Chapter 29
Howls ricochet within my mind as my wolf fights against the dark energy of Kel. Her nails feel as if they’re digging right through my skull, and I can’t hear above the roars.
Fighting back feels futile, but I refuse to give up. I won’t let her hurt Spencer.
In my mind, I’m thrashing around, but I have no clue what’s happening on the outside. Parts of me feel frozen again, as if I’m back in Tartarus, invisible to the world.
Dread fills me, weighing down over my body, only making me feel even more confined. I won’t let this happen again. I’d rather die.
Spencer!I shout in my mind.
I know she can’t hear me, but I need her. I won’t be trapped again. I won’t lose my mate after only just finding her.
Minutes seem as if they turn to hours. My wolf finally quiets, but so does everything else until I hear Spencer’s voice.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do, then?”
I groan, but no words come out, and then her hands are on me. “Drake? Can you hear me? Wake the fuck up!”
The terror in her voice makes my heart crack. I hate that I’ve done this to her, put her in this position. I should have let her reject me.
“I have the cloaking spell up,” Spencer snaps. “I just told you that.”
I have no idea who she’s talking to, but I need to get my shit together and help her.
My heart pounds, and the faster it beats, the more tired I feel, but I refuse to pass out. Kel will not beat me this time. I might think Spencer would have been better off without me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up now.
I can’t change the past, but I can do my damnedest to make sure it doesn’t repeat.
Forcing my body to relax, I breathe deeply and settle my mind. Spencer wanted me to be angry earlier and I understand why. Rage is better than fear, yet I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something else I’m missing.
I focus on my breathing, slowing everything down until there is only calm. As soon as that happens, a glow begins to grow within me.
The bond.
Kel might still have some of her magic within my mind, but she isn’t my mate. She doesn’t own my heart.
I draw on my connection to Spencer. My thoughts remain only on her and our connection and the strength I draw from that.
When Spencer and I completed our bond, it wasn’t only her that glowed. My body had taken in some of her energy, and I don’t believe it ever left.
I can use her pureness to fight back against Kel. I won’t be at that witch’s mercy, not ever again.
The tether that connects me to Spencer warms and brightens. I tug on the link until it’s taut, then change my focus back to my mind.
There are dark spots there I mistook for my previous wrath, but that’s not all they are. Kel wanted me to break. She wanted to unleash a monster, but I won’t be her puppet. Not today or any day after.
With the light energy from Spencer, I push the remnants of Kel from my mind and clarity returns. My body no longer feels trapped within itself, and I can sit up on my own.
We’re in some sort of diner, and Spencer is pacing in front of me with the witch’s pocket in her hand.
Before I can say anything, she stiffens and turns around. “Drake.”
Her shoulders drop, and she’s on the ground next to me before I can take another breath.
My arms wrap around her, and I kiss her forehead. “It’s okay. She’s gone from my mind.”
She drops her phone and chokes before her words finally come. “I didn’t know what to do. Natalia didn’t have anything for mind control because she thought you were free of that, and the only thing I could think to use next was whatever Kasha gave us, but I didn’t want to accidentally kill either of us.”
I chuckle at her rambling and rub a hand over her back. “I’m okay, and you did exactly what you should.”
Releasing her, I start to stand, and she tries to help me, but it’s not necessary. My muscles pulse with new energy, and my heart beats steadily in my chest. There’s no fury within me, only determination to protect those I care about most. With my mind right, I’ve never felt stronger.
Spencer’s head tilts. “You’re different.”
“I’m finally tapping into our bond.” The back of my hand brushes over her arm. “We’re going to be fine.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” she grumbles and glances toward the outside. “I think we might be trapped in here.”
The sky is darkening, but it’s the middle of the day. I can’t sense Kel, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t coming.
“Get Natalia’s spell,” I tell her. “There’s no reason to fight. When Kel shows her face, we use it and end this.”
Spencer opens the pouch and frowns. “I was looking forward to at least a little fight, but your plan is probably better.”
I shake my head and grin. Of course she was.
I start to say something else, but my words are cut off as an inky shadow starts to form within the diner.
“What the fuck?” Spencer growls. “So much for a cloaking spell.”
A cackle echoes through the small space. “There isn’t a witch in existence that can keep me from where I want to go, and that includes your little friend who will soon pay for trying to kill me.”
She’s here.
Months have passed since I’ve seen Kel. Days filled with ire and the desire to spill her blood, and now that the moment is here, none of that surfaces. I don’t want to be the monster she held captive.
One look at my mate, and I know more than anything else, I want to be the man she deserves.
“You’re not going to hurt anyone else, Kel,” I tell her with my eyes focused forward, waiting for her to take form.
The shadows she’s created begin to fade and, in their place, there stands the witch. Her short ebony hair curls in around her face and her fair skin stands out against the ruby red of her lips. Her hands slide up the sides of her one-piece black leather suit as she raises her arms up into the air.
“Doesn’t it feel good to be free, Drake?” Her dark-green eyes leer at me. “I’ve quite enjoyed myself, but it’s time for you to come home with me.”
“He’s not going anywhere with you, bitch.” Spencer throws the spell from Natalia just as we talked about and I prepare to shift to give the killing blow, but Kel’s laughter stops me.
“It’s quite charming that you thought you could beat me,” she taunts, brushing a hand over herself as if the supposed-to-be-lethal spell is nothing more than dust before her glare settles on Spencer. “I was going to leave you alive as collateral for Drake to do what I want, but I think it will be more fun to kill you just like I’ve sent others to do to your family.”
Spencer tries to launch herself at the witch, but I grab her waist and pull her back toward me. I won’t let my mate give that witch what she wants.
“That’s right. Keep your bitch on a leash.” Kel waves a hand around the lingering flickers of Natalia’s spell. “I have to give credit to the other witch. She may have nearly beat me if I wasn’t prepared. Having a lock on your mind sure did come in handy when you weren’t pissing me off for being a pathetic man.”
She’s been listening this whole time.
My heart sinks and I grind my teeth together, but Spencer is raging enough for the both of us. I have to keep my mind calm.
“If there’s even a scratch on my family, I will bring you back from the dead after we’re done with you just to kill you again,” Spencer spits out, but she’s at least no longer fighting against my hold.
Kel shakes a finger. “You shouldn’t make threats you can’t follow through on, pup. You might be strong, but your energy isn’t enough to beat me. Now, roll over and die or fight me, then die. Either way, your life ends today. But look at the bright side, you’ll see that mother and brother of yours soon.”
Spencer’s growl is deep, but mine drowns hers out within an instant. “You won’t hurt any of them.”
Maybe there’s a balance between what Spencer thought I should be and what I’ve been trying to be. I’m about to find out.
I reach into my back pocket and grab the gift from Kasha. If they’re at risk back at the house and Natalia’s spell isn’t going to work, then I believe we’ve officially become desperate.