I still couldn’t feel the pull she was talking about. I searched myself and the connection between us, hoping for a better understanding of what everyone was so anxious for, but I got nothing. I didn’t like nothing.
“If we’re going, I’m going in first. You stay behind me, got it?” I was trying to be stern, but she nodded with such excitement, I couldn’t keep the face going. I sighed and held out my hand. “Okay, let’s go then.” She took it and dragged me toward the door. I really didn’t like the idea that something was influencing her, but she was right, there was no turning back now.
Onyx moved to the side and Charlie stood right in front of the door. I felt the same excitement coming from him and struggled again with my inability to know what was coming. I reached out slowly with my free hand, grasped the door handle lightly, and twisted it.
I’d expected it to be locked, but the door opened with a quiet snick. I shoved it in, slamming it against the wall while keeping Amelia safely outside. Immediately, we were bathed in a bright glow.
We stepped in slowly, both of us staring at the river of rainbow-colored light that ran ceiling to floor. It moved, a continuous current of energy that was both beautiful and terrifying. It reminded me of a combination of both our powers — the electric look of my energy, snapping and popping as it streamed along, and the wispy threads of Amelia’s, flowing and shifting. Colors streaked down the wall — orange, green, red, violet, and blue. They flowed together, drawing both of us forward. As we got closer yet, I saw bright white interspersed among the colored river.
Both dogs paced in front of the door. They strode opposite directions, their paws hitting the floor at exactly the same moments, turning in stride and crossing past each other again. They didn’t look around, they didn’t speak to us at all.
Charlie’s mammoth white body, which was covered in small black patches, moved with a precision I’d never seen the lumbering giant have. Onyx disappeared into the shadows as he walked his route. His nails clicked on the floor and his black body shined in the firelight. The cavernous room was most definitely built into the mountainside. The rock walls were jagged and the room appeared chiseled out.
I made Amelia stay a step behind me, but we inched forward. The unease I felt in the hallway only grew, and the reaction from the dogs only worried me further. “Hey, guys, what are we doing here?” I asked, but neither animal responded. They didn’t acknowledge my presence at all, just kept pacing.
“Does this concern you in the least?” I asked her, gesturing to the Danes. Amelia shook her head.
“We’re supposed to be here,” she said, breathless and unfocused. “I can feel it, Aidan. This is exactly where we’re supposed to be. Can we get closer?” she asked as she stepped forward. I jumped in front of her.
“Can you please let me go first?” I asked, ready to toss her over my shoulder if she didn’t stop running headfirst into the unknown. “I know you’re completely capable, but let me be the guy right now, okay?” I thought she’d appreciate the compliment, but Amelia only nodded absently as she stared over my shoulder.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. I whirled around, power flooding my system. Instead of something terrible, I saw symbols floating down the wall. Somehow, we had gotten close enough to trigger this. We watched bright, silver glowing emblems flow from top to bottom. They disappeared at the floor and reappeared at the ceiling, slowly drifting down again.
Amelia pulled the small backpack from her shoulders and dropped it to the ground. “She talked about this,” she said excitedly as she pulled the journal pages out. “My mother talked about this. We are in the right place, Aidan!” Amelia looked up at me, beaming.
I couldn’t help but smile down at her, even though I knew in my gut this wouldn’t be as easy as she thought.
Amelia flipped the pages until she found the one she wanted and stood so we could both read it together.
Lavignia sees all. I know she does. It was no coincidence during my trek to the chamber today that she removed the blind before they finished unlocking the door.
It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. A wall of power — a rainbow of color and continuous stream of symbols. The ancient markings Tragar and I only found in books were lit up — silver and effervescent against the swirling colors of the door.
I watched as Lavignia and Vivian stood side by side, their arms moving in a slow pattern as they snatched certain symbols from the cascade of power running from floor to ceiling. I couldn’t move. I didn’t know if Vivian understood the gift Lavignia was giving me, so I was only able to see a portion of the symbols.
