Unleashed Witch (The Primordial Queen #3)

12. Elzora

12

ELZORA

W e spend the next hour, to the minute, discussing the rebels, the plans for my soul connection’s initiation into the base, and even the basics to how it is all run.

I personally didn’t care too much about this, as I’ve known since I truly discovered how deep my ties there went, that I’d be part of it.

“I’ll see you all later on,” Necos says, looking around at us all, before settling on me.

I rise slightly from Mael’s lap. “Want me to walk you out?”

“No, it’s fine,” he says, a distant expression falling on his face, before he disappears from the room. I sigh, knowing he slowed down time so he could escape without me following.

“So, what do you guys do around here when you’re not working?” Vexus asks eagerly.

“We’ve barely moved in here,” Jasper says. “But I’m working on a project you can’t help with.”

Vex pouts. “So rude, earth witch.”

“I’ve got a witchmea to hunt down,” I say when all eyes fall to me.

“The witchmea was with you last night,” Zohar says with a frown. “Although it was gone before we woke up. Hm.”

“It’s not on our property right now,” I tell them after double checking for its energy around Necos’s castle. “I want to find my little friend, and I really need to give them a name because I hate constantly referring to it as… well, it .”

“ZoZo, you’re not meant to name the dangerous creatures. It strengthens the bond,” Ryes playfully warns.

“Or the strays that you encounter,” Etrix says, side-eying Jasper. “That’s how we end up with earth witches in our midst.”

“I like earth witches,” I argue, flashing Jasper a smile that goes ignored. “And I love my witchmea, too.”

Jasper shoots me a look that I don’t understand before turning away from me once again.

“Well, we don’t all have the luxury of a day off, sadly,” Eirik says. “Ciar and Mael, you both have assignments. I’m needed at the castle, and Zohar, I think you should head to the compound and talk with the healers there, if possible.”

“Absolutely,” my water witch says with a grin. He halts for a second and looks at me. “Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“How is your primordium feeling?” he asks, countering my question with one of his own. “Do you feel stable?”

“Yes,” I reassure him. “And if not, I can pull you back.”

“I’ll be with her,” Vexus says, raising his hand. “I’m a doctor.”

“No, you’re not,” Eirik and Etrix say as one.

Zohar smirks at the soul witch. “Trust me when I say that does not reassure me.”

Ryes snorts as Mael’s chest vibrates with his laughter.

“I’m not coming on the hunt for a mythical creature who can’t stand me,” Jasper says snootily. I frown, not sure what he means by that. My witchmea respects Jasper.

“You weren’t invited, earth witch,” Vexus says with a shrug as if it doesn’t bother him either way.

Well, it bothers me.

“Yes, you were invited,” I correct softly. Jasper’s eyes fly my way, and I can see the vulnerability in them, just for a moment, before his shutters fly back up.

“Either way, I’m too busy,” he says, breaking away from my gaze. “I’ve got a few steps that need urgent attention on my project, especially since Necos isn’t here to help.”

“I’ll come with you, too,” Ryes says with a grin. “You, me, and the soul witch off on the adventure of a lifetime. It’ll be great.”

“Fuck me, they need adult supervision,” Etrix says, hanging his head in his hands.

“Then, isn’t it a good thing you don’t have any plans, brother?” Eirik asks with a smirk. He leans past Mael, kissing me firmly, before opening a portal to the school grounds.

I don’t understand why he portals there first, but I know there’ll be a reason for it. He waves before he’s gone.

“Don’t you need him to tell you the details of your cases?” I ask, looking up at Mael.

He shakes his head. “No, I already know mine. I’ve got twenty minutes, so I’m going to grab a shower. I’ll say bye before I leave.”

His kiss is so different to Eirik’s. It’s much more demanding, more possessive, and so much hotter . Literally hotter.

I get a cheeky wink from Mael before he lifts me from his lap and heads up the stairs without a backward glance.

“Well, this was fun,” Jasper says, rising to his feet. “ Not .”

Vexus frowns at the earth witch. “Are you okay, Jasper?”

“Don’t use your shitty magicae on me,” he snarls, opening a portal and walking through it. I recognise the green house before he shuts it behind him, and the ‘don’t follow me’ is easily understood.

I sigh, running my hands through Ryes’s hair, trying not to think about the pain that’s thrumming through me right now.

