Unleashed Witch (The Primordial Queen #3)

15. Zohar

15

ZOHAR

“ T hey’re still asleep. Go back to bed,” I say, not bothering to turn around and face Ciar. The dark witch only went to bed a half hour ago, and I understand his panic—I feel it, too—but being here and demanding updates from me isn’t going to do anything.

I won’t sleep, I won’t move, until they both wake up, but the rest of them don’t need to be as… watchful as I am.

“I’d like to watch over my daughter and the man I’ve come to love like a son, if that’s all right with you,” Anomus’s tired voice says.

I freeze before slowly turning around to face the other dark witch of our group. I’m too exhausted and didn’t examine things properly, just sensed a dark witch and assumed.

Well, fuck.

Of us all, I’m the one who is probably on the dark witch’s worst side, after the way we were first introduced, and the way I stormed in here yesterday morning with his unconscious daughter whilst wearing only a towel around my waist.

At least I can rest easy until she wakes because I’m the only one truly trusted to watch over Zoe—to watch over both her and Vexus.

“Of course,” I answer, gesturing to the chair when he doesn’t move any closer.

It’s been nearly twenty-four hours now since they’ve been unconscious, and we’ve been terrified.

Their health is good, their souls are calm, and they each have a very full primordium. That’s the biggest relief, considering that Zoe’s was drained— dying, even.

They’re stable, but they’re not mentally present.

Necos, Jasper, and Eirik are in the library scouring any and all texts that Anomus’s organisation has on soul witches to see if we can find an explanation for why they’re not together.

Our theory was that if the two of them bonded that it would fix the drain within Zoe. She’s desperate to complete the connections we all share, and since the one with Vexus is the only one not even partially formed, he made sense to go first.

It’s the last ditch effort we had to save her, and clearly, it’s worked in most regards. She’s back to full health, her magicae has settled nicely, and her primordium is healthy once more.

But she’s not awake. She’s not there to reach out to. Ryes is attempting to contact her through dreamscaping, and Etrix is there to watch over him just in case.

The light witch can’t dreamscape himself but can access the same realm and should be able to assist if there’s problems.

Ciar was forced to bed by me when he started getting angry, and Mael was put to sleep almost instantly.

The fire witch is unstable and can’t handle the fact that we can’t identify the threat to his anima nexum . He’s better off to everyone asleep, where no harm can be done to himself or anyone else.

We’re all walking time bombs right now, and the more time passes, the harder it is to remain rational.

“You love my daughter.”

I glance at the dark witch opposite me and nod once, not even sure why he’s wasting his words on voicing something so obvious.

Anomus has taken the seat between the two beds, although the chair is angled slightly more towards Zoe than Vexus.

“Words are your friend, water witch.”

I sneer at him. “Love is too simple a feeling. Zoe is my everything. I’ve already told this to Vexus, but I’ll let you hear it, too—I’m not here to earn the title of best behaved soldier in your little army. I’m here because, with this organisation, you have made your daughter into the spearhead of a political campaign she never would’ve wanted any part in.”

The words feel a little bitter as I spit them out because I know for a fact that Zoe would want a part of this. She’s pure of heart, and even just hearing about what she and King, her pet witchmea, talked about… it proves that.

From the beginning, when we knew that Zoe was ours, without really knowing , our concern was how our sweet, lovely anima nexum could ever be the royal princess, part of the prophecy with Eirik, someone who would have to command a nation and ruffle feathers.

But I’ve seen it so clearly now. Zoe won’t ever lead by fear or by force. She won’t ever try to be the loudest voice in the room or the biggest presence.

Elzora Miller, Elzora Myxere , will lead with her heart and her soul. She’ll care about every decision she makes, and, sure, some of those will be hard and taxing on her.

But, in her gut, she’ll know she’s making the right decision. Zoe might doubt herself, her abilities, and her decisions… but, ultimately, she’ll make this kingdom better, all whilst being herself.

Introverted, quiet, sweet, empathetic.

She’s a true leader, and power won’t corrupt her the way it has others in the past.

“We both sense the lie in your words,” he says calmly. “But thank you for revealing your issues with me.”

I school my face, trying to not let my displeasure show. “There’s many, but at least we can agree on the only important ones being about Zoe.”

He leans back in the chair slightly and regards me. “You’re a strong witch, Zohar, but you’re not from a very prominent family. I looked into you all as soon as I could, and I found that every one of you comes from a horrific background.”

“Your point?” I barely choke out the words, hating how much this man clearly knows.

Sure, he adores Zoe, but I don’t trust him.

Not yet.

“It’s interesting who my daughter selected to be in her bond. Eirik, the Crown Prince and heir to the elemental throne, a man who spent his entire childhood being emotionally and mentally abused by his father.

“Etrix, the discarded spare who was physically harmed by the same coward and has spent most of his teenage years fighting assassination attempts, whilst living a double life, alone.