As Lavignia snatched the last symbol from the wall, it burned brightly in her glowing, violet palm. Vivian placed her hand over Lavignia’s and the door disappeared. Then, I was blind again. I’ve walked through this interior room every time on our way to the chamber and I always feel the pull strongest in this place. I only wish I understood where it was coming from.
Together, we stared at the wall standing between us and answers. Just as her mother described, the flow of power was continuous and every race was represented.
“These symbols, I’ve seen them before,” Amelia said. “They are the same ones on my cuff. Micah started to explain them to me, but he didn’t finish. I wonder why they are this color, this silverish white. The only white power I’ve ever seen was a piece of the Keeper. This is all so strange,” she mused.
Amelia took a step forward and leaned in to look closer, interrupting Charlie’s path. His growl was deep, intense, and I snatched her by the waist, pulling her behind my outstretched arm. As soon as she moved, Charlie resumed his measured steps, disregarding us completely.
“What’s wrong with him?” Amelia asked.
I gritted my teeth against the overwhelming howls of my wolf. I had controlled him thus far, but with Amelia in actual danger, I couldn’t anymore. He wanted us out of here, back on that plane, and halfway across the world on the way home. But, we had to do this. She had to do this. There was no going back now.
“They act like they’ve turned back into guards,” I said to her as I watched the dogs continue their patrol. “Baleon said they guarded the chamber, and that’s what they’re doing. But it’s strange that they are so focused.” My mind whipped through the possibilities of what all of this could mean.
I worried that behind this door was going to be something bigger and scarier than Amelia imagined. She had this misguided notion that because she was sent on this path, everything would be sunshine and rainbows. That wasn’t what we’d experienced up to this point, and I didn’t see it changing.
“We need to know what those symbols mean,” I muttered.
“Micah!” Amelia exclaimed. “Micah knows, and I can get to Micah.”
Amelia walked backward, further from the door and Danes. I followed. She reached out and I took her hands, grateful for the contact. My wolf calmed when I touched her. As our powers swirled together and our connection solidified, I felt like I could take a full breath again.
“Do you think he’s been bitten yet?” I joked.
Amelia rolled her eyes, and said, “I wouldn’t doubt Melinda tried. I hope he let Baleon pin her to a wall and the Mages use her for target practice.”
Her retort dripped of sarcasm and her eyes narrowed when she said Melinda’s name. I couldn’t stop from laughing out loud. Amelia shook our joined hands. “Focus, Montgomery. I need your help to find Micah.”
“Right. Yes. Let’s do this,” I said, still chuckling. I closed my eyes and focused myself in her mind. I lingered on the edges and allowed her to give me whatever access she wanted. I found myself matching the rhythm of her breathing and as we both took a slow inhale, I felt an openness, like someone had been in a heated room and suddenly opened a window. The air was sucked out and a chill sent shivers up my spine.
I’ve never tried this over a long distance. Give me a second.
I didn’t reply, but I did pull at my power and send it to her. What would have norm
ally been blue smoke was a swirling tangle of orange and blue. Since touching down, the Hunter side of me that had never really felt integrated was everywhere. My senses were further developed, my fear was less, and my intuition more.
I watched my power filter into her space, mixing with hers. As they threaded together, a multi-colored braid, she spoke again.
Micah? Can you hear me? We need your help.
I saw the thin, red glowing thread that was her connection to Micah. As she reached out, it pulsed brighter and became thicker. I continued to feed my power into her until finally, we heard him.
This is not a fabulous time, Amelia. What can I do for you? Micah’s irritation was blatant. I was about to interject when Amelia spoke.
We found the chamber, but there are symbols on the wall and I don’t know what they mean. We have to know which symbols to use to get through it.
It was silent. Micah said nothing and I was about to pull the plug on the whole thing when he spoke again.
Quickly, can you show me?
What’s happening, what aren’t you saying? I interrupted, knowing something was wrong.