The disharmony between all of my men is vicious, and it hurts even more when there’s discourse between them and me .

“Who should I go see at the compound?” Zohar asks, looking over at Vexus. “Anomus?”

Vex looks at me. “Will you wait for me if I go drop him off?”

“Of course.”

With a kiss for both Zohar and Vexus, the two men disappear, leaving me alone with Ciar, Ryes, and Etrix.

“Can’t you just summon your witchmea?” Ryes asks, getting up from the floor to come and sit on the sofa with me.

“No idea.” I grin at him as he throws his head back, sighing dramatically.

“Just saying, if we go on a hunt and find another one, dibs!” Etrix says, raising his hand in the air.

“Bring me one back, mo sholas ,” Ciar demands, and I laugh. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be back late, but save me a spot in your bed.”

“You’ll make Zohar cry,” Ryes teases. “You’re a shit bed partner.”

“I like cuddling with you,” I offer up, and Ciar grins before disappearing. It’s only a moment later when Vexus walks through a portal.

“So, how are we doing this thing?” he asks, rubbing his hands together. “I’m so excited.”

I smile at the genuine happiness pulsing through his soul. “I don’t know. I have a feel of its energy like I do you guys. Should we just… follow it?”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Famous last words,” I tease before opening up a portal for us. Etrix sticks close to my side, but Ryes and Vexus both rush through eagerly.

They’re very disappointed when we appear, and it’s just a pretty normal clearing. My witchmea is flying through the sky without a care in the world. I don’t know exactly where we are in Mitagus, but it’s quite pretty here and would make a lovely destination for a picnic.

There’s a large lake, lots of flowers, and not a house or building in sight. There’s woods a little farther out, and the grass is all at a short enough level that we could sit. It’s serene, and the energy is nice .

But I am anxious that he might be spotted by people who shouldn’t see him.

“This is so shit,” Ryes moans, dropping to his knees as he lets out a dramatic wail. “I thought we were going somewhere fun, not to here.”

I giggle as my witchmea flies down to me, shrinking from its huge dragon form into its much smaller form. He lets out a huff, and a wisp of golden smoke curls from its nostrils.

My little dragon stands on both my hands, only about the size of a fluffy Pomeranian. It’s not putting much, if any, weight on me, despite its shimmery gold wings not being in use.

I grin, rubbing my nose against the witchmea’s as it makes a delightfully happy purring noise.

“I’ve missed you, beautiful friend,” I murmur softly. With a sleek silver coat and streaks of gold hair lining their spine, my witchmea truly is a wonder. “You left before I woke up.”

The witchmea rubs his cheek against mine, and I like to think he’s apologising.

“Stop talking to it like that. That thing is dangerous,” Etrix says with an eye roll. “Have you seen that fucking tail?”

Okay, fine, at the end of its tail is a tip as sharp as a needle, glowing the same golden shade as its wings. But it’s not like it would hurt anyone with it.

“You’re not dangerous, are you little baby?” I coo as my witchmea snorts at Etrix, sending a blast of golden fire towards my light witch. Etrix jumps out the way, giving me a dirty look.

My witchmea’s bright blue eyes gleam with a mischievous spark, and I giggle because when the witchmea sticks out its black tongue, the blue spots seem to sparkle, too. He’s playing.

“I’m not going to lie, princess, but I’m disappointed, too. This was a waste of babysitting,” Etrix says, still insulted about the minor attack from my witchmea.

I can’t help but giggle at Etrix’s pout. He’s too cute when he’s huffing.

“It’s a good thing he can’t hear you or you’d be in trouble,” Ryes taunts, waggling his brows at me. I stick my tongue out, and he laughs, jumping up to come and stand behind me.

He’s tentative when he reaches to touch my witchmea, but when there’s no fire, Ryes gently runs his finger down the witchmea’s nose.

“There’s no sign of witch life around here,” Vexus says with a frown. “Where are we?”

“No fucking idea,” Etrix says with a shake of his head.

“Somewhere safe,” I offer as my witchmea nudges me with its head. “What do you need?”

“I think it wants to show you something,” Vexus says, edging closer. “May I?”

“Um, don’t ask me,” I protest, looking down at the creature in my hands. “Can my anima nexum touch you? I promise he won’t hurt you.”

