Her brow arched, likely wondering how far she would get before he found a way to return her back to him. He wouldn’t have to. She would be brought back through the spell bond he forced. Anastasia was tied to him, never away from him for long because she was too slippery, too often. She could escape for a period of time but always found herself in his presence no matter how much she fought against it.
Besides, without her, he couldn’t find his prey to make them pay.
Anastasia swept her hands through the scene, singing the spell. The scene pulled up. Jules had brought Tremaine to this realm, and they fought. Tremaine left through a portal, both of them in bad shape.
Shortly after, the Magister for the Silver Council, his lieutenant, and Elizandra Delacroix showed up. Elizandra was responsible for killing Jules, though Robert and Preston had a hand in ensuring he couldn’t come back. Through the visual, Anthony learned something interesting. Robert wasn’t all mage. No, he was part mystic. And Preston was something more than mage as well. No one but another fire fae, or perhaps a dragon, would be able to destroy Jules’ remains with fire.
“Should I look for the rest of them?” she asked tartly.
“No. You won’t find them. That much I know. Tremaine cannot be tracked, and unless you know something I don’t, you won’t be able to locate the other three until you come into physical contact with them. Though I suspect if Elizandra and Robert call Tremaine their lover, they would already be hunting me if Jules managed to kill Tremaine. My guess, someone managed to save him. Perhaps his sister, unless Elizandra learned enough about her abilities and the bond to her men to figure out how to heal them.”
“Sister?” Anastasia asked.
He nodded. “Robert McCallister has a sister. She’s a healer.”
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed Anthony’s arm and brought him back to the mansion. “Is that all?”
“For now. Though I may need your services again. If I were you, I wouldn’t run too far. You won’t like the consequences if you choose that option.”
* * * *
Christian wandered among the shelves lined with books and artifacts in glass containers. He shook his head. So much history had been stored within the walls. He could only imagine how dangerous some of the artifacts were. Even some of the books were familiar, ones he’d seen at the bookstore for a limited time, in the office before they disappeared a few days later. He never had reason to open them up.
Draecyn found him. “You appear perplexed.”
“I’m curious how Tremaine had access to these books. You said we’re physically in another realm. How did he get the books from here without Robert’s help?
“A rift or portal. Both Tremaine and Elizandra can do it. Though Elizandra hasn’t mastered it.”
“Then how does Robert translocate?”
Draecyn sighed. “That’s different. He imagines where he wants to be and simply appears. Unlike a lot of mages, he is not limited by any distance.”
“And it’s not through a rift or portal?”
“No. He simply stops existing in one area and appears in the next.”
“How is it he doesn’t get stuck?”
“He’s using clairvoyance to see where he’s going. I don’t believe he even realizes he already has the room laid out in his head. Not how you see it but what is actually there. It’s why he has never had a mishap with appearing in a bad spot.”
“Like when he translocates into a moving vehicle?”
Draecyn grinned. “Yes, indeed. That has always scared the hell out of me. However, the way he sees the world is different, and he has yet to figure that out.”
“What do you mean?”
“He managed to let Elizandra walk away for so long because he had the ability to daydream about what she was doing. He was never truly without her. When he was melancholy, he would daydream, thinking of her, only he wasn’t imagining, he was actually seeing her.”
“Can I do that?”
Draecyn nodded. “I believe so. As well as heal, and translocate like both Emily and Robert. You will also be able to take a stroll through someone else’s mind to learn what they know, alter their memories, remove them completely.”
“Oh.” Christian rubbed hands up and down both arms, as if trying to warm them. His attention returned to the books. “And Ms. Murdock can do all of that?”
“Mostly,” Draecyn said, “though she can’t take someone with her when she translocates. Which is why I was stuck on another plane for months, but she was finally able to find me.”
“Right. And Robert managed to get to you.”
“With help from a Rift Bender.”
“Tremaine?”
“Yes, because Tremaine had taken me there once. I’m able to return to certain rifts, but not open or take people to them myself.”
“Why?”
He sighed. “Because I have just enough Rift Bender blood to get me out of certain situations.”
“Does Liz know?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t had much time to talk to her since she found out she was my daughter. She’s still angry that I let her go. I can’t say I blame her, but I thought I was doing right by her. Clearly, I was not. I wish I could change things, but it’s far too late.”
Ms. Murdock joined them. “Come, talk to me, Christian. Let Draecyn have some time to himself.”
Christian followed. She led him to an alcove around a fireplace. Emily and Clint sat curled up together, both reading books.
They made each other very happy. Luckily, Christian had found his mate as well. Delilah sat on the other love seat, and he sank down beside her, wrapping an arm around her. “What are you reading?”
She grinned, lifting the book to show him Roxana Nights’ latest release.
“Is it any good?”
“Mmhmm. Maybe later you can read it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Ms. Murdock perched at the empty love seat across from the fire and faced Christian. He shifted toward her. “Well?”