Not now. If you need my help, you have about one minute to get it. Micah’s fear invaded my mind, forming an ugly ball in the pit of my stomach. He was supposed to be protecting my people.
Amelia started rattling off descriptions of the symbols, and Micah named the ones he could, but I barely heard their voices. I could only think about Cora and Dillon. Elias, Nell, and their children. Willow. Sully. My wolf tore my insides apart trying to get out, trying to force me to move. I was letting my people down, out on a wild goose chase for something that could be nothing.
Tell me. I swear to God, Micah. Tell me what’s happening, I interrupted again.
Damn it, man, I don’t have time for this. They are coming for me and if I’m to stop them from killing each other, I can’t be doing this right now. You take care of your business and I’ll take care of mine.
And then, he was gone.
28
This is what I get for taking charge. For signing up to be the one who taught them how to use their power and allowing Bale to show them how to truly fight. I ducked as a bright blue fireball erupted above my head and the top half of the door exploded. I crouched, still inside the stall in the barn where I’d taken refuge to try to help Amelia and Aidan.
“We know you’re in there, Prince. Just come out. We don’t want to hurt you…much.” I heard a high-pitched laugh and knew it was Melinda. “No one can defeat the Hunters. We finally get that. So, we’re taking you back. We’ll give the Queen her baby boy and she’ll spare us.”
I slammed my fist into the dirt floor. Melinda had started all of this. I had made such progress since we’d been here, but she’d slowly poisoned enough of the AniMages to cause problems.
“Don’t make us come in there for you, Prince Mikail. Your Hunter doesn’t understand we won’t actually harm the women and children, so he continues to fight a worthless fight. Elias is exactly the traitor we always knew he was, ready to abandon us when it became convenient. Let’s take care of this quickly and it can end.” I didn’t recognize the male voice, but it didn’t matter.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing,” I yelled. “You think my mother will want me back? She won’t. You think she’ll reward you somehow? She won’t. She hates you. She will welcome you into Cresthaven and the Hunters will never allow you to leave again. This is madness. We are here to fight for each other, all of us, not against each other.” I tried to talk some sense into them while I reached out to Bale. They tipped their hand by confirming what we assumed when this all started.
You need to put a stop to this, Baleon. They won’t hurt the women, they are simply keeping you busy. I know this is child’s play for you.
He grunted inside my head. They are ill-equipped to fight even the youngest Hunter. But if I do what needs done, the protective shields will be broken and we will no longer be safe here.
I sighed. I knew it would come to this. Between what happened with Bethany and the attempted mutiny the AniMages had tried with Aidan, it was clear these people had been without a leader for too long. Many relished what they saw as freedom.
Bale showed me the view from his eyes. He and Elias created a half shield in front of my apartment where they and the AniMages still on our side had corralled all the women. Those who weren’t pregnant held a second line and helped as they could. I saw AniMages blown backwards, tree branches flying and an array of colorful fireballs being thrown back and forth. The rogue AniMages weren’t aiming their shots and they weren’t smart enough to know we were on to them. I guessed there were ten total between those in the barn and the ones attacking Baleon.
Do it. We will move. We will adjust.
As the threats began again from the AniMages on the other side of the stall door, Baleon allowed me open access to his mind. It was a bond we’d forged many years ago when he stood in my bedroom and knelt before me.
I was six years old and my mother had a particularly bad day. She barreled down the hall and stood outside the library door, screaming my name. I looked up to see her open palm close before I was thrown across the room. Landing in a heap at her feet, I was quickly at eye level, an invisible claw digging through the back of my shirt and into my skin.
“I told you I wanted you training,” she shrieked. “I told you you needed to be with Rhi, learning how to take your father’s place.” It was always uncomfortable looking into her eyes. They glittered with spite and rage, and I loathed that mine were the same color.
