The Calling of the Trinity (Trinity Cycle Book 2)

by Brittany Elise

  I nodded.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Just curious.” I shrugged. “I mean, you have to be pretty important to the pack if you’re on the council, right?”

  Hailey stopped walking. “What are you getting at Quinn?”

  “You’re really defensive, you know that? I’m just trying to make conversation.” I started walking again and decided I didn’t really care if she followed.

  She caught up. “Why? I haven’t exactly been chummy towards you or your friends. You said so yourself.”

  I couldn’t disagree with that, but chose not to bite. Instead, I opted for a different route. “Yeah but you were just looking out for your pack, right?”

  Hailey stayed quiet for a moment. “If you want the truth, Wren was the first boy I ever really liked. When Ryker told me that he was back in Silver Mountain and explained what he wanted me to do, I wasn’t just doing it for the pack. I was doing it because I thought I might really get him back. I had no problem taking him away from you, Quinn, so if you’re looking for an apology you’re not going to get one.”

  I sniggered. “I’m not looking for an apology. Just as long as you drop the whole act of pursuing him, we’ll call it square.”

  “I might not understand the Trinity bond, but I’m not an idiot. I know I can’t come between you so there’s no point in trying. He’s yours–you win, or whatever.”

  “Good,” I said, reaching up to tuck a lock hair behind my ear. “What about Ryker?”

  “What about him?”

  “I just thought that with you on the council that maybe you were trying to work your way up to being–”

  Hailey snorted, cutting me off. “Ryker is sexy as hell, don’t get me wrong but, I’m not into him like that, and he’s definitely not into me. As much as the idea of being Alpha female appeals to me, I couldn’t cross that line.”

  I fought the urge to chuff out a laugh. Maybe it wasn’t a straight line, but the girl had some form of moral compass after all. “What line is that?”

  “Look, Ryker has been looking out for Maddox and me since we were little. He’s like an older brother to both of us. Not that it’s any of your business, but Ryker and Nyla were supposed to be together.”

  Now I frowned. “I didn’t realize they were ever a couple.”

  “They grew up together. Both their families were pretty tight-knit and had hoped that the two would lead the pack together when they came of age. Everything was leading up to that when Ryker found out Nyla had been listening to the voices of Darkness. He was heartbroken, but he had no choice but to banish her and those who were following her.”

  “Do you mean they were listening to Penny?”

  “Is that the wannabe witch that’s related to sisters Yin and Yang up there?” She nodded towards Blaire and Bryna. From appearance to personality, they were total opposites, no doubt about that–like fire and ice; night and day.

  I nodded. “Penny was using her lineage to summon Rionach’s spirit. We assumed that’s how she convinced the rogues to join her in getting the amulet.” I reached up, squeezing the pendant at my throat.

  “We don’t know how any of it started. We just know what Rhea told us. That’s how Ryker found out about Nyla’s betrayal in the first place. Rhea foresaw Nyla and the rogues working with Penny to try and bring the Dark Witch back.”

  I stopped walking, reaching out to catch her arm so she would face me. My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. “Who exactly is Rhea?”

  Hailey’s lips parted, features contorting when she realized that I really didn’t know. “She’s the daughter of your Earth Mother, Gaia. She’s a prophetess, Quinn. I thought you guys knew… She’s a goddess incarnate.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Signs from the Otherworld

  The guys managed to find a makeshift cave where we could ride out the storm. ‘Cave’ was a relative term considering it was more like an outcropping of a small cliff. It slanted at just the right angle to keep the rain from pelting us. The patch of loblolly pines to our left helped, too. The six of us hugged tightly against the back of the rock wall, watching the rain coming down in steady sheets. Only Blaire was pacing, lost in thought over the information I’d made Hailey repeat once we were all together.

  Hailey and I had caught up with the others at the edge of the forest, and Wren popped through the tree line–still in wolf form–to show us what he and Ryker had found for shelter. When we got there, Ryker was just shifting back. It was at a distance, but I still saw more than I bargained for, and made Wren follow me to the other side of the cave for his Change. I handed him his boxers first, and let him slip into his jeans before saying, “We need to talk.”

  “If it’s about modesty, you might as well save it,” he teased, the corner of his mouth pulling into my favorite half smile.

  “It’s about Rhea,” I said. He frowned, following me back into the cave where Hailey reiterated her story.

  “You should have told us about her,” Blaire said, shooting a serious look at Ryker. She paced in front of him, toying with the trinity pendant around her neck. “It’s bad enough you lied about the rogue werewolves being ex-members of your pack–and now this?”

  “I didn’t think it was relevant information,” Ryker said. There was usually a bite to Ryker’s tone when he addressed us, but I noticed it was gone now. “Look, I’m not saying mistakes weren’t made, but I thought we both wanted the same thing–to stop Rionach from returning to power.”

  “That we do,” she agreed, “but if Rhea had any knowledge on Penny, it would have been nice to know.”

  “I don’t know why you’re surprised to find that a werewolf would withhold information,” Bryna said, a visible pout lining her lips. “I told you they’re not to be trusted.”

