Unleashed Witch (The Primordial Queen #3)

1. Elzora

1

ELZORA

E verything around me is red. The sky, the grass, the people… my soul connections.

The sharp tang of metal fills my nose, and my chest tightens as if I’m choking on the colour itself. My eyes water, my nose still burning, as I drop to my knees.

I let out a loud wail, my magicae desperately surging out to try and protect them from harm.

“Zoe, stop!” Zohar’s panicked voice fills my mind, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “Let go, dragonfly. You don’t need to do this.”

But he’s wrong. I need to save him. I can’t let him be hurt.

I see the gold energy leave me, but it’s soaked up by the poisonous red blood, dragging it away before it can help them. The moment that my magicae is stolen, my stomach lurches at the scene in front of me.

It’s like a piece of me has been ripped out and consumed, leaving me a hollow, useless shell. I sob as the life fades out of Zohar’s eyes.

My scream is powerful enough to shatter glass, my hands clawing at the ground as if I can return him to life through sheer willpower. But every drop of my magicae is absorbed… stolen .

I don’t know what’s happening to us, but I know that I’m powerless to stop it.

I take in each of my men, only Vexus still left standing, and my eyes fill with tears.

I’m worthless.

“Little love, let go. You’re okay, everything is okay,” Vexus commands, his voice full of panic. I shake my head, trying harder to protect him. I failed Zohar, but I can’t fail Vexus, too.

“Elzora, stop!” The sheer force of his voice sends shivers down my spine, but I can’t stop. Not until he’s safe.

My hands dig into the grass as I shout, “ Protege ”, a desperate attempt to try and get him in a cocoon of safety before any more harm can befall him.

“Expergiscere,” Vexus snarls, and my eyes fly open as I let out a sob. The real world rushes in, bright and blinding, as the weight of the dream lingers.

The redness fades, and I realise we’re not outside at all. We’re in my broken bedroom, and I’m laid in my untouched bed. It’s the only thing that survived my maturing.

“Thank fuck you’re okay,” Zohar whispers, cradling me in his lap as though I’m the only thing that matters in his world. His hands run over my bare skin, slow and soothing, as though he’s trying to map every inch of me to make sure I’m whole.

“You’re safe,” he murmurs, but his voice trembles just enough that I can tell how much my dream panicked him. The coolness of his water magicae invades my senses… well, is it really an invasion when I welcome it?

“No, little love, it’s not,” Vex chokes out, his eyes as damp as my own. He looks exhausted, the usual golden-tinge to his skin missing, as he crawls across my bed to sit right by Zohar and I. The pair of them feel drained of energy.

“We’ve been by your side all night.” Zohar’s voice is husky, and I relax into his hold. His arms tighten instinctively as if he’s afraid to let me go for even a second. “How are you feeling?”

Vexus wipes my eyes, his thumb lingering against my cheek, as though the feel of his touch is enough to take away my pain. I continue looking between the two of them, in awe that they’re alive, that it really wasn’t real.

“Of course, we’re alive, Zoe.” Zohar’s lips are soft as they press against my forehead. The gentle pressure grounds me here, with them both, and the horrors of my dream slip further out of my mind.

“You were dreaming, little love, but we were here with you. I promise you that you’re safe,” Vexus murmurs, his warmth surrounding me like a shield. He kisses the palm of my hand, resting back on his ankles, and my heart slows a fraction.

I watch as the colour returns to his cheeks, his eyes brightening. I don’t understand what’s causing him to gain power when he’s clearly expending it on me. Is that a talent of his? I don’t understand it since we’re not actually bonded yet.

“Connecting with souls is how soul witches power themselves,” Zohar answers, and I giggle at the pair of them just answering all of my thoughts for me. It’s an exhausted laugh, but it’s there nonetheless.

Vexus leans in, his eyes bright gold with his magicae being in use, and they soften as they lock with mine. “Don’t you realise it yet, little love? Without you, I’d be nothing but an empty vessel.”

“Um, I think you could connect with any soul…” I trail off when he gags.

“Why would I use these commoners to power myself up when I’m in the presence of power in its purest form?”

“And now you’ve lost the sweet and become creepy,” Zohar says sternly.

“It was sweet, right, Zoe?”

“Um…” I burst into giggles, and he groans.