“I am not good at fighting. They are mean to me. They hit me and they laugh. They tell me I will never be strong and I don’t belong there.” I tried not to mumble. She detested mumbling, but I detested Rhi more.
“You will do as you’re told, Mikail,” she said, her voice echoing off the walls. “You’ll let them hit you and you’ll learn to hit back. You cannot lead our people unless you eliminate fear from your soul. Let them break you. We will build you into the man you were meant to be and you will stand beside me as your father should have. We will lead these people into the future. We will reign. Do you understand me?” she hissed and leaned in, her face pinched into a scowl.
“I will never be him! I don’t want to be him! I HATE HIM!” The words erupted from my heart before I had the good sense to stop them from coming out and she flung me across the room. I smacked into a wall of books and landed awkwardly, breaking my arm. I couldn’t stop the pained scream and began crying. I begged my mother to help me, to have the Hunters heal me.
She said, “Learn to live with pain, Mikail. We all do.” Then, she walked away.
Baleon gently picked me up and laid his hand over my arm. Before I was in my room, the bones were already knitting back together. We healed quickly, but he sped the process and dulled the pain. As tears streaked down my face, he stood me up and knelt.
He spoke quietly, but firmly, his head bowed. “Prince Mikail, from this day forward, I pledge myself to you. I will protect you. I will place your wellbeing above my own. I will guard your life with mine. I make this choice of my own accord, under no duress, and I swear on the Mother who bore us, the Earth that provides for us, the Water that replenishes us, the Fire that sustains us, and the Air that gives us life, I will fulfill this oath until my soul goes back to whence it came. You will see as I see and hear what I hear. I am yours to command.”
When he lifted his head, Baleon’s eyes swirled a mix of orange and yellow that frightened me. But when he held out his hand, I took it. As his large hand engulfed my small one, I felt a rush of energy that made me wince. “Do not fear, Prince Mikail. That was only my mark. It allows you and me to connect, to communicate. I will always be able to find you and you will always be able to call for me. I will never leave you alone again.” And he hadn’t. Even in Brighton, my Hunter had never been far.
As Baleon stood in the yard, allowing his power to build, he motioned for everyone else behind him
to stay back as he stepped forward.
He brought both hands up and orbs of orange light crackled, cut with white lightning. A wicked grin twisted his features before he started to speak. “This was unnecessary, you understand,” he said to the AniMages, who were slowly backing away. “We came to help you. I meant to share my secrets with you, to betray my brothers and sisters so I might save them. But now, you have made your choice, and for that, you must pay the consequences.”
Through his eyes, I watched the light from Baleon’s palms grow, the orbs the size of basketballs, then beach balls, then encompassing his massive frame. Bale crossed his arms in front of him and when he whipped them back wide, every AniMage who stood against us howled in agony. The iridescent blue faded from their eyes and those who were shifted instantly reverted to their human form. In seconds, every AniMage who fought against us was frozen in place.
I slid open the remnants of the stall door to find Melinda and three other AniMages frozen, their hands at their ears, their faces twisted in pain. What they didn’t know was when the freeze thawed and they could move again, they would have no access to their power or the ability to harm anyone.
Baleon had bound their power and given us the time we needed to escape. The Hunters would surely feel the energy Bale had expended, and they would come. We could not be here when they arrived.
29
Aidan and I timed our return to the wall so we could pass between Charlie and Onyx, who had yet to stray from their perfect line, marching back and forth in front of it. As we approached, I felt the pull again. It made me want to dive head first into the iridescent waves of color. My chest ached as I forced myself to stand still.
I turned to Aidan, who was clenching his jaw, staring straight ahead, but clearly not at the wall. I moved in front of him and put both hands on his cheeks, drawing his gaze down. His blue eyes were glowing brightly as he continued the strained silence he’d maintained since Micah disappeared.
“Talk to me,” I requested. “You’ve done everything you can to help me get here and get through this. Let me help you.”
Bound by Prophecy (Bound Series Book 3) Page 15
