Serin nodded. “I’m glad you’re open to new possibilities after all this time. Even if that possibility comes in the form of a Delavordo.”
Logan was skeptical, but she finally nodded. “At least he’s hot. But the long hair in the man bun has got to go—like yesterday.”
Diana laughed. “I second that. Every time I see it, I want to hack it off with my sword,” Subsiding she took her hand. “But if you go down that route, I have every confidence you’ll be able to keep him in line. We’ll still be watching him like a hawk. One false move and he’s getting the ass whipping of his life.”
“Nah, have you seen the way he looks at her? He’s like a widdle puppy,” Logan interjected. “Besides, he may be an outcast, but he’s still a Delavordo. He’s probably into that sort of thing.”
Gia snorted. Despite the gravity of the situation, she could always count on her sisters for levity and perspective.
“The world The Mother left behind may not be the one we would have designed. Hell, it’s not the one She intended. But we’re still here, and we have a decision to make.”
Gia lifted the crystal. In the presence of all four Elementals, the light flared brighter than ever before.
“The Mother left this,” Gia said, raising the stone between them. It stayed suspended in the air, revolving slowly.
“What is it exactly?” Diana asked.
“A trigger.” It was the closest description Gia could come up with.
“And what does it trigger?” Serin asked.
Gia took a deep breath, staring into the crystal’s depths. The stone was perfect, beautiful, and also terrible. “A new world—if that’s what we decide is best.”
“I believe She intended for the choice to be mine alone, but that isn’t fair. The sheer magnitude of this decision means it can’t be made by a single person. I think She knew that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to leave her chamber without making a choice.”
“On that note, I don’t think it was for us four to make alone,” Serin said. “If there are no accidents, then the fact that our mates are representatives of each of the major races on Earth—shifter, vampire, witch, and a human with a touch of Fae blood—means something. How did that come about if we weren’t meant to weigh these options together?”
Gia huffed. She should have seen that for herself. “A very good point,” she conceded.
Raising her arms, Gia erased the spell circle, gesturing for the men to join them. Connell stalked to Logan’s side while Alec hovered protectively over Diana. Serin and Daniel exchanged a telling glance as he stationed himself next to her until their shoulders touched.
Salvador didn’t have a choice but to step into the empty space next to her. “What did you decide?” he asked, trepidation in every line of his body. “What is the new era going to look like?”
“I don’t know. We had a few personal issues to discuss first. And it was decided that given the diversity of backgrounds you men represent, you should have an opportunity to voice your opinions.”
“But we don’t even know what that thing does,” Connell said, staring askance at the brightly glowing sphere.
“I don’t know what Salvador told you about the events in Her chamber. She left one of Her convoluted messages. Much of it is unclear, but one thing I did come to understand. She never intended for there to be two classes of beings on this world.” Gia gestured to the crystal. “And now we get to decide who will prevail—the Supernaturals or the humans.”
“What?” Logan’s face crumpled. “What does that even mean?”
Gia held up the stone. “This crystal triggers some sort of hard reset. I think She believes everything would be simpler if the playing field was level.”
“So that’s what this boils down to?” Diana asked “Us versus them? That’s the same as John’s game.”
“That is seriously fucked up,” Connell growled. Logan put a soothing hand on his arm.
A shiver that had nothing to do with the wind ran down Gia’s spine. She agreed, but that didn’t change anything. The choice still had to be made.
“How does it work?” Serin asked.
Gia touched the sphere. It pulsed ominously. “We can remove humans from this plane. I think She wanted to at the end, but she couldn’t bring Herself to do it.”
“How do you know that?” Salvador asked
“She showed me…” Gia rubbed her hands over her face. “All the crap—the pollution poured into the atmosphere has derailed normal climate patterns. It was within Her power to stop the effects, but She didn’t… She was going to use them to set off a cataclysmic storm. Maybe more than one.”
“Which would kill a lot of Supernaturals as well. Not everyone is as hardy as a Were or a vampire. Some of the Otherkind are quite fragile,” Alec said, giving Salvador the side-eye.
“That may be the only reason why She hesitated. I can’t really say.”
There was a pause as the group absorbed this.
“Is picking one side over the other even feasible?” Serin asked. “Even my family, who are as far removed from humanity as any could possibly be, are mostly human. We’re intermingled with them on the most fundamental level.”
“I don’t know how, and I don’t know who, but there must be a line because if we deploy the crystal as a weapon, then the humans would crumble to dust. She showed me what it would look like—how the earth would reclaim them.”
There was a universal grimace at that one.
“What’s behind door number two?” Logan eventually asked, crossing her arms. “Are we supposed to wipe out ourselves instead?”
“No.” Gia frowned as she mentally picked through the images she needed to answer. “If we side with humans, the outcome is different. If we trigger the crystal with the intention of removing magic, it would evaporate, much like when we remove it from bad practitioners today.”
Connell and Logan recoiled.
“Once the aether is gone, that would be it. We would all be human—permanently.”
“Some Supes might wish we had killed them outright instead,” Diana said.
Salvador snorted. “You’re not kidding. My mother and father would rather die than be human.”
