9. Elzora
9
ELZORA
“ B reathe, little love,” Vexus commands, his hand falling to my lower back, as warm soul energy flows through me. He’s doing his best to keep me calm, but it’s taking a lot of effort when my entire body is wound so tight in panic.
Zohar and Jasper aren’t back yet with Etrix. Eirik’s bond is getting darker and darker, his anger growing as he deals with whatever situation he’s found himself in.
Ciar’s raging but still unharmed. Mael seems to be enjoying himself, and Necos and Ryes are still together, still fighting or battling or… debating?
The lack of certainty in this mess is draining me.
I hate that they’re hurt.
I hate that we’re not together.
I hate that I’m stuck here, useless.
“We’re ready for them coming,” Vexus reminds me softly. “As soon as Zohar brings Etrix back, we’ll be here, waiting, making sure he’s healthy.”
“Your mum was never very good at being left behind,” Anomus says, and my eyes dart to him. “She’d have to keep busy or she’d worry herself sick.”
I can relate to that, for sure. I rub my cheeks. “I hate being a liability.”
“Oh, love, you’re not a liability,” Vexus says, spinning me so I’m facing him. One hand stays at my lower back, but the other tilts my chin up so I’m forced to look into his eyes. “You’re precious, Zoe. You’re staying here because you know that it’s safer for you and your men. They’d worry if you were there.”
“Because I’m a liability,” I say, shrugging as his expression darkens. “You don’t need to make me feel better, Vex. I know it’s true.”
“You weren’t a liability that night in the castle,” Anomus says, and I wish I could turn to face him, but Vexus’s grip is too tight. He doesn’t want to let me go. “You were glorious that night.”
How does he know? He wasn’t there.
“We’ve got eyes everywhere,” Vexus reminds me, and I roll my eyes.
“So, one night out of… what, seventy-five hundred give or take, I was helpful.” Tears well up in my eyes, and I’m frustrated at myself for being so… down.
“I never expected you to throw a pity party for yourself,” Anomus says, and there’s no judgement in his tone, just surprise.
I move from Vex and frown at the man who looks far too much like me. “I’m not trying to pity myself. I just wish I could do something.”
“What would you want to do?” Anomus asks curiously.
I feel Eirik tug on our bond, and I freeze.
“I want to bring Eirik to me,” I say firmly. Anomus nods his head, and I open up a portal that Eirik doesn’t hesitate to walk through. My elemental prince has a dark expression on his face, but his eyes show the depth of his concern.
“Are you okay?” he demands, moving to my side.
“We’re safe,” I reassure him. “Are you?”
Eirik’s gaze moves from me, to Vexus, to my… uncle. His eyes narrow at the man he likely considers an enemy, but he just heaves a sigh and looks back at me.
“I’m fine. Where is Etrix?”
“Jasper and Zohar have gone to get him,” I say nervously. “They’ve got a team with them.”
I fucking knew that he was in danger.
I flinch, and he squeezes my hand. “Good girl, staying behind. I’m really proud of you for putting yourself first.”
Eirik stands taller, turning to Anomus. “We’ve got a lot that we need to discuss.”
“Any answers you think you’re owed, boy, are a great?—”
A portal opens, and I push past Eirik and Vexus, who try to keep me in place, as Mael rushes through with men following behind him. I throw myself into his arms, my magicae immediately assessing my fire witch for injuries.
“I’m okay, Ellie baby, I’m safe. Thanks to you.”
“You kept yourself safe.” My words are smushed against his chest, but I won’t let go of him to assess anything else.
“You helped more than you know,” he reassures me, pressing a soft kiss to my hairline. He keeps a tight grip on me as he turns to face Eirik. “My side is handled. His daughter is aware of the threat. She was not very receptive to me, until Zoe and Vex sent through this team.”
“What daughter?” Anomus demands.
Mael sneers at my uncle. “Don’t you talk to me. I don’t give a shit of your position here—we all know who you are and the shit you’ve done.”
The healers glance nervously at us, but Anomus doesn’t seem to mind the disrespect.
“Anyone needing medical assistance, please seek it,” Anomus says to the group that helped Mael. “Otherwise, take the night, and fill out your reports in the morning, please.”