“Ciar, the dark witch whose first word was ‘stop’, but it went unheard. The dark witch who learnt to control the shadows before he could even legally attend a school as they were his only protection from the monsters he lived with.

“Mael, the fire witch who can wield offensive fire magicae better than most witches double his age. But the rage within is one he’s spent his whole life trying to cage because he fears unleashing it. The man who is so terrified that, one day, he’ll become the abusive father he’s detested for his entire life.

“Jasper, the earth witch who had no choice but to kill his father, if only to save his own life. Day after day, he was hurt and scarred, and it’s twisted him up worse than any overgrown vine could ever be.

“Ryes’s hatred for his father is clear to anyone who dares look, but the horrors he occurred were something no child should ever need to endure. He’s lucky he survived it. Which leads us to Vexus, the soul witch who faced his first assassination attempt at only four months old and has spent the rest of his life in hiding, being shamed for existing.”

I clench my jaw, thinking of the ways my family were hurt and how I wasn’t there to help them. How they were harmed by the people who were meant to love them.

It burns, and it’s a deep pain that the coolness of my magicae can never soothe.

“Necos, well… the horrors of his life are a closely guarded secret, and since he’s still trapped within them, they’re not mine to divulge.”

I don’t enjoy knowing that Necos is trapped in some kind of trouble, and I make a mental note to get Ryes to listen in on the time witch’s thoughts so that we can be there.

If he can’t open up, that’s understandable. It took years before any of us five could reveal our own home truths with each other. Necos does his best to keep us all at a distance, not allowing himself to get close.

Some of the group think it’s because of some misguided belief that Necos is better than we are, but I sense the truth in his aura. He’s scared to let us in, he’s scared to trust us, because he thinks that if he lets his guard down that Zoe will be harmed because of him.

“Which leaves us with you—Zohar Rousur,” he says, giving me a look that’s filled with such a darkness that I almost cringe back from it, “the water witch who grew up in a noble family and yet had nothing to his name except his healing abilities. The boy who spent night after night healing his mother when his father would harm her.

“The one who couldn’t heal himself after each beating he was forced to take. A boy who couldn’t save his mum and can’t accept it was because she never wanted to be saved.

“You’d think that kind of pain would leave a mark on the soul?—”

“Well, your daughter would be the expert in that,” I snark, cutting him off as the pain of the past is brought forward, and Anomus’s eyes sparkle with humour, just like Zoe’s do.

Fucking psychotic dark witch.

“She would, which is fascinating that she chose you—all of you. She’s found people who she can relate to, people who fill the gaps in her soul, in her life. I never wanted her to need nine men, but the fact that she has them is a blessing.”

“Because we were all practically beaten into becoming sociopaths whose only true obsession in life is protecting your daughter?” I ask.

The sneer on my face is inauthentic when the curiosity in my tone rings clear.

“No, Zohar, because I know that you’re all good men who will adore her, and you’ll protect the people of this Kingdom until your last breath,” he says with a smile. “I wasn’t chosen by the Primordial Power Source to be King, and I didn’t understand why.

“I was resentful for a little while, blaming the fact that I was a dark witch rather than a light witch like Caedos, but I realised something that was truly different between he and I.”

“What is that?”

“He’d sacrifice everything for the Kingdom, whereas I’d have sacrificed the Kingdom for her.” The darkness in his smile is something I can’t help but return.

“Exsern?”

He nods. “My brother loved her just as fiercely as I did, but morally, he’d hold himself to the vows he undertook.”

“You’d throw them out the window without an ounce of regret.”

“Exactly. I’d do the same for Elzora, and I recognise that trait in all of you,” he says calmly. “She’d sacrifice herself to save the world—to save even just one little, tiny soul…”

“But we’d never let her,” I snarl.

“You’re concerned I don’t like you,” Anomus says, and I open my mouth to argue, but he rolls his eyes. “Just like you, son, I’m a witch. One of my abilities is being able to sense the fear in people’s minds. You were screaming very loudly when I arrived about how you’re my least favourite.”

I groan. “Well, that would’ve been good to know before you decided we needed a heart-to-heart.”

He laughs, and I find myself relaxing slightly. “And, honestly, you’re safe. I like Etrix the least. He’s a pain in the ass.”

“Now who is lying?” I scoff. “I can read auras. You’re very fond of Etrix. The light which does that. You can’t help but like him and root for him.”

“It’s probably how he’s still alive.”

I snort, looking over the monitors, sad to note there’s still no change in either of their vitals.

“Who is your true least favourite?” I ask.

Anomus shrugs. “I don’t have one. You’re all strong, admirable men, and I’m sure my position on least favourite will change as the days go on.”

“But we’ll have to fight for favourite with Vexus?”

Anomus’s laugh is so much lighter this time. “Vexus had a different life to the rest of you. His abuse was never from his parents. They’re lovely people who are truly devoted to their son.”

“Of course, you’d say that about criminal assassins,” I mutter, and he shrugs.

“Well, it’s true. They adore their son, and I know they’ll adore my daughter when they’re introduced. They’ll love you all.”

“No, thanks.”

He rolls his eyes. “Want to know why Vexus is my favourite or do you want to just whine that you won’t ever be?”

I crack a smile. “I’m not the one who will whine about that or even try to compete to change it. I couldn’t care less where I stand with you.”

“I can imagine that the competitive ones will be the fire witch and the air witch,” he says, and I don’t argue. I can’t, really. He’s got us nailed down quite well. “Her heart rate just jumped.”

My eyes dart to her monitor, but it’s been the exact same as it has all night long—forty-six beats per minute. Vexus’s is a little lower at forty-one, but they’re both completely in the normal range.

“Oh, fuck,” I say as Vexus’s spikes up to seventy-five for a solid thirty seconds before it slows back down.

“Get the others here,” Anomus says, his eyes not moving from Zoe’s heart rate.

Vexus might have been the favourite before this week, but now that Anomus has been reunited with his daughter, Vexus will have to fight for second place.

I shake my head. “Not yet. We’ll call them in once we know what’s happening.”

“And if Zoe wakes and needs to bond with the rest of you?”

“Then I’m here to claim her soul, whilst you get the rest of them,” I say firmly. He nods, and I know he’s anxious, so I don’t comment on it.

Both of their heart rates are starting to steadily rise, and I lean closer towards Vexus as his skin starts to shift colour. He’s once again regaining the runes he had before this coma of theirs, but this time, I sense Zoe’s magicae in them.

He’s not gaining back his own, but instead, he’s becoming one of hers.

“She’s branding him.” Anomus sounds awed as he watches the golden runes being etched into place.

I’m jealous that Vexus is asleep and gets to skip past the horrendous pain that we all had to suffer through to receive these brands.

But after nearly twenty-four hours of unconsciousness, I just want him to wake up.

“She doesn’t have any forming.” I take Zoe’s hand into mine, examining her bare arms, but there’s nothing.

I don’t want to undress her, not in front of her dad, but I can’t sense Vex’s magicae in her like hers is within him.

“He theorised that she might not,” Anomus reassures me. “He’s weaker than she is, and she’s also the nucleus of the group. It wouldn’t be fair for him to brand her this way when she’s got eight other men.”

“There’s not much he can offer her either,” I say with a frown as I think of Vexus’s abilities. “They’re the same.”

“Exactly.”

Vexus’s mouth opens, and he lets out a silent scream. Anomus grabs the soul witch’s arms, and the pain in Vexus increases.

“Get off him,” I snap, and when Anomus ignores me, I blast him with water, forming a protective bubble around Vexus.

“He’s in pain,” Anomus snarls, glaring at me, his hands swirling with dark shadows as he restrains himself from attacking me.

“Because of you ,” I say with a shake of my head as Vexus relaxes slightly. His lips are pinched, his brows drawn together, but he’s not as tense any more. “Zoe’s magicae is possessive, and she won’t let anything interfere with this moment. You’re hurting him because her magicae has to work harder to cement the bonds.”

His eyes widen, the swirl of dark magical disappearing. “Oh.”

I check on Zoe, noting that her veins now appear gold as she pulls on more of her magicae to bond with Vexus. She’s not getting drained as she does it, though, and I know it’s because she’s harnessing the connection between them to her fullest.

“How much longer is this—it’s done,” Anomus says seconds before their eyes fly open together.

Zoe’s cheeks immediately redden, and I move to her side to help her sit up as I drop the water barrier surrounding Vexus.

“Don’t touch him,” I warn Anomus, who is edging towards the soul witch.

“I’m fine, honest,” Vex says, looking over at Zoe with a cheesy grin. “Are you?”

Her blush deepens, and she nods. “I’m okay.”

“Let me check properly,” I command, and she nods her head, looking around the room with a forlorn expression. “Call them here, if you want, dragonfly. We’ve all been worried, and they’ll want to see you’re awake with their own eyes.”

“How long were we gone?” Vexus demands, taking in my haggard features.

“Nearly a full day.” Anomus is the one to answer, and Zoe’s eyes well with tears, her aura dripping in guilt.

I pass over her glasses from the side table before attaching the magicael cuff to her arm to assess.

“Fuck,” Vex lets out a hiss, shaking his head. “I had no idea it would take so long.”

Zoe’s eyes are still wide, even if covered by her frames. “It didn’t feel like a full day.”

“Where were you?” Anomus asks.

The two share a look, and Zoe’s eyes drop to her hands as Vexus shrugs.

“Soul wandering. We’re all good. Fully bonded, so I’m now the second to complete our bond,” he says with a grin. “And if I kill off Ryes?—”

“No,” I say firmly. Vexus’s eyes narrow, a sneer directed towards me. “I’ve been up for over twenty-four hours whilst I monitor the two of you. Once you’re stable, I’m going for a swim in the lake, then I’m going to bed.”

“What Zo here means is he’s too tired to heal Ryes after you fail at killing him,” Anomus says with a smirk.

“Anomus!” Zoe gasps with a horrified look on her face. “You can’t support attempts at murder.”

The three of us avoid looking at her as I finish up doing her medical checks.

She groans, an adorable red flush travelling down her neck. “Okay, that was on me, clearly, but we don’t hurt any of my men.”

“Understood, Elzora,” Anomus says with such an indulgent tone I have to hold back my gag.

Okay, that’s not true. I love that Zoe has him in her life, and I know without a doubt that she’ll develop the relationship with him that he’s craved all these years.

But more than that, it’ll give her the relationship she’s always desired with a parent who loves her.

I can handle it—even if it means I’ve got to deal with another psychopath.

“How did you two bond?” I ask as I round the beds and come to Vexus’s side. I don’t immediately touch him; instead, I look over to Zoe for permission. My adorable mate blushes but nods.

“Um, that’s confidential information between soul witches,” Vexus says, shooting me a dirty look. I narrow my eyes, not sure why he’s being so secretive.

“Stop asking about it,” Vexus commands, and I almost laugh at the whine in his words.

“Why the secrecy?” I demand mentally.

“Because Anomus is literally standing right there.”

“Why does he make a difference? I thought you practically worshipped the man and the ground he walks on.”

Zoe’s blush deepens down her chest, and she can’t meet my eyes. The ‘are you stupid’ look on Vexus’s face makes it extremely obvious, and I chuckle.

“What’s funny?” Anomus asks, and I know that he knows simply based on the way his aura darkens.

“Nothing, boss man,” Vex says, waving him off. “What is your magicae doing to me, then, Zo?”

“Like when this happened to us, you’re full with energy from bonding with Zoe,” I say, examining his primordium . “You’re going to need to expel as much of this as you can as quickly as you can.”

“I can feel it,” he says, tapping his fingers against the bed. “I’m not anxious, but I feel?—”

“Antsy. Full of life. Like you’ve got adrenaline flooding your veins, but it’s an almost manic kind of feeling,” I offer, and he nods his head. “We sparred for hours. It helped.”

“I can do that,” Vex says, cracking his knuckles.

“Let me get a swim in, and I’ll come up and watch over you,” I say, despite feeling the displeasure from my soulmate.

“What’s wrong, little love?” Vex asks before sighing at the panic in her thoughts. “I won’t let myself be hurt, Zoe. I’m a good fighter.”

“He is,” Anomus adds with a nod. “I trained him.”

“And your skills are…” Zoe trails off, and I snort as Vexus dissolves into laughter. I can see the embarrassment in her face as she immediately starts to explain how she didn’t mean that as an insult.

But Anomus just waves off her apologies. “Don’t ever apologise for questioning what you’re told. Only a fool would ever take something at face value from someone he doesn’t trust.”

“I’m a fool, clearly,” Zoe says with a sigh.

“You’re the smartest person I know,” I say, giving her a reproachful look. “Don’t put yourself down.”

“I was trained extensively as the future heir to the Primordial Branch,” Anomus says, answering Zoe’s earlier question. “I was a member of the Black Coats and have spent every day since that night developing my skills.”

“I was taught by an expert,” Vexus says with a firm nod. “It’s great, unless I’m getting my ass handed to me.”

“Have you ever won?” I ask wryly.

Vexus gives me a dirty look. “Feel free to take a turn, Zohar, I’m sure Anomus will have a great time turning you into a puddle.”

I laugh, giving Zoe a reassuring look, as I nod at Anomus. “Name the time and place. I’d be lucky to learn from you.”

“And that’s how you earn the favourite title,” Anomus says with a wink. “Elzora, can you call for the rest of your men, please? We want to know what happened, and I’m sure they’ll want to make sure that you’re healthy.”

“She’s healthy,” Vexus says. “Her soul wasn’t happy that it matured, despite not having a completed bond.”

“You know that for certain?” I ask, looking over at Zoe’s aura and noticing how much brighter the gold is now.

“Yes. I’m a soul witch, and I spent time in my mate’s soul,” he says, jumping out of bed.

I exchange looks with Anomus before sighing.

“Your meeting will either need to exclude the two of us or wait until later,” I say, gesturing to where the soul witch is starting to pace.

It wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except there’s gold footsteps marking out the path he’s taking.

He’s dripping magicae because he can’t expel it properly, and he could do damage to a lot without even realising it. Any errant thought, any slight intention, might be