped back beside Banning and Declan. The three of them continued to watch Torin and me with anticipation.
Then Torin clasped me to him tightly, nestling my face into the curve of his neck. Something clicked into place, and we all gasped through it: Torin, Declan, Banning, Gage, and I. The bond of the Rooster Spell had linked another heart to our chain. Torin shuddered against me and then went still. Slowly, he eased back enough to lay his forehead against mine.
“I tried to hide,” Torin said ruefully, “and then I tried to run, but both actions failed because I was wrong; you never opened the cage, Elaria. I've simply been beating at the bars this entire time.”
“Torin,” I whispered. “What have you done?”
“I've finally accepted that I can't escape you,” Torin said with a smile. “We are caged together still; there are just a few more birds in here with us.”
And then Torin kissed me, and it wasn't a goodbye kiss. It was a beginning—a fresh start—and I took hold of it with both hands. I gave him everything I had pent up; all of my heartache and longing that had held me back from loving Gage. I sent that emotion hurtling into Torin, and as he shook from the impact, I sank into his love. My eyes fluttered open as Torin finally drew away from our kiss, and I had just enough energy to smile at him in sublime happiness before I passed out.
Chapter Forty-Eight
I came awake and immediately started to cry because the first thing I saw were Torin's cerulean eyes staring back at me. His hand went to my cheek, and he kissed me tenderly.
“It wasn't a dream,” I whispered in relief.
“No; it wasn't a dream,” Torin's deep voice rolled over me like a warm blanket, and my heart sighed; home at last.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” Declan asked.
I looked over to him and smiled softly. “I'm good.” My eyes wandered around the edge of Torin's bed, and I saw Banning and Gage smiling back at me. “Real good.”
“You came to help me,” Torin claimed my attention again, “even after the way I treated you.”
“I never thought badly of you for any of it.” I took Torin's hand as I sat up. “I'm sorry that I had feelings for Declan and Banning when we were first together. I hope you know that I tried to ignore them.”
“I know,” Torin murmured, “but you shouldn't have to apologize for what you feel. I was wrong to judge you on something you can't control.”
“No; you were simply feeling too,” I protested. “And your feelings are just as important as mine.”
“What I feel—what I've always felt—is love for you,” he said tenderly. “I just needed some time to realize that the love was more important than my anger and jealousy.”
“I'm glad you did.”
“Me too, little bird.” Torin grinned. “I understand now; I see how we can empower each other by being bonded through you. This spell doesn't just take, it gives. Loving you is a foundation for greatness; you make us stronger, and that's a rarity for shining one royalty. We reach a certain level of power and stay there for the rest of our lives. But you have changed all of that; I can feel my magic magnifying.”
“Not me, honey.” I laughed. “It's the Rooster; you have to give those props to the spell.”
A rooster crowed inside me, and we all inhaled sharply. I looked around in surprise when I realized that they'd heard it too—and felt it. The spell was getting stronger as well.
A part of me shivered as I looked at all of my amazing lovers. Each man was powerful on his own, as was I, but together, with the spell compounding our magic by uniting us, we could be unstoppable.
“Sweet stones,” I whispered. “What are we going to become?”
“Something greater than the sum of our parts,” Banning said with a smirk.
“A force strong enough to make all the realms take note,” Gage added.
“Invincible,” Declan said simply.
Torin just smiled at me wickedly.
I gaped at them for all of three seconds before I burst into laughter. The men scowled at me.
“Look at you men.” I waved a hand at them. “You think we're the Fantastic Five. You need to tone that shit down. Believing that you're all-powerful can get you into all kinds of powerful trouble. And I've had enough trouble to last me an immortal lifetime.”
Their scowls faded, and slowly, they nodded their agreement.
“We have to keep this to ourselves,” Torin declared.
“I'm afraid that pussycat is out of the bag,” Declan purred. “The witches already know.”
“Vivian and Odin know,” I corrected him. “And I think they'll agree that this isn't something we should advertise.”
“People will notice our power when we fight together,” Gage said. “And they'll definitely notice a blooder who doesn't have a problem with sunlight.”
We all went silent and stared at Banning.
“I'm a little annoyed that the griffin was the first to notice,” Banning huffed. “I've been fighting beside all of you all day.”
“Were you not strong enough to stand sunlight before?” Gage asked in surprise. “I assumed it was the spell that gave you the ability.”
“Tolerate it, yes,” Banning said, “but it still hurt, and I wouldn't be able to endure it longer than a few minutes. Now, I feel the warmth on my skin and nothing else.”
“Is
it the spell?” Torin asked.
“Possibly.” Banning shrugged. “But it's far more likely to be an effect of consuming Elaria's blood.”
“You drank Elaria's blood?” Torin growled.
“I asked him to,” I said sternly to Torin. “And maybe he should drink more.”
“His increased strength will empower the rest of us,” Gage agreed.
“But hopefully, we won't have to use that strength again.” I gave Gage a heavy look.
“Yes, Ela, hopefully,” Gage agreed. “But you and I both know that's a slim hope. Just being who we are is going to bring us battles. You're a queen now; you have a whole kingdom to defend. Then you have two kings bound to you, with two more kingdoms, and finally, a blooder gheara with a gura to lead.”
“You left yourself out,” Banning said.
“I have left my tribe to make a new life with my mate.” Gage shrugged. “I have nothing to look after but Elaria.”
“I don't need to be looked after,” I chided him, but I did so with a smile.
All of the men grimaced at me.
“I don't,” I huffed.
Their grimaces turned into eye rolls.
“Ugh, men,” I grumbled as I got out of bed. “Where are my pants?”
All of their eyes rolled down to my lower half, clad only in a skimpy thong. The testosterone in the air became thick enough to slice.
“Hey!” I snapped my fingers at them. “We're not done discussing Banning's new ability, and I just got out of bed after being unconscious.”
“And I haven't been in that bed with you in far too long,” Torin growled as he scooped me up.
“We can talk about blood later, sweetheart.” Banning winked at me and then headed to the door.
Banning exited the room with Gage and Declan discreetly, letting Torin and I have our reunion. As the bedroom door shut, I wrapped my arms around Torin and pulled him closer, all thoughts of protest evaporating under his indigo stare. He was right; it had been far too long, and we needed to reconnect before this union could be complete.