“Diana is right. Isn’t this playing into what John wants?” Logan frowned. “His poison is meant for Supernaturals. Once they’re gone, El Douchebag gets to rediscover magic—or that’s his intention. He’s been stockpiling enough occult books and objects of power to do it.”
“He wouldn’t be able to. The aether would have burned up, so it could never return.”
Connell growled. “Magic or no magic. Isn’t this the Mother just giving that piece of shit what he wants unless we choose Supes?”
“So, we rule against humanity to spite him?” Alec asked incredulously. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to do that. Entire branches of my family are still human. So are my colleagues—the many scholars I’ve worked with over the centuries. Most are, at any rate.”
Connell nudged Daniel hard enough to push him forward. “And you—don’t you have anything to say on behalf of your species?”
Daniel appeared more composed than anyone else in the circle, but that didn’t surprise Gia. Serin’s mate was more levelheaded than most Supes.
“According to Serin, I have enough Fae blood where it counts,” Daniel began “Not that I am advocating ruling against humans. But I’m not worried about this magic crystal ball.”
Everyone looked at him curiously. “Why not?” Alec asked.
“Because I think you’re going to take door number three.”
As you thought, full of surprises. Gia inclined her head.
“What is this third option?” Salvador asked.
“The other option is to do nothing,” she replied. “The Mother may have been severely myopic toward the end, but She was not blind, and I think She knew we would be too invested in this world to take such a drastic step. Otherwise, I doubt She would have cared to match us with our mates
.”
“Mates? Us?” Salvador’s ears perked up.
Gia held up a finger. “Not now.”
She could tell he wanted to argue. He was practically bursting, but he nodded, moving closer until they were touching. “So, we let the world continue as it is. What’s the harm?”
“Unfortunately, that has a cost, too. A high one.”
“Because of how everyone sucks?” Diana asked.
Gia was getting tired, but they needed to know everything. Of the people here, only Serin had an inkling of what else was out there.
She scanned the circle of faces, trying to find the right words. “The Mother came here from across the stars, and She was not alone. Her people fought a war here, and I don’t think it was the first. She stayed to repair some of the damage they had wrought. When She stayed behind, Her presence had another effect—She shielded us.”
Gia dropped her head back to look at the stars. “There are other beings out there, entire civilizations. Some are peaceful, while others are not. We are not unknown to these beings. A few are already here.”
“Which ones?” Daniel asked. “I thought the Mother created all life on Earth.”
“She set it in motion, provided a guiding hand, but even She was not so prolific. Others came, some similar to our Supernaturals in form but also completely different.”
“Those dragons,” Connell said, tapping Logan on the arm. “The ones who invaded Sheol. You said they weren’t from around here.”
Gia nodded. “That particular clan of dragons sought sanctuary long ago. It was before my time, but I saw their arrival in Her memories. The Mother allowed them refuge after their home was destroyed.”
“And not just them.” Diana rubbed her head as if she were getting a headache. “So if we maintain the status quo, what are we looking at? A bunch of small revolts, attempts to grab power and territory, or a full-blown insurrection?”
“It could be either or none. Followed by an invasion somewhere down the line. I have no idea. Prognostication is not one of my gifts.”
Briefly, Diana squeezed her eyes shut. “If something comes for us, it may not be in our lifetime. It may fall on our children to deal with them.”
“Fuck,” Connell muttered. He rolled his neck, then grunted. “Well, I don’t know about you, but it sounds like the threat will come regardless. However far out these hypothetical threats are, do we really want the earth to be filled with defenseless humans? Can the sphere make humans magical?”
“Again, giving John what he wants,” Connell growled.
“If it’s possible, we have to consider it,” Gia said, struck by the idea.
“As the only human—mostly human, anyway—I feel I have to interject here,” Daniel interrupted. “It is a spectacularly bad idea to give the average man or woman magical powers. You’ve seen what they do with a little bit of power and a gun. Imagine giving them the ability to shoot lightning bolts.”
“None can do that.” Connell sniffed.
“Well, actually…” Serin murmured.
Diana and Logan raised their hands.
The werewolf dismissed that. “Oh, well, whatever. I know I can trust my mate with that kind of power. Diana, too, I guess. And I actually agree with you, although I am a little surprised. I thought you’d be all for humans leveling up.”
Daniel raised a skeptical brow. “You forget I was DEA. Before that, I was in the army. I’ve seen firsthand what humans can do to each other. Letting magic loose on them will lead to carnage. People are already too good at killing each other.”
“True. I’d say we just wait until they off each other, but if it didn’t happen in the last few millennia, we shouldn’t hold our breath,” Connell added.
Daniel’s face screwed up. “Like shifters don’t love to kill each other. Didn’t your father—the uber Canus Primus boss-of-all-werewolves—need Gia’s help to end the endless warfare between packs and unite them under one banner?”
Connell shot him a dirty look. Daniel rewarded him with a smug smile. “Yeah, I’ve been doing my homework on this bright and shiny new world I am now a part of.”