“Can you just lower the shield and let the others in?” Vexus asks, raising a brow at me. “They’re getting restless outside, and some of them still don’t really like me. I’ll take my chances with their brutality instead of yours.”

I frown, looking over at the bedroom door as if expecting some kind of sign that they’re unable to come in. “I locked them out of the room?”

“You were having a bad dream,” Zohar answers as I shiver in his lap. “Your magicae responded to protect you.” He pauses, brushing my damp hair away from my forehead. “You don’t need to worry, Zoe, your magicae will always protect you.”

My worry wasn’t for me… but for them.

“Your magicae reacted by… eventually putting up a shield to lock the room down,” Vexus says cheerfully.

Eventually. What did I do before putting up a shield? Did I contribute to the mess in here? Did I cause more destruction?

I choke up as I recall what happened when I was asleep. It felt so real, so powerful, so horrifying. The memory claws at my chest, my stomach twisting into knots. I can’t explain it to them. I don’t even want to have to think about it.

“The curse of a soul witch.” Vexus’s tone is knowing, and my eyes dart to his as I sniffle. His golden gaze holds steady, pulling me out of the spiral just enough to breathe. “Nightmares, bad dreams, even sad dreams… they affect us deeply when people are involved. Even in our sleep, we connect with their souls, and it’s such a hard burden to bear.”

“It’s likely more potent with you being able to dreamscape, too,” Zohar says, squeezing me ever so gently.

“So, it wasn’t a vision?”

“Did it feel like a vision?” Vexus counters, and I shake my head immediately. He smiles faintly, the tension in his shoulders easing as though I’ve given him an answer he desperately needed. “Then it wasn’t a vision, little love.”

I shiver, goosebumps covering my arms. I’m wearing a thin vest-top and a pair of shorts, and I have no recollection of when I got changed into this outfit.

Last night… wait, was it really last night?

“Yes.” Zohar sounds amused. “It was only last night that you matured. You were a little out of it but have spent most of the night sleeping. No, calm down, dragonfly, that’s normal. Eirik spent days sleeping after he matured.”

“I only slept for a day or two,” Vexus says with a shrug. “I’m clearly more powerful than Eirik.”

Zohar snorts. “You wish you were more powerful than him. Eirik’s got more power in his little finger than you do in your entire body.”

“Wow, are you really that intimate with his little finger?” Vexus smirks and waggles his brows at my water witch.

I smile, letting their light-hearted teasing wash over me as their combined energy continues soothing the anxiety within. I’m exhausted, and I don’t like how unsettled I feel right now.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like the me I’ve always wanted to be. One who was getting a handle on her anxiety, someone who fit in with the world around her, someone who wasn’t… broken .

Vexus stops the next insult he was about to throw Zohar’s way and reaches forward to cup my cheek. His thumb brushes over my skin, firm but gentle, and the softness in his eyes makes my breath hitch.

“You have never been broken,” Vexus says fiercely, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “Not then, not now. Not ever.”

“Never,” Zohar adds, sounding just as fierce as Vexus.

For a moment, I want to believe them. The warmth in their gazes, the certainty in their voices—it’s enough to make the heaviness in my chest falter.

But I can’t, not when I feel broken. I’ve been adjusting to the magicael world, adapting and gaining confidence, but at the moment, I’m reminded of how I first felt with the unfamiliar power inside me.

Only now, it feels stronger, more dangerous, more… everything .

“That’s because it is.” Vexus doesn’t let go of my cheek, and his voice is somehow even sweeter, even more soft and reassuring. “The best way I can think to explain it is this is like a second binding spell has broken on your body.”

“That’s a good explanation,” Zohar agrees. “Most people have years to adapt to this happening. Their bodies prepare slowly and gradually, usually from eighteen or so, but you didn’t have that. You’ve only had access to your magicae for a few months, so this happening as it did is a big shock to your system.”

“Like… puberty?” I frown, scrunching my nose up, and Vexus snorts.

“Puberty? No, Zoe, this is a physical thing… well, I suppose your vagina is a physical thing?—”

I burst into giggles, turning my head away from the confused soul witch to hide in Zohar’s chest.

“Puberty, yes,” Zohar says, reaching out to kick Vexus. I’m jostled slightly, but rather than retaliating, Vexus just lets out a huff. “That’s a good analogy. But it’s like you’ve gone through puberty overnight, without the prep time.”

The weight of his words settles over me, heavy and unavoidable.