Everyone leaves, so clearly, they weren’t hurt. Mael’s not injured either, and I kiss his chest before disentangling myself from him. He pouts at me, but as Anomus shifts, a dangerous expression crosses my fire witch’s face as he glares at my uncle.
“What daughter?” Anomus repeats, his eyes flashing black for a brief moment before he gets control over himself.
“Ladiur Kunya’s daughter,” Eirik says, ignoring the dirty look from Mael. “She’s one of yours?”
Anomus tilts his head, looking to Vex who nods. “Apparently so.”
“She is,” Mael reluctantly shares. “She wasn’t willing to talk with me at all until you sent your team through, Zoe.”
“How did you know they came from Zoe?” Eirik asks with concern.
“Handy bit of soul magicae,” Vexus says, wiggling his fingers. “She marked them as allies so that you’d know you could trust them.”
Mael looks around, as if only just realising the others aren’t here. “Where is everyone else? Where’s Zohar and Jasper? They’re meant to be with you.”
“I’m safe,” I say. “They’ve gone to help Etrix.”
“How hurt is he?” Eirik asks, and he flinches at whatever truth I thought.
“How do you know?” My words are quiet, filled with my pain.
“Etonik bragged about it,” he snarls, turning away from me as he tries to calm himself down. I feel another tugging on the bonds, and Ciar appears in front of us.
“Where the fuck is your brother?” he roars, glaring at Eirik’s back.
A portal opens, and the team that went to assist Ciar come through, all of them confused, but Anomus jumps into leader mode, and Vex moves from my side to assist him. Mael drops a kiss to my forehead before moving to Vexus’s side, and a small part of me warms at seeing the way they’re intuitively supporting each other.
Eirik heaves a sigh and turns around to face the angry dark witch.
“Hurt,” I interject, and Ciar’s gaze drops to mine, his breathing heavy. “Zohar and Jasper have gone to help.”
“I can’t feel him properly anymore,” Ciar says, and I hear the agony in his voice. I reach for my bond with Etrix and let out a breath of relief, even as his pain slams into me.
My legs tremble, and I fall to the floor, but I don’t care. I can feel his heartbeat. It’s slow because he’s so drained. He’s worse off, so much worse off, meaning they haven’t got to him.
“What’s going on?” Ciar demands, crouching next to me.
“She’s feeling his pain,” Vex says, as his magicae tries to heal the echoes that my soul is feeling. It doesn’t do anything because I won’t let him fix it.
“We need to go to him,” I say through chattering teeth. I clench my eyes shut. “He needs me.”
“Where are Zohar and Jasper, Elzora? Are they with him?” My uncle’s using this masterful tone that causes me to open up without even thinking.
I look at him, but his face is blurry, the pain too strong to ignore. “No.”
I cry out as Etrix’s pained face echoes in my mind. He’s hurting, he’s dying , and I can’t sit here and leave him to it.
Decision made, my magicae cuts off the connection to my light anima nexum as I rise to my feet. Every eye is on me, but I don’t understand the expression on their faces.
“We’re going to get him,” I say firmly.
“Let’s go, then,” Ciar says. I take his hand, sharing Etrix’s location across our mental bond that Ryes created. I don’t know if he and Necos will get it or what is happening with them, but I can’t spare the thought right now.
Etrix is the focus.
“Have you considered that this attack might be a ruse to draw her out?” The question isn’t directed to me, so I don’t bother replying. My uncle looks at Eirik, our leader.
“It’s not. This is an attack purely designed to kill Etrix,” Eirik replies. “Etonik has unfortunately got plans for Zoe, and her death would fuck them. She’s safe from my father for now.”
“For now being the key word.”
“We’ve spent the last seven years thinking you were the enemy,” Mael says dryly. “Maybe don’t be talking as if we give a fuck about your input when it comes to our anima nexum .”
“Watch your mouth, boy, or I’ll?—”
“Enough,” I say, and everyone falls silent. I look up at Ciar. “Trap or not, we’re going.”
“With or without the rest of you,” Ciar adds. He pulls me to his chest, and we disappear in a smoke of shadow. When we reappear, we’re at Etrix’s side, in some kind of dark cave.
He’s chained up, and not conscious, his primordium practically empty.