  “We didn’t withhold anything,” Ryker snapped. “We didn’t even know this Penny person was of any relation to you or how involved she was with the rogues. Rhea didn’t foresee the Trinity’s awakening. She might be a prophetess, but she doesn’t know everything before it happens. You should understand that better than most.”

  “It’s not like Rhea sees things in wholes,” Hailey added. “She doesn’t get a complete background check on someone when the goddess gives her a vision.”

  Blaire crossed her arms, tilting her head to gaze at the cave ceiling in silence. “Have you heard anything more from the Coven’s emissary spies?” I asked her.

  “Not yet,” she told me. “They made it clear their intentions were to gather information on Penny’s movements before bringing her in for questioning. It’s standard procedure.”

  “What about you,” I asked Ryker, “has Maddox checked in with any updates on tracking the rogues?”

  “He said the forensic team had already cleared the area before he and the other trackers got there. It made it difficult to pick up a good trail, but they found it and followed it out of town. They tracked them across the border to Tennessee and lost their scent when it started to rain. They’re still searching.”

  “Was that last night?” I asked. Ryker nodded. “This must be the same storm cell.”

  “The rogues probably realized they picked up a tail,” Wren said. He leaned forward, propping his arms on his knees. “They’ll stay close to rivers and streams, making it hard for Maddox and his team to pick up their scent.”

  “He knows that.” Ryker pushed up from his spot on the ground and walked over to the opening of the cave, leaning against the wall. The backlight from the rain illuminated the two-day dark stubble on his face and showcased the brackets around his mouth. The hollows of his eyes were underscored in shadow, allowing me to see the fine lines pulling at their corners as
he gazed into the falling rain.

  His mask was slipping, allowing me to glimpse a piece of the man underneath all that armor. He was so much more than tooth and claw; more than spiteful words and hard leadership. With the pale light gleaming against his ebony irises, it was easy to see just how much he cared. Somewhere, deep within me, I knew this mission was more than just a pack thing. Ryker was doing what he had to do to protect his pack, but also to protect the world. I saw the pain and sadness weighing on his shoulders; the regret that the rogues we were hunting for were former members of his pack. He blamed himself for their betrayal–even if he wouldn’t say it out loud; I saw it, plain as day.

  “Nothing has been easy for us so far, but if anything, we’ve proved we have determination. This is still our world, and there is still good left in it–even in the midst of darkness. It doesn’t matter if Light and Dark are out of balance, so long as there is always a force fighting to keep it in order,” I paused, turning to look at my group of comrades. “We are that force.”

  The cave settled in silence. I listened to the rain falling outside, matching the racing rhythm of my heartbeat. Blood circulated through my veins with awakened power and I knew this mission would only come to fruition if we believed in the Light. It was so hard to keep fighting when Darkness was trying just as hard to spread its poison, but I’d made a promise to those I loved and vowed to protect that I’d never give up.

  The rain relented at about three in the afternoon, and the rich scents of the earth tangled in my nostrils. I inhaled deeply, letting those fumes invigorate my senses. We started our trek through the forest, heading south as I kept my eyes on the branches of the surrounding trees, hoping to spot my owl.

  We came to a steep gully that was now filled with a torrent of muddy running water. It wasn’t deep, but I doubted any of us wanted to make the trek in wet boots so we’d have to find some way over it. The dead leaves and vegetation made the ground extra slippery, so I picked a spot about twenty meters down where a tree had fallen over the ledge. The branches and roots would provide something to hang onto while we climbed down. It was partially dry rotted, but it looked stable enough to hold our weight so long as we went down one at a time. Wren was the first over the ledge; he used one of the branches to swing down and landed on the rocky bank with barely a sound. “Show off,” I muttered.

  He grinned, perched himself on some branches near the bottom and reached up to help me down. I lowered myself over the edge, finding nooks in the dead trunk to place my feet while I climbed out to the middle. He eased me down from there and repeated the process for Bryna. Ryker had already slid down the muddy slope, skipping the aid of the tree all together, and Hailey followed suit. Blaire stepped up to the ledge, peering over with apprehension. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I don’t much care for heights,” she said, staring over the edge of the gully. It was at least a fifteen or sixteen foot drop to the bottom.

  “You would have made an awful lighthouse keeper,” I teased.

  “Why do you think I became a witch instead?” She tried to joke, but her tone lacked the easygoing buoyancy to land the same effect.

  “Just step out on that ledge right there,” Wren pointed, “and I’ll help you down the rest of the way.” He climbed up on the tree trunk, bracing himself on a limb as he extended his arms. She hesitated, tentatively stepping out onto the roots that were sticking out of the embankment. She leaned forward, reaching for Wren when her foot slipped out from under her.

  “Blaire!” Bryna shouted her name as she went down fast and hard, knee cracking into the trunk as she toppled sideways. My breath hitched as she caught herself at the last second, dangling from a small branch. Bits of dead bark crumbled from the limb and pinged off the rubble below. Her backpack shifted to the right–anchoring her in place.

  “Hold on!” Wren was up the tree before any of us could blink, pulling her back onto the trunk. “Let go of your pack,” he told her. Ryker was standing beneath her, ready to catch her if she fell.