“So, this feeling is probably going to stick around for a little while?”

Zohar’s tone is laced with regret. “There’s things we can do to help. Meditation is one, and I think that’s something you need to be doing morning and night, especially whilst your magicae is…”

“Blowing everything up multiple times in your sleep.” Vexus doesn’t even try to be as tactful as Zohar, and I avoid looking at the eager soul witch.

I gasp, looking around the room, but it doesn’t look terribly different from last night… when I blew up the room for the first time.

“I’m sorry.” The shame rises in a hot, sticky wave, settling deep in my chest.

“Don’t be sorry. It happens,” Vexus reassures. “When I matured, I’d raise the dead multiple times a night. My boss ended up setting up a nightly rotation for people who need extra training because I couldn’t stop myself from doing it.”

I giggle when Zohar mentions I’ve already done that, and they bicker once more. I don’t engage, sensing it’s mostly lighthearted, and instead, use the time to try and calm down.

The palpitations of my heart are a little out of control, but otherwise, I feel okay, and honestly… I think that might be more to do with the proximity of Zohar and Vexus than the dream. The heat from their bodies is warm and makes me feel tingly.

“The vermis aquae and I were by your side all night long, whilst the rest of your group slept,” Vex says.

“Don’t call him that,” I say tiredly. Vexus frowns but nods.

“How about you drop the shield, and we go downstairs and talk with everyone? They’ve been really worried about you,” Zohar says, rubbing my arms softly. I glance at the door, unable to hear anything on the other side, but I guarantee they’ll be frustrated I’ve made them wait this long.

“They’re not angry with you,” Zohar says, reading my thoughts. His tone is firm, but there’s a softness behind it. “They’re worried about you. That’s all.”

“And, hey, Etrix is still the one being ostracised from your little group, so he’ll just be grateful that you’re here to protect his cowardly self,” Vexus says, and Zohar snorts.

But where they’re both relaxed, I know that the tension between Etrix and Eirik is at a level that I’m scared they might not manage to come back from. The thought sends a cold shiver down my spine. Eirik’s hurt, and Etrix is… justified .

With the equilstrilax bond that has been formed between Etrix and Ciar, I have no doubt that the usual group dynamics are going to have been affected.

I’m meant to be the thing that ties us all together, but it seems all I’m doing is causing more issues.

“Everything was… everything was okay whilst I slept, right?” I bite my lip as both men share a silent conversation that I’m not able to be part of.

“Everything was fine.” Zohar’s words are not the most reassuring, and I let out a heavy sigh. My eyes dart to the bedroom door, and I can almost feel the nervous energy of the men gathered out there.

“Let me get dressed, and I’ll come down.” I look over at my shattered wardrobe and sigh. “Never mind.”

I mentally drop the shield I wasn’t even consciously aware I was still holding, and the bedroom door bursts open.

Vexus howls with laughter, and Zohar snorts into my hair, as three men tumble to the floor. Ryes is on the bottom of the pile and throws out a blast of air to get the people off his chest.

Mael is slammed into the door and drops to his knees in a heavy thud, but Eirik gracefully lands on his feet just to the left of Ryes, his expression as calm and composed as ever. The contrast makes me giggle, despite myself.

Etrix and Ciar weren’t in the pile-up but enter the room with matching smirks, and neither Jasper nor Necos are with the group. It shouldn’t hurt, but it does.

“They’re downstairs making breakfast,” Ryes answers, grinning up at me from the floor. He’s very cheerful and looks very well-rested compared to Zohar and Vexus.

The five of them are all in a black uniform of sorts, and it’s not one I recognise. The air crackles with tension despite their attempts at lightheartedness, and I feel its weight settle over me.

This is all my fault.

“It is not your fault,” Mael snaps. “It’s his.” Mael jabs a finger at the air witch and sneers.

I don’t know how it’s become Ryes’s fault, but they start bickering before I can even ask.

“We’ve been a little worried, mo sholas , but I’m just glad you’re okay,” Ciar says, stepping over Ryes to approach the bed. As soon as he’s in reach, he holds out his arms, causing Zohar to groan.

My water witch presses a lingering kiss to my temple, his lips warm and soft, before reluctantly shifting me into Ciar’s waiting embrace. The dark witch’s arms wrap around me with a fierce protectiveness, and I sink into the smoky comfort of his scent.