I let my magicae explore, and I can’t sense any sign of life, so I drop to my knees next to him. My body is glowing gold, lighting up the entire cave, and my eyes well with tears.
He’s laid out on the floor, his face so pale and lifeless, his magicae barely reacting to my presence. He’s covered in blood, and a misty blackness coats over him.
It’s strangely dark, and Ciar lets out a hiss as I examine it.
“They’ve used dark magicae on him,” he snarls. He starts muttering under his breath, but I tune him out as I see shadow men appearing. I touch Etrix’s chest, and his body starts to seize as the dark magicae attacks him instead of me.
I yank my hands back, and the magicae stops. Etrix still twitches over and over. Panic fills me, but I file it away, refusing to let myself be drawn in.
“ Tranquillus ,” I utter, begging that my magicae will be able to help, as tears drip down my cheeks. His body calms, but I can feel the pain in his soul, see the effects the dark magicae is having on him.
There’s nothing more dangerous for a light witch than a dark witch.
I hate Etonik Farglory. I really, really do.
“ Exsurge ,” I say, my teeth chattering together once more as I hold in my sobs. I manage to identify the rune on the top of his left thigh, hoping that he’s got some reserves in there. He’s lifeless.
Empty.
And it is killing me to watch.
“Eirik and the others couldn’t come directly to Etrix,” Ciar says, looking around. “They’re helping deal with the threats above ground. I need you to trust me, okay?”
“I trust you with my life.” My words are steady, despite how terrified I am.
“Good.” He summons a huge ball of dark energy and throws it at Etrix’s chest. I let out a scream, and my magicae surges forward, ready to fight against the energy, but Ciar grabs me and holds me back.
“Trust,” he repeats, and I burst into tears as Etrix’s body rises up in the air, seizing, jerking, bleeding. The dark energy that Ciar’s controlling is fighting the energy from whoever locked my light witch here.
Etrix is like a lifeless doll, being moved and thrown around with no care for the person within. He’s not reacting at all. There’s no extra pain in his soul—because he’s so far lost that he can’t even feel it.
I unsteadily rise to my feet, as Ciar’s focus is on Etrix, and I move over to the chains, stumbling as I go. They’re dripping with power, and I have no idea how this is even possible.
“ Frange ,” I say firmly, grasping the thick chain in both my hands. It shatters under my touch. The floor is dark and misty, so even when he’s been laid down, he’s been being attacked by dark magicae.
“ Purificare ,” I say, thrusting my hands out as if I can dispense the shadows. It works, the darkness being pushed away, completely out of sight. I don’t know if I’m eradicating it completely or just clearing our space, but I don’t care.
Let it be someone else’s problem for a change.
“ Purificare ,” I repeat, dropping to the floor and shoving my hands into the dirt, begging my magicae to expand, to cover the entire area. It lightens, as Ciar continues.
Etrix’s body is being thrust around in the air, the positions looking painful and not even possible. It’s terrifying, but I don’t know how else I can help.
“I’m nearly there,” Ciar grunts, pulling more power. His eyes are black, shadows encasing my dark witch fully, as he fights whatever presence is leeching towards our light witch.
My heart’s pounding, my legs trembling, but I don’t dare even blink in case I miss the moment he’s free.
“I’m going to need you to get Etrix out of here the moment he’s released from the spell,” Ciar warns breathlessly.
I nod, choking back another sob at the loud crack that echoes through the cave. I don’t know what part of Etrix’s body that was, but I flinch, knowing that he can’t.
“Don’t let him fall or I’ll lose him,” Ciar says, dropping to his knees as so much dark energy floods the cave.
“ Purificare !” I shout, thrusting my hands out once more, as I tug from Ryes’s magicae, to keep Etrix floating in the air.
“Get him out of here,” Ciar says, jumping to his feet. “I’ll find the others, and we’ll be back to you.”
I nod, open a portal, and float Etrix through it, closing it behind me. My magicae knows what I want and floats Etrix delicately to a table where four water witches immediately descend on him.
I don’t know if portals can be traced, but just in case, I say, “ Intercludo .”
“Where’s Vex?” I ask, swaying slightly, my exhaustion quite extreme.
