The Silvia Saga: Boxset

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Harlan

As we make our way back, I replay in my head what just happened. That has to have been the hottest sex I’ve had in my whole life—not that I’ve had a lot to compare it to. We both fought for dominance, just like I knew we would. There was something about being with Dara that made my every worry vanish. She has that effect on not only me, but my brothers and sister as well. We all love her.

I’m not sure what’s gotten into us over the past twenty-four hours; it’s like we’re all suddenly on heat and can’t keep our hands off each other. I’m also not sure why I told her I love her. I won’t take it back, but I don’t want to scare her away.

I tune into Dara, hearing that her thoughts are much like mine. She’s still coming down from that high, but we need to focus on the task ahead of us now that topaz is within reach.

As we near the house, I grab Dara’s hand and ask, “Are you ready for this?”

Her bright blue eyes meet mine. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and I fight the urge to fuck her again against the side of the house. She lets out a heavy sigh and nods. I pull her into my waiting arms, claiming one last heated kiss before pulling away, breathless. I’d do anything for this woman. Anything.

We walk into the house and Jolie is waiting just inside the door. She shakes her head. “Five minutes. You have five minutes to spare. You guys are cutting it close.”

“Someone sure is on edge today. Maybe you need someone to take the edge off,” Dara teases with a sly grin, moving towards the stairs.

“Ehh, after hearing you with all of my brothers, I’m scarred for life,” Jolie says, screwing up her face.

Dara laughs, but she was right. The pressure is getting to Jolie. If we don’t succeed today, it’ll push us back—something we can’t afford to let happen considering the whole Kayla situation. I just hope Alaric has that under control.

After showering, we meet everyone in the kitchen, and as I glance around the room, I can see how tense everyone is. Oliver is moving from one foot to the other, clearly unable to stand still. Blair’s got Dara between his arms, holding her tightly as if he’s afraid she’ll disappear. Declan’s checking over all of his equipment, making sure he has everything we’ll need. Running a hand through my hair, I take a deep breath in and out, centring myself. I have to be strong for my brothers.

Jolie has laid out ham and cheese toasties for everyone. We each grab one for the road and head out, settling into our normal formation with me in front, Blair and Oliver flanking Dara in the middle, and Declan and Jolie bringing up the rear. We walk to the waterfall in comfortable silence, everyone focused on their own thoughts, gearing up for what needs to be done. The sun’s peeping through the trees, and my gaze moves around the forest. I’m waiting for a slayer to attack. I remember the days when we didn’t have to be on edge, watching and waiting for something bad to happen. As kids, we’d run around the forest, playing without a worry in the world. This is why I’m so determined to bring James down and for Dara to take her rightful place. To bring Silvia back to its former glory. For most of my life, we’ve lived under James’s thumb, always watching our backs and having no freedom. I crave peace with Dara, but I’m also scared because I don’t know what it’ll be like. Who am I if I’m not a warrior? I have no idea and it scares me.

When the waterfall comes into view, it takes my breath away just like it does every time I see it. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way it calms my mind. Stopping at the water's edge, I leave on my T-shirt and board shorts. Blair and Oliver do the same as we stand there, waiting for the girls to catch up. It’s no surprise that we are waiting on them. Although, considering how much of a rush Jolie was in earlier, it is a little annoying.

“I’m ready. Jeez, Harlan, patient much?” Jolie whines at me.

Shaking my head at her, I turn around and then jump into the bitterly cold water. My breath leaves me for a moment as I get used to the temperature before reaching the surface with a deep inhale. Declan jumps in after me with Jolie, Oliver, and Blair following. Of course, Oliver tries to do a massive bomb but fails miserably, landing hard on his back. When he resurfaces, he rubs his back, groaning, and I laugh. It serves him right.

Dara copies Oliver, but in her case, she actually nails it, causing water to splash up around her. She smirks, running her fingers through her wet hair. “And that, Oliver, is how it’s done.”

That small gesture causes my dick to twitch. Shaking it off, I leap deep into the water and swim over to the cave entrance. When I glance over my shoulder, everyone is following closely behind me. Breathing in deeply, I dive down and surface on the other side. I try to catch my breath before pulling myself up on the ledge. Oliver, Blair, Declan, and Dara join me, with Jolie somehow coming up last, taking her sweet-arse time. We line up in front of the wall.

“All right,” I say, loud and clear. “We know what to do. Just like we practised.”

Jolie and Dara join hands, calming their minds and transporting the magic out. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of seeing the crystal-blue cloud of Dara’s magic and the shimmering purple of Jolie’s. It’s a sight that would light the darkest of souls. Focusing back on the task at hand, I start stretching out my muscles, shaking my whole body to warm it up for the strain it’s about to take.

Dara and Jolie start chanting, “Let light rise from darkness. Let light rise from darkness. Let light rise from darkness …”

Their magic builds, getting bigger and bigger. When both of their eyes flash open, I know it’s time. I retreat a few steps. Blair, Declan, and Oliver follow.

“Now,” I yell out.

We run towards the wall at full speed, unleashing all the strength we have against it at the same time as the girls’ magic hits. The wall cracks, a fireworks show of blue and purple magic lighting it up. I look towards my brothers and they’re all pushing, punching, and letting everything out against the wall.

I hear someone scream, but it’s muffled as debris starts to fall all around me. A small rock the size of a golf ball scrapes my arm, making me move. I jump forward and tumble into a roll. Panicking, I go to stand up just as a part of the wall lands on my foot. I groan as the pain from the impact hits me. Sucking in a deep breath, I wrap my arms around the rock and lift it off. My ankle’s already swelling pretty badly, and I curse under my breath.

The wall is falling down, closing in around me. I can’t see anything. Everything happens in slow motion. I can’t see the guys anymore; they have disappeared from sight. I look back at where they were standing, but it's all blocked off. I have nowhere to go. Looking in front of me again, I see light, an opening. As the wall continues to fall all around me, I put pressure on my sore ankle and grit my teeth—then I jump and roll towards the light. Just as I make it, the rest of the wall drops in front of me, blocking me here in this small space. Once the dust settles around me, I try to stand up but double over in pain. Now that the adrenaline’s wearing off, my foot throbs in pain. Blood is spattered over the floor, up my leg, pooling in a crevice between the rocks—it’s everywhere. It makes it impossible to see the real damage that rock caused.

Breathing deeply, I scuffle around on the ground and my heart stops; I’ve made it behind the wall. The cave continues for a hundred metres then it ends. A blue light is shining through a hole, and I shiver. I can’t believe it. It’s actually here—Topaz.

I reach out to Dara. Dara, I’m here. Are you guys okay?

Oh my god, thank Silvia you’re okay. Where are you?

I’m behind the wall. You have to get in here.

We’re trying, but there’s too much debris.

Hurry.

Shifting my body, I pull myself away from the destroyed wall. I grab hold of my T-shirt and rip it, then use it to wrap around my no doubt broken foot. I groan as I finish the knot, but at least this will help stop the bleeding. Leaning against the cave wall, I slowly pull myself up to a stand on my good leg, then hobble over to where the trail ends, being careful not to get too close to the hole.

Peering over the edge, I see it’s a two-hundred-metre drop. Holy shit. Water surrounds a large rock, and on top of it sits the most important weapon: the topaz.