He relaxes just as much as I do at the contact. “You are glowing, Zoe.”

“Glowing?” I look at him in confusion, but he just smiles so sweetly. Ciar’s the dark witch in my group, and apparently, has a fierce reputation out in the world—but to me, he’s never been anything but perfect.

Sweet, doting, and maybe a little obsessive.

He wraps one of my wayward curls around his finger, and dark brown eyes seem to glisten. “You light up the room on a good day, mo sholas . But right now? You’re the only thing I can see.”

My throat tightens, and I blink back tears at the sincerity in his voice. I lean in to kiss him softly. The connection between us thrums, a warm, steady pulse that eases the worst of my anxiety.

“Really? I don’t even get a hello, but Ciar gets a kiss and a cuddle,” Ryes whines.

Ciar pulls away, grumbling, as I burst into giggles. The joyous sound feels foreign, like it doesn’t quite belong to me, but it’s real. That’s enough for now.

“That’s a good sound to hear,” Eirik says, smiling at me. “How are you feeling, darling?”

I bite my lip, not sure if I want to be honest or try to reassure them all.

Does she regret what we did?

My eyes dart down to Ryes, but he’s not even looking at me as his mind wanders. Oh no.

“No,” I say, reaching for his mind. Ryes rolls over onto his tummy to look up at me, and I wiggle against Ciar to be put down.

“Let me go, Ciar,” I murmur, my voice soft. He hesitates, his arms tightening around me for just a second before he finally sets me gently on my feet.

“We’re feeling a little possessive, ZoZo, ” Ryes says, smiling at me. “We’ve been worried, and you’ve kept most of us out of the room.”

“Not on purpose.” The guilt laces my words before I can stop it, and I hope he can hear the truth in my tone.

“Of course, you didn’t keep us out on purpose,” Ryes says out loud, and I relax at the ease of his words.

“Don’t worry, Ellie baby, we all know you’d never willingly choose that criminal over me,” Mael says, flexing his arms as he seems to taunt Vexus.

“Nobody gives a fuck about your runes anymore. We’ve got our own,” Zohar says, rolling his eyes.

“Ah, but do we?” Etrix asks, smirking at Vex. “Because… you don’t have brands from our soul mate, do you, Vexus?”

“No, it doesn’t seem like he does,” Ciar says, and I glower up at the dark witch. He smirks at me, pressing a kiss to my forehead, turning me so that I’m pressed against his chest.

“We want the truth, darling,” Eirik adds, holding his hand out for me to take. I wish I could, but instead, I wrap my arms around my waist, the cold feeling becoming overwhelming.

“She feels out of sorts,” Zohar says, answering for me. “But that’s expected.”

“Absolutely,” Eirik says, nodding at me. “It took a month or so before I felt at ease after my maturing.”

“And yours is a much more unique situation compared to his,” Necos says, and I flinch at the sudden intrusion and turn to see my time witch standing in the doorway.

His dark grey suit is perfectly tailored to his muscular form, the orange tie standing out like a fiery warning against the muted tones of his outfit. He seems relaxed, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the room.

“In what way?” I ask.

“You weren’t ready—not physically, anyway,” Necos says, stepping further into the room. His presence feels like a weight pressing down on my chest, heavy and unyielding.

Out of all my soul connections, Necos is the one I’ve spent the least bonding time with. He’s focused on teaching me about my magicae and getting me into fighting shape, and it doesn’t lead to much personal connection time.

Or maybe he’s just not interested in me that way.

Necos frowns down at Ryes and mutters a silent “get up” that my air witch ignores.

Necos’s deep gaze lands on me, and for a moment, it’s as though the air itself tightens. “You’re a girl, which naturally makes you more sensitive to the magicael changes you’re enduring. You’re a soul witch. One hasn’t matured—well, other than Vexus, I suppose—in over a hundred years, and he’s nowhere near your power levels.”

“Why did I come and spend time with you people?” Vexus has such an adorable pout right now.

“Surely, there are people more powerful than me who have gone through this.”

“You have the potential to be the strongest witch this world has known, Elzora,” Necos says simply, his voice calm but cutting through the noise of the room.

“It’s time for our Primordial Princess to realise she’s a Queen amongst peasants,” Mael says, waggling his brows at me. There’s no way I can even attempt to muster up a smile with this heavy weight that feels so strong that it’s crushing my chest.