“Sit,” Anomus says gently. He helps me into a chair, crouching beside me. “He’s with Eirik and Mael.”
I nod, resting my head on the chair, as my magicae bursts out of me and attaches itself to the soul of my light witch. I might not be able to heal him like the water witches can, but I make it so he can’t feel the pain.
I calm his panic, soothe his nerves, and do everything in my power to help. I share my magicae with him, hoping that I can help kickstart his primordium so that it can start healing him.
“They didn’t come with us,” I whisper, clinging to the thread between Etrix and I, desperate to hold onto something that helps reassure me that he’s getting better.
“They didn’t?” he asks with a groan.
I shake my head. “I think that portals were warded against, but since we shadow travelled in, we were fine. He was trapped in dark magicae, unable to do anything against it. It was in the walls, the floor, around him… the chains.”
I choke back a sob, my eyes so blurry with my tears that I can barely see the pale figure.
“And now Ciar’s gone to help them with whatever is happening.”
Anomus drops to his knees next to my chair, not bothering to crouch any longer. There’s an awkwardness from him because I can feel how much my uncle wants to support me, but he’s also not sure if I’ll be accepting of it.
“You’ve done so well, Elzora,” he murmurs, taking my hand in his. I don’t recoil, and he relaxes, squeezing it gently. “Etonik’s a… word I won’t say in front of you. He’ll have expected that Eirik was going to go help and set a trap that he couldn’t assist with.”
I feel the flickering of Etrix, and my eyes widen as he lets out a gasp of pain, his eyes flying open.
“Zoe!” he shouts, his eyes wide as he starts thrashing about. I jump up from the chair, rushing towards him. The healers are still doing their job, but his eyes meet mine. “Thank fuck.”
“I’ve been safe this whole time,” I reassure him, bending low to press a kiss to his head. “Lie back. Let the healers do their job.”
“Where are the others?” His voice already sounds healthier, his eyes gaining more focus. I don’t sever the thread, willing to drain myself if it means he’ll continue gaining colour in his cheeks.
“Handling the situation you found yourself in,” Anomus says, and Etrix groans.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, panicking. My eyes dart to the healer opposite me, but she doesn’t even look up as she works.
“Was that really who I thought it was?”
Anomus laughs. “Yes. Did you really not recognise the room?”
“His brain function is in tact,” the healer opposite me says dryly.
“It’s Etrix,” the one at the foot of the bed says. “His brain function has never been in tact.”
Are they kidding right now? My mate is lying in a bed after having nearly died, and they’re making fun of him? My magicae bristles with annoyance.
“This is how they show they care,” Etrix reassures me. “I’m not insulted, princess. I’m just so happy to be here alive with you.”
And that’s enough to calm my anger.
“Yeah, yeah,” my light witch mutters, as everyone except he and I laugh. His pale amber eyes meet mine. “Are the others safe?”
“I hope so,” I reply, brushing another kiss against his forehead. He relaxes under my touch, but I can feel his exhaustion.
He nods once, his eyes fluttering shut, as the healers continue their work.
“Necos and Ryes are on their way,” I warn seconds before a portal opens, and the two of them rush through, along with the team that I sent their way.
“Thank you for the assistance,” Necos says, nodding his head at Anomus, as Ryes darts over to me. I don’t move from Etrix’s side, but I wrap one arm around his waist as he hugs me tight.
“Are you okay, ZoZo?”
I grin up at him. “I’m okay now. I need you to sit down so that you can get healed.”
“You knew I was hurt?”
“Of course, I knew,” I murmur as he bends down to brush a soft kiss to my forehead. “Please, get fixed. I’m already so worried about Etrix.”
Ryes sneers down at the light witch. “ Lucifuga miserabilis .”
“Ryes,” I snap, pulling away from my air witch to give him a disappointed look. “He nearly died tonight.” Ryes opens his mouth, but I shake my head. “Not right now.”
“I’m sorry, ZoZo, baby,” he murmurs, squeezing my waist, before moving over to an empty chair where a healer moves to go and assist him.
“Haha, you got in trouble,” Etrix taunts, but I refuse to lecture him when he’s sick.
“Elzora,” Necos calls, and the tone he uses is one that immediately puts me on edge. He’s talking to me in the arrogant teacher voice that he used when we first met—the one that causes me severe anxiety to hear.