“He can sense that,” Vexus promises, and when my witchmea lets out a huff, but then slowly nods, I have to hold in my gasp.

I know they’re magicael creatures and are smart and capable… I just find it absolutely crazy that he can nod . I’m ridiculous.

“You’re adapting,” Ryes corrects.

Vexus touches the head of my witchmea, and his eyes widen. “Little love, this isn’t just any witchmea.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, a whine leaving my throat without my permission.

“What’s wrong, princess?” Etrix demands.

“She doesn’t want to hear what is wrong with her witchmea,” Ryes says, starting to massage my shoulders to try and help with the anxiety build up I have happening. “She loves it and doesn’t want to tarnish anything to do with it.”

“Well, let’s stop calling him an it ,” Vexus says, shaking his head. He’s staring into my witchmea’s eyes, and it seems like they’re using a mind link to talk. “You’ve found the previous King of the witchmea’s, little love.”

“King?” I whisper.

The dragon chuffs, and my eyes fly open to see the twinkling of his eyes.

“King,” I repeat, and his tail swishes out happily. “That’s your name?”

The chuff sound seems to be the affirmative, and he almost seems to grin at me. It’s adorable, even if it’s terrifying to know.

“You’re special, ZoZo,” Ryes says, pressing a soft kiss to my neck. “Of course, you’d find the most powerful witchmea to bond with.”

I let out a heavy sigh, meeting King’s eyes. “I want you to believe me that I loved you before I knew you were royalty, too.”

“He can’t say the same, sadly,” Vexus says, and I look at my soul witch. He’s not looking at me but instead examining King. “King chose you because he knew who and what you were.”

“And that is?” Etrix asks defensively.

“Someone of pure magicae,” Vex says, meeting my eyes. “Of pure soul. He knew you were of royal blood, and could sense your power, and knew you were his .”

“I’m absolutely yours,” I reassure the dragon, stroking along his back. “How can I communicate with him like you do?”

Vexus shrugs. “I can talk to the souls of all animals. Can you not?”

“Don’t be a dick,” Etrix warns, kicking Vexus’s shin. “Every witch has different abilities.”

Vex peers at me. “I’m sorry. I was excited that I’ve got something you don’t.”

I grin at him. “Don’t be sorry. I love that for you.”

He squeezes my hand. “Well, to resolve it, I think you need to bond with him fully. It’s pretty easy, just a minor ritual, and then you’ll be able to hear him.”

“I’m put out that I can’t hear him,” Ryes says with a frown down at King. “That’s quite insulting when I’m the one with the mind powers.”

“Animals have their own language of sorts,” Vexus says with a shrug. “I’m not communicating with their mind but their soul.”

“Bond with King so that I can leech from you,” Ryes demands, tickling my sides. I laugh, but I’m anxious about doing this without… adult permission.

“I get the feeling I shouldn’t really conduct rituals without telling Eirik or Necos,” I say, biting my lower lip.

Etrix and Ryes dissolve into laughter, and even Vexus has a grin on his face.

“Come on, ZoZo, don’t be such a wuss,” Ryes teases, pinching my sides. “Worst that will happen is that you get kidnapped by King.”

“Or that he shifts from a dragon into a real boy,” Etrix says, waggling his brows.

“Fuck me, I hope that’s the case,” Vexus cackles. “Imagine Anomus’s face when his… when Zoe brings home another anima nexum .”

I look at King in almost horror, and he huffs out more golden smoke.

I don’t need a mental bond with my little witchmea to understand that one.

They’re idiots.

“Your idiots, though,” Ryes says with a cheery smile. “So, are we bonding or waiting for permission from the Royal Stickman?”

“Which one is the stick and which is the man?” Etrix’s smirk is purely devious, and I groan.

Having a bond could be helpful, especially if it means that we can communicate like Vexus and he can. If King could talk to me, I wouldn’t need to come hunt him down or worry when he’s not home.

I could tell him to hide or to keep himself safe if something was going to happen to me.

With that said, there’s always a risk with doing something in this world, and since I know virtually nothing , shouldn’t I at least research it first?

I don’t want to hurt King or myself.

“I know. She’s distracting me with her lovely thoughts,” Ryes says, nudging me gently. “Stop thinking so loud, ZoZo. Do it or don’t, but you’ll be okay either way.”

“They’re always the famous last words,” I tease but shrug. “Fine. You’ve convinced me. What do I need to do?”