He addressed the others. “In my honest opinion, magic plus humans equals bad—unless your short-term goal is lots of death and destruction. But I know you’re playing the long game here, so I’m going to go with the majority rule.”
Someone groaned. Gia thought it was Alec.
“Can we destroy the crystal?” Diana asked.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“Should we even try?” Logan poked the stone with a finger, sending it spinning.
Connell snatched his mate’s hand away. “Hey, hey. Let’s not trigger the magic-destroying weapon on accident.”
Logan clicked her tongue in agreement. She put her hands behind her back, taking a step away from the brightly glowing stone.
“It wouldn’t be that easy,” Gia assured everyone. “I suppose we could take a stab at destroying it… We’d have to obliterate it, so nothing remained. Given its nature, I don’t know if I could do it alone, but all four of us have never been together like this before, so…”
“We could hide it instead,” Logan suggested. “Connell may be right. If someone comes along, gunning for the world, we might need to use it. Maybe in time, we can use it to give humans magic—when they’re ready.”
Was there ever really another option? They were silent for a moment, staring at each other, then Serin nodded and put her hand on Gia’s forearm. Diana followed suit, holding Serin’s arm. Logan completed the circuit, sealing the pact.
“The agreement is made,” Gia declared.
Serin winced. “But where would we hide it? After the theft at the archives, we know no place is safe. And we won’t be around forever. We can’t risk anything happening to it after we’re gone, especially since we have a new generation to consider,” she said with a nod toward Diana’s still-flat middle.
Gia’s head swam. There were so many details to consider. “I suppose… I could try to take in the crystal. It is a terrestrial stone.”
“Whoa… what?” Logan asked, putting up her hands.
Gia didn’t like this option any more than the other two, but it had to be shared. “The crystal is pure magic potential, but it is also a stone. I might be able to absorb it, to keep it safe.”
“What are you going to do? Eat it?” Connell asked sarcastically.
“No, she’s not going to eat it, dufus.” Logan scowled before turning to her sister. “But that thing is huge—you can’t possibly keep something like that inside your body without it affecting you. It would be like being permanently pregnant or something.”
Alec sucked in a sudden breath, then choked on it. Next to him, Diana rolled her eyes.
“You okay, buddy?” Logan asked, whacking Alec on the back hard enough to knock him over. Connell generously caught him, but he did wipe his hand afterward.
“He’s just freaking out because I’m pregnant,” Diana muttered.
Daniel’s head jerked up at that. “What?”
Logan was less restrained. She flew at her sister, already shrieking. Thankfully, Alec checked her progress, catching her in midair with his preternatural speed. “Gently. She’s pregnant, remember?” he reminded her.
“Congratulations!” Logan called as Alec handed her to her mate. Connell set her on her feet with a grin.
“Guess we have to start talking family planning,” the wolf said, effectively wiping the mirth off his mate’s face.
Gia cleared her throat. “Yes, it seems the barriers to having families while Elementals has been removed. Also, if Diana has conceived, it’s possible we’ll start aging as well.”
“Do you feel older?” Serin asked curiously. Of all their sisters, Gia knew exactly how old everyone was. It was an aspect of her gift, like having a radioactive carbon-14 test built into her eyeballs.
“Not really,” Gia said, taking a closer look at herself.
“What about me?” Diana asked
, her shoulders straightening as if she were bracing herself.
“You haven’t aged a day since you came into your powers, but that fetus has.”
Diana’s face scrunched. “That’s too weird, even for me.”
“Anyway,” Gia said, clearing her throat. “Getting back to the stone… I believe I can manage with it. I’m sure I can get used to holding it, as it were.”
Alec bent over so his eyes were level with the sphere. “What if it were smaller? If you can digest it, can you break it? Or slice it up?”
“Are you suggesting dividing it between us?” Serin asked.
“It would work, right? You can share abilities to some extent, right? If the piece were divided into four, would you each be able to hold a piece?” He glanced at Diana, then his face clouded over. “Better make that three.”
“Hey, if my sisters are going to do their part, so am I.”
“But—”
Diana held up a finger. It got warmer for few seconds before the Fire Elemental tamped down her anger. “We’ve discussed this,” she ground out.
“Excuse me, this is not what we discussed.” Alec began waving wildly at the stone.
Gia made a stop gesture. “First, let me see if I can even divide it.”
With a flick of her fingers, she beckoned the revolving sphere closer, then wrapped her hands around the stone.
I hate this thing. The thought rose unbidden. For a moment, guilt flared. For so long, Gia believed everything that came from the Mother was a gift. But Gia did hate this thing, especially because it felt as if it belonged to her.
She focused her talent on the stone. It flared again, much brighter than before. The tension in the circle jumped.
“Don’t, um, don’t set it off,” Salvador leaned over to whisper.
“She knows what she’s doing, healer,” Diana snapped before she lowered her voice. “Babe?”
“Yes,” Gia answered, not taking her eyes of the stone.
“Don’t accidentally set it off.”
Pressing her lips together to keep from saying something she’d regret later, Gia closed her eyes. Her talent could feel the crystal’s resonance better this way.
The Elementals Collection Page 107