“There is so much for you to learn. Emily as well, if she’s interested.”
His mother’s head popped up, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “I’m interested, though I’ll admit being wary about what you think I’ll be able to learn.”
“Why is that?”
“Never was able to do much more than healing. The rudimentary skills were the extent of it.”
“Because you healed your brother when you were two. Your mother hired a tutor to train you to heal. So they taught you the same way a healer would learn, and you shut away the rest of your magic.”
“But I tried,” Emily insisted.
“You did, the way a healer works. You need to try the way Robert would. Same as he should try healing as a healer might. Each of them use different methods of teaching. It’s why you never managed to break out of healing. You thought of magic only as a healer. If that were true, you wouldn’t have been able to destroy that werewolf recently. You took a living being and spread your anger, fear, and hate into him. It took shape and became a curse so powerful nothing could have reversed it.”
Emily frowned. “Why do you say that?”
“A true healer can only affect minor curses. Their power is mostly tied up in healing. But you have the ability to deal with a person’s entire system with a thought.” Ms. Murdock smiled. “Don’t worry, it takes more than a simple thought. You have to believe the person needs to die to do what you did. You are too kind a soul to feel that way without dire circumstances.”
“I hope you’re right,” she answered.
“So, I could heal?” Christian asked. “Why didn’t anyone train me?”
“You’re very special, a pure mystic. Nearly anything you can imagine can be achieved by thought. You simply have to believe in what you are attempting to do. I imagine once you accept this fact, you will find you can do just about anything.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Why not train me from a young age?”
“
Robert wasn’t ready to accept the fact he wasn’t all mage. You being a mystic would have proven that. Unfortunately, other people were affected by what you knew, so I needed to wait until it was safe to train you. Besides, now you’re ready.”
“Just Christian?” Emily asked
“If you’re willing, Emily, I want to train you as well,” Ms. Murdock answered.
Christian grinned. “Can you train me some now?”
Delilah smiled over at him. “Now? You don’t want to wait at all?”
“For a little while?” he couldn’t hide the excitement.
“All right. I do want to see what you can do.”
Chapter 28
Tremaine woke with Robert curled around him. Liz was nowhere to be found. After disentangling himself from Robert, he pulled on a pair of sweats and tiptoed downstairs. At the bottom, his head cocked to the side when he found her.
Liz sat cross-legged on the floor, pulling up rifts in her palms like windows to other worlds.
Silently, he approached, sitting across from her. “You embrace everything so easily. I wish I had your freedom.”
When she closed her hands, she shut the rift. “You do—only have to accept it.”
Her eyes met his, and she took his hands and placed them several inches apart. “Do it.”
A smile pulled at his lips. “And if I’d rather be doing you this dreary morning?”
“Make you a deal,” she teased.
Laughing, he nodded.
“You do this, I’ll let you take me however you want me.”
“Oh, you’d let me do that anyway.”
Nodding, she smirked. “You do know how to make me feel good. I suppose I could do to you whatever you want me to.”
“Mmm, you always do.”
She sighed. “What do you want?”
“I have what I want.”
“Then let’s keep it, which starts with you embracing the power you fear.”
Tremaine wrinkled his forehead, but asked, “You want me to summon the rift now?”
Her brow arched. “What are you waiting on?”
“Enjoying your smile.”
“You can do that any time.” She squeezed his hands and let go. “Come on, Trem. I’m right here.”
Closing his eyes, he drew a breath. When he opened them, he had pulled a rift out of thin air, looking into the place where he’d found Draecyn. The little slice of world where his family of minks had followed him. They played in the center of his colorful rift.
His eyes popped wide. “They’re still there? Why are they still there? They should have died years ago.”
She tilted her head to one side. “Your minks from when you were a boy?”
He nodded. “I never realized time stopped in that realm.” He chuckled. “The one with the white mark on his nose, that’s Spot. The other little one is Minerva.” He blushed slightly. “The parents were—are Ma and Pa.”
Liz laid her hands on his knees. “Maybe we could bring them here. Think the weather would agree with them in our place?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. I mean, if this is similar magic, and not quite in our world, then where is it?”
“When Robert wakes up, maybe Ms. Murdock can tell us. That or we can find the answers in some of Draecyn’s books.”
Tremaine agreed. “If it’s a matter of time, I’m not sure I want to keep you here. I can’t wait to see our little boy.”
Liz grinned. “Same here. Though I’d rather be safe than risk the same mess as yesterday.”
“What’s going on?” Robert asked from the stairs. His mouth was tipped in a crooked smile.
Liz looked over her shoulder at him. “Trying to figure out how the rift magic works. We should talk to Ms. Murdock and Draecyn soon. Tremaine found something interesting which led us to more questions.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that the family of minx he grew up with are still in the place we found Draecyn. Apparently they were hiding. But that was a couple hundred years ago, Robert. They should have been long since gone.”
Robert scratched his head. “That’s eerie. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“If my wards are a little like that, what if time stands still here.”