“King says you just need to proclaim him as your bonded familiar,” Vexus says. “Then he’ll do the rest.”

“Magicaelly, though, princess,” Etrix reminds me.

I nod, tugging on my primordium, and I relax as I feel my magicae rushing through my veins. “King, the Royal King of the Witchmeas, is mine. Familiaris meus iunctus per omnem vitam hanc et illam in alio mundo. ”

The words are channelled with my magicae, putting it out into the universe as the truth. King is my bonded familiar, in this lifetime, and the one in the otherworld.

My dragon raises his wings, flying from my hand, transforming into his huge form. No longer the size of a small dog, he’s now the size of a house—or bigger, even—his tail longer than most airplanes I’ve been on, and yet, I’m not scared.

Ryes ducks back, but I don’t need to move.

There’s nothing to fear from King. I don’t flinch, not even when he opens his mouth and breathes a stream of golden fire over me. It doesn’t burn, not really, but it does force me to let out a whimper as my magicae meets his.

We’re suspended in time for a minute, or really, what could be hours , before it stops, and my eyes widen as I look around at the clearing in awe.

“Do you see, Elzora?” King’s voice is deep but somehow refined . It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before, the words themselves sounding as if they’re laced in magicae.

“I see,” I say, spinning around in wonder. The clearing is no longer empty and is instead full to the brim with creatures around us. I don’t recognise any outside of the witchmea, but there are so many flying, walking, existing .

He’s created a safe haven for all.

“You’re… you have a haven.” This is amazing, and beautiful, and I can understand the need he has to protect it.

None of the creatures seem to notice me—any of us, actually—so I know that we’re not encroaching on their safe place. King’s just allowing me to see behind the veil, so to speak.

“I must protect.” He lands on the ground, letting out a small thud as his tail whacks the grass.

“What the fuck is going on?” Etrix snarls, striding towards me with a pulsing knot of fear. “What haven?”

“She’s seeing what he can see,” Vexus says in wonder. “Your soul is lit up so beautifully, little love. I’m quite jealous that I can’t see it, too.”

“Her mind is hidden even from me,” Ryes says with a deep frown. I turn to the air witch. “Are you doing that?”

“I am,” King says. “Must protect my people.”

“King is doing it,” I say gently. “He’s doing what he can to protect his people.”

King nods, dropping his head low to me. “We bonded, Queen Elzora. One day, you change this world, and my people be free. Not today, so I protect.”

He’s bonded with me now as another safety measure to ensure that all of the other witchmeas will get to be free—all of the creatures he’s sworn to protect.

Just like me, they’re being hunted… my heart aches, knowing that this is another way this world has been failing.

I reach up to touch his face, but he’s too far away. “And who protects you?”

He snorts out a laugh, lots of golden smoke puffing from his nose, since he’s in his larger form.

“Something you said was very funny,” Ryes says, crossing his arms. “Is it strange that I’m offended to not have heard the joke?”

“No,” I reassure my air witch, taking his hand in mine and squeezing gently. “Since we’ve been reunited, you’ve had a window into my thoughts at all hours of the day. It must be weird to no longer hear them.”

“It is.” He pouts, glaring at my… at King . “I want them back.”

“Nobody protect me, my Queen,” King says, and I can hear the cockiness in his voice. It’s very similar to how some of my other men act—as if they’re infallible. “I strong. I protect me.”

“You’re very cute.”

“King not cute.” He turns his nose up in the air, and I can’t help but giggle.

For Ryes’s benefit, I ask out loud, “How do I help you?”

“You can’t right now,” Vexus says, reaching out for my hand. “But, one day, you’ll be in a position where you can .”

“That’s what your witchmea can sense,” Etrix says.

I reach out to touch King, and he lowers his large snout, pressing it into my hand.

“I’m sorry.”

“No sorry. We grateful.”

He bends lower, almost as if he’s bowing to me, and I smile at the large dragon. All around me, the creatures come to a pause, clearly able to see King bowing.

“I protect you.” He reiterates, letting out a loud roar that is returned silently—at least to my ears—by all of the creatures! They’re happy, excited, even, and my heart is so full at seeing all the joy.

“Have you ever ridden a dragon before, little love?” Vexus asks, and I frown, shaking my head.