My breath catches, and the edges of my vision blur. The tension, the pressure—it’s all too much.

“Is she a princess or a queen?” Ryes asks. “You’re not being very clear with your analogies.”

“Right now, she’s neither,” Zohar says, rising from the bed. He strides over to where I am and takes my hand in his. His words are so matter-of-fact, so grounding, that I let out a shaky breath. “She’s our hungry girlfriend and needs some breakfast.”

And Jasper.

“Ugh.” I hear more than one of them grumbling but don’t bother looking to figure out who. None of them are the biggest lover of me having a soul connection to an earth witch… including Jasper himself.

We make our way downstairs, following the strong scent of breakfast. The heaviness lingers in the air around me, but Zohar’s hand in mine keeps me grounded.

Jasper’s sitting at the long dining table alone, a feast in front of him. His plate is empty, and while he relaxes as we arrive, he doesn’t turn to greet me.

I try to not let it bother me… but I thought we had been making progress in our relationship.

Zohar leads me around the table, and I realise Jasper’s not awake. He’s sat up, but his eyes are shut. Just like Vexus and Zohar, he looks like he’s been up all night long, and my heart aches.

I can feel a desire to touch him, to soothe him, and I wouldn’t hesitate if it were any of the others. Well, maybe not Necos.

But Jasper? His walls are thicker than the castle we’re currently in, and I know that he’d be upset if I tried.

“Wake up, caput pingue ,” Mael demands, kicking his chair as he passes. I sigh at the action.

“Are you okay, little love?” Vexus asks.

“No, she’s not,” Ryes says, blowing Mael’s chair out from under him before he can sit down. “Don’t be an asshole, tu cerea deformis .”

“Ugly candle?” Mael sneers. “You’re the one to talk, when you’re about as useful as a fan in summer.”

I wish they’d stop fighting.

Jasper’s hazel eyes meet mine, and I see the relief in them. He gives me a wry grin. “Don’t you know your little boy band by now, sunflower? If they’re not fighting, they’re not breathing.” He cracks his knuckles, and I shiver as his eyes darken before his gaze swings over to Mael. “And trust me, candelabrum , if I had my way, you wouldn’t breathe again.”

“And that’s my appetite gone,” I say sadly, looking around the table full of food with a wistful look. In the bickering, Ciar has slid into the seat at my left, with Etrix on his left. Ryes is sitting in the chair opposite Etrix, and Vexus is in between him and Jasper.

On Jasper’s left is Necos, with Eirik at the very end. He’s as far away from his brother as he can be, and facing him is an equally angry Mael.

I wish I could say the table set-up was a good omen, but it’s not. It’s practically an omen of death.

“Your thoughts are pretty morbid today, ZoZo.”

I shrug, my cheeks heating up. “Sorry. You could just… not listen.”

“Never.” Ryes gasps, clutching his hand over his chest. “How dare you try and steal my greatest pleasure from me!”

I giggle, and Zohar squeezes my knee before setting about filling my plate for me. I’m queasy, and food really is unappealing. I can’t imagine I’ll eat much of it.

“It’s the maturing,” Necos reassures me. “These changes are normal, and you’ll discuss them in depth during your health check.”

“Her what?” Mael and Ciar demand in equally annoyed tones.

“Her health check,” Eirik repeats, and I look at him, sensing the darkness underlaying his tone. “Every witch who matures must work with a physician to ensure their health.”

“Oh, yeah, because that’s exactly what the very rare and endangered soul witch needs,” Etrix says, rolling his eyes as he glowers across the table at his brother.

“It is, yes,” Eirik confirms. “She’s in a very vulnerable state and needs...”

Their words are no longer something I can listen to, my mind practically short-circuiting as more and more of my men join in the argument. My heart is pounding, the ferocity of the palpitations vibrating my whole body.

The argument escalates quickly, voices overlapping as the men bicker, their magicae sparking faintly in the air. The noise claws at my already frayed nerves, and my breathing quickens.

“Stop,” I try to interject, but my voice is lost in the chaos. Ryes seems to be the only one who notices, but it’s too late.

Their words blend into static, and the pressure in my chest builds until it’s unbearable.

And then it happens. My magicae erupts, wild and uncontrollable, crashing through the room in a shockwave of gold.

The blast throws me backward, my head slamming into the ground. Pain blooms, sharp and hot, before everything goes dark.