Tremaine agreed, “Yeah, I mean, how do we know? And will it cause a problem with the way our baby develops?”
His eyes widened. “But these are wards, not another plane, right? And do all planes work the same?”
Liz shrugged. “We won’t know until we get some answers. So what do you say? Should we head over after breakfast?”
Tremaine nodded. “Definitely. Though I can’t imagine that a few days hiding out will do much.”
“No, but the sooner we deal with HARP, the better off we’ll be—no matter how we have to take care of them. We still have to figure out who the core is and take care of Anthony,” Liz said.
Tremaine agreed, “Sooner the better. Anthony is dangerous in his own right and has the ability to bind people to him. He has a Storm Mistress he’s bound to himself. She can do as much, if not more, than a mystic. Ms. Murdock has limits. But Anastasia has none, other than breaking her bond.”
“How then?” Liz wondered.
Tremaine sighed. “An old ritual. Unless he dies, she will be forever bound. It is possible she will die if Anthony dies because of the way the bond works.”
Liz asked, “What happens?”
“She can leave for a period of time, but if he needs her, he simply calls her to him. He attempted the same with me, but Gabriel’s wards prevented that from being possible. Another reason we should talk to Fallon to see if she can figure out how to do something similar.”
“Good idea, Trem. Why don’t you call while I make breakfast?” Robert took a step toward the kitchen.
“And me?” Liz asked with a laugh.
“Practice more,” Robert said from the other room.
Tremaine winked at Liz. “She was doing that on her own when I came down.”
Liz pulled the phone from Tremaine’s pocket with a grin. “Well, call Fallon. You have a better idea what kind of protection we’ll need than either of us.”
* * * *
Edenton had a rustic, yet vibrant feel. The sort that only occurred where many types of Others came together. Various places existed like this, scattered throughout the world. The unusual facet here was the fact mages were welcomed and considered a part of the community.
Anthony respected the place more than many other towns he’d visited in years past. The population didn’t mind hybrids either. Everyone was truly welcomed. His conviction to tear apart the Silver Council wavered. They were making breakthroughs, and without the guiding hand of Draecyn.
His chest felt hollowed out, pain echoing from the loss of his mate. He refused to follow it down to the pit of despair. Instead, he clung to revenge. Tremaine, his two lovers, and the extra mage. They would all die.
At times he’d truly hated Jules, but in the end, he realized he was nothing without the other half of his soul. Tremaine had captivated him once, stolen his heart, even as it beat for Jules. Then he ripped it out.
Did Tremaine live? The rest of the group somehow followed wherever he went, but what did they find?
Anthony tangled his hand in Anastasia’s hair and smirked a cruel, evil grin her direction. “Do you sense any magic out of the ordinary?”
“Much. This is a place with a heavy magical community.”
“Mystic skills, rift bending, something similar to Jules’ abilities even. I need to know where to find the people involved in killing Jules.”
She sighed. “He went against your wishes and sought his own revenge against Tremaine. Do you really blame his lovers for killing the man who nearly took him from them?”
“I don’t fault their motive. However, they took my mate. I will make them pay.”
Anastasia looked away without a word.
“What is on your mind?”
She shook h
er head.
“I demand an answer. I want to hear your opinion, and I will even guarantee I won’t lash out at you.”
A slow smile spread on her lips. “You may be biting off more than you can chew.”
“Perhaps. Without Jules, though, I have nothing but revenge to live for.”
She dipped her head slightly. “You hated him as much as you loved him. Wouldn’t letting him go and fleeing from HARP be wiser?”
“My revenge will be for me, not HARP. Besides, they won’t let us run. No one ever gets far, no matter what world they escape to.”
Anastasia snorted. “Tremaine did.”
Chapter 29
A phone rang as Robert, Liz, and Tremaine finished breakfast. Liz’s brow arched as Robert reached for his. “Good morning, Draecyn. We’ll be there shortly.”
He cleared his throat. “I have a favor to ask if I haven’t overstepped my friendship,” Draecyn began. “Would you please bring Amalie with you? If she can be convinced.”
“Tsk, tsk,” Old Lady Murdock admonished in the background. “She will come, and surprise you, yet.”
Robert shook his head in confusion. “We’ll make a stop before we come out.”
“Perfect. I will warn you, she may not be interested in joining us,” Draecyn said, a tinge of sadness in his voice.
“We’ll know soon enough.” He clicked off the phone and glanced at Liz. “Think she’ll come?”
Liz snorted. “Most likely. She claims that had Draecyn ever come to his senses, she would have taken him back in a heartbeat.”
Tremaine nodded. “I believe she would. Even if there were no hope of reconciling. She wants to know he’s okay. They haven’t spoken in years.”
Liz shook her head, her eyes drifting away. “I know something about how they both felt. Though I was so twisted up, I don’t know what I would have done had Robert come back for me sooner than he did. I would have tried to fight but would probably have fallen into his arms eventually.”
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