“Dragons aren’t real—” I start before I’m moved through the air by Ryes’s air magicae and land on the back of my witchmea. I grab his mane, letting out a terrified squeal.

“Enjoy, princess,” Etrix says almost in wonder as King bends his legs before launching himself into the sky.

“This is terrifying,” I screech into his mind, clutching him as tight as I can, as we rise through the air. Ryes, Etrix, and Vexus all but disappear from my sight as we soar through the clouds.

The wind rushes through my hair, and my eyes start to sting from the pressure, but with a muttered “ protego ”, a bubble forms around me. The wind cuts off, and it only takes a few blinks for my eyes to stop stinging.

Everything is so much clearer now, too, as if the effects of the pressure at this height can no longer affect me.

“Clever Queen.”

I smooth out his hair, some of the anxiety fading away now that I’m not gasping for each breath.

“You have so much land out here,” I mention, seeing that there’s a whole community. Houses, or at least, buildings. Farms, I think, where things are growing. I’m in true wonder at seeing them, curious at how it all functions.

I don’t know nearly enough about this world to recognise many of the creatures or the food, but I do know that it’s serving a purpose.

“Can they find this place on their own or do you have to find them?” I ask curiously.

“I find them and bring here.”

“You’re the one rescuing them?” I ask, awed at his declaration. I let my magicae ripple across his scales, and I feel how old the magicae is within this soul.

He’s a powerful creature, that’s for sure.

I’m kind of insulted that I can’t get a read on King like Vexus can.

“You not understand creatures. I do.”

I frown, not sure if I’m understanding correctly. “Are you saying it doesn’t matter if I can’t communicate with the creatures with my soul magicae because you can?”

“Yes.”

“I see. How are you all hidden?”

“Old magicae. Older than your kind.”

I nod my head, acting as if I understand, as I take in the sights and the world that is hidden from everyone who wishes them harm. They’re a community, thriving, albeit cut off from all witch-kind.

“Why do you want to return to… witch civilisation?”

“Without witches, our magicae dies. No magicae means death. We cannot die.”

“Without us, you lose your magicae?” I ask, horrified. He nods his head, the movement jerking us in the air slightly. He swoops around another witchmea, this one a pale red colour.

“Fire witchmea.”

“Fire?” I echo, and he nods. “They’re all different types?”

“Yes. Fire, air, water, earth, light, dark, time, and soul.”

“And what are you?”

King chortles. “I chose you for a reason, Queen Elzora.”

“Soul? This kind of magicae doesn’t just exist in witches?”

“No. Soul witchmea are dead… except for me.”

“You’re alone in this world, just like Vex and I,” I whisper, pressing my cheek to the scales on his back. “I’m sorry.”

“Witches die, and so do we.”

My heart hurts thinking of the pain my people have caused. Generations of soul witches wiped out, but it doesn’t just end there.

The massacre has affected more than just us, it’s killing the animals and maybe even plants that share this world with us.

Tears blur my eyes as he lowers us to the ground, and I slowly slide off his back. Ryes and Vexus are there to steady me, and I meet King’s eyes.

“No more of our kind will die,” I promise.

He huffs out an agreement, his scales flashing gold, as I feel a soft burning on the inside of my wrist. It doesn’t hurt too badly, weirdly, and as I look down at it, I see an outline of him .

“You’ve marked me as yours,” I whisper, running my thumb over the gold rune.

“Just as you marked him as yours,” Etrix adds, gesturing to the golden crown now on King’s chest.

“I stay here. But I will come home often.”

“I’ll leave a window open,” I murmur and wave as he launches himself into the air.

“Your soul is in pain,” Vexus says softly. I let him tug me into his arms as I let my tears fall. He wraps me in his arms, cuddling me close, and I’m not ashamed this time as I sob.

“Her heart hurts,” Ryes says sadly as Vex gently rubs my back. “You’ll fix it, ZoZo. We’ll all fix it.”

“We can’t fix it,” I say through my tears. This kind of injustice isn’t one we can undo. “We can’t give them their lives back. But we can make it so that nobody else suffers.”

“That’s the plan, princess,” Etrix promises. “You ready to go home?”

I look around, taking in the community here, the way the creatures live and thrive, and I know that, for now, they’re all going to be okay. I don’t need to worry, not with King watching over them.

“Yeah,” I say, sniffling. “Let’s go home.”