  “I can’t!”

  “Yes you can. I’ve got your waist and I’m not going to let you fall.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut, moving her arm as the pack tumbled across her shoulders. She let it drop. Ryker caught it, quickly depositing it to the ground as he moved into position underneath her.

  The branches started to crack.

  “Oh, goddess,” she panted, arms trembling.

  “Let go of that limb, Blaire,” Wren told her. His low tone was delivered with a gentle demand. “I’ve got you, but you have to let go.”

  “Wren, I can’t,” she sobbed. Her features twisted in fear and she still had her eyes closed. The branch she was clutching began to crack.

  “Come on Blaire, you can do this,” I told her. “Use the Earth element to ground you.”

  “Wren, you’re going to have to let her go or that tree is going to bring the both of you down,” Ryker said. “I’ll catch her.”

  Wren let out a slew of curses.

  “Okay, okay,” Blaire said in a panicky rush. She opened her eyes, turned her head so she could see Wren on the trunk right behind her.

  “You’ve got this, Blaire. It’s not that far. Just give me your hand.”

  She reached for him, fingertips stretching–

  The branch snapped.

  A spray of dried bark and debris rained down as Blaire’s body was propelled over the side. Wren dove forward, reaching for her wrist as Ryker caught her, diving to the ground in a tuck and roll as the tree came crashing down on top of them.

  I was sure I screamed.

  Wren’s body was a blur of motion; his name ripped from my vocal cords as I launched myself forward, waving my hand in front of me as if I could somehow will the tree to move. And it did. The tree lifted and slammed into the side of the bank, wood snapped and splintered, spraying debris through the air.

  Blaire was folded up in Ryker’s protective embrace, tucked against the side of his body. Wren was on his stomach, propped up on his forearms, and everyone was looking at me. Gawking–was actually a more accurate description.

  “Holy shit.” Hailey chuffed.

  Bryna flung herself to Blaire’s side, pushing her hair back from her face as she inspected her for injury. “Oh, goddess, Blaire–are you all right?”

  “Fine,” she said breathily, shifting as Ryker loosened his hold on her. “Quinn, did you–” she trailed off, staring at what was left of the tree some twenty-odd feet away from us, smashed in the side of the bank.

  “I think so,” I said, gazing down at my unmarred palms.

  “The White Witch was telekinetic,” Bryna said. “It doesn’t surprise me you’ve been gifted with the power. After what happened with the motorcycles back at your school, I had a feeling that you’d begin to manifest the power.”

  Ryker was helping Blaire to her feet now, and she stumbled against his chest, wincing in pain. His big hands moved to the small of her back to help steady her. My eyebrows lifted. Ryker’s dark eyes seemed to soften in concern. Maybe I was imagining things, but, I thought I saw a spark.

  Wren was dusting off his shirt as I caught his wrist, turning his forearm to see that the skin running parallel with his elbow was bleeding. “You’re hurt,” I said, leading him over to where I’d dropped my pack.

  “It’s just a scratch,” he said.

  “That’s more than a scratch.” A dark pool of blood was dripping from the three-inch gouge, snaking down his forearm and spreading like forks in a river. I took out my water bottle and uncapped the lid.

  “Don’t waste your water,” Wren said, wrapping his hand around mine. “You know I’ll heal fast anyway.”

  “There are plenty of st
reams out here, I can always refill if I run out.” I peeled his fingers back from the water bottle and twisted his arm so I could clean the cut. As the water poured over his wound, I saw just how deep it actually was. If he were human, he’d need stitches. “You must have landed on a sharp rock or something,” I said.

  “I’ve had worse.” He grinned, and I knew he was thinking back to the fight that almost killed him a few weeks ago when he was helping me rescue a fellow classmate from the rogue pack of werewolves in the forest. That was the first night I heard the voice of Darkness–the first night I heard the legend of how the werewolves came to be. It was strange how it seemed as though a lifetime had passed since then. So much had changed and altered the course of my life forever.

  I pulled a T-shirt from my pack and ripped it down the middle, using it as a makeshift bandage for his arm. I tied it off gingerly, running my fingertips across the strong contours of his arm. “That should hold until it heals.”

  “Thank you,” he said, catching my chin.

  I smiled at him and then went to check on Blaire. There was a hole in her jeans at the knee, and already a swollen knot had formed and was turning purple. The skin was scraped, but nothing worse than a rug burn. “On a scale from one to ten, how’s your pain level?”

  “It’s about a five,” she said. “It’s uncomfortable, but nothing I can’t manage.”

  “You better not be lying.”

  “I wouldn’t dare,” she said. “You might toss me off the side of a cliff with your telekinetic powers.”

  I snickered. “I’m sorry about all that.”

  “We had to cross somehow,” Blaire said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Climbing out might be tricky. We can walk down here along the bank awhile, see if it flattens out somewhere.” I looked up at Ryker, noticing that there was a cut running through his dark brow. Blood was dripping down the side of his face. “Is it deep?” I asked, nodding towards the cut.