He’s being extremely formal, which says something when he’s not truly relaxed around me, but it makes me uncomfortable.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Ryes snaps from the chair he’s on. “She’s not something for you to bark at.”
“Yeah, fuck you, Necos,” Etrix says, sounding almost drugged.
“It’s the pain meds,” the healer to my right says with a smile. “We’ve had to sedate him slightly as we do the bigger fixes for him.”
“But he’s okay?” I ask desperately.
She beams at me. “Without you, Princess, I don’t think he would’ve survived. But you’ve healed his primordium enough that we can do our work, and he’ll be right as rain in a few days.”
“Do me a favour and write that on his medical record,” Ryes says, laughing hysterically at a joke nobody else finds funny.
“Elzora,” Necos calls again in that same tone of voice. My eyes dart to him. “How are the others doing?”
“They’re fine,” I say quietly. The knot in my tummy tightens as his eyes narrow at me. “They’re together, mostly having fun. Zohar’s tired but amused, but Jasper and Mael are having a very good time. They’re competing, maybe. Ciar’s furious but using whatever he’s doing as some kind of therapy, and Eirik is calm.”
“They’ll be handling the situation I got entangled in,” Etrix says. The healers move away from him, but I don’t. I can’t let go, not until I can feel that he’s fully healed, fully fixed from what happened
“Your dad trying to kill you isn’t really a situation you got yourself entangled in, son,” Anomus says.
Etrix moans. “Don’t call me son when I want to—” Someone silences him, and I flinch. But it’s removed a second later. He mutters, “Thanks.”
I look around the room, but nobody except my uncle meets my eyes. I sigh.
“How are you feeling, Ry?”
“Perfectly fine now that Betsy here has worked her magicae on me,” Ryes says, flexing his arms. “My shoulder was torn up pretty bad, but Necos kept it mostly in suspense.”
“Elzora,” Anomus calls, and I turn to my… uncle, and he smiles at me. “You can stop sharing power with Etrix now. He’s absolutely fine.”
I shake my head. “I’m fine.”
“Listen to him, princess,” Etrix commands. “You’re draining yourself, and I’m fine. I need a good night’s rest and a recharge in the sun.”
“I know, but—” I say before shrieking as Ciar appears right next to me. His eyes drop down to Etrix before he grins at me.
“Good job, mo sholas .” He sneers at Etrix. “You’re a waste of space. Do you know how much fucking energy it took to get your pathetic ass out of that shit hole?”
Etrix barks out a laugh as I give Ciar a disappointed look. My dark witch shakes his head but returns the grin.
“That wasn’t—” I start, but I’m cut off once again when the portal opens for Vexus, Eirik, Mael, Zohar, and Jasper to come out of. Zohar’s eyes dart to me before he moves to stand next to Etrix.
I feel the familiar cool magicae of my water witch as he examines Etrix, and I relax knowing that everything is going to be okay now. We’re together, we’re safe, and I don’t need to worry.
They’re covered in dirt, soot, and some have blood on them. But they’re safe. We’re all together.
“Did anyone see you?” Anomus asks, and Vexus nods.
“Don’t worry, though. Dark witch over there killed them all,” Vexus says with a sigh.
“All of them?” Anomus asks, raising a brow as if disappointed in the decision they made.
“Didn’t I tell you not to act like you’re in charge?” Mael asks.
“All of them,” Ciar says calmly. “If it wasn’t for Zoe, Etrix would be dead. If it weren’t for those dark witches, neither of them would’ve been in that position.” He meets my uncle’s gaze, his eyes darkening as his veins turn black. “You know what it’s like, Anomus, don’t you? We’ve got to protect what’s ours.”
“Aw,” Ryes teases from where he’s sitting. “Ciar claims you as his, Etrix.”
Etrix laughs, and the teasing barbs are given from my men as they all relax. Well, everyone except Ciar, that is. My dark witch doesn’t look away from Anomus, the pair of them in a silent showdown that has my magicae bristling.
I don’t know who moves first, but it’s futile because not only am I stronger than they are… but I’m faster, too.
The room goes up in a flash of gold before I fall back, cracking my head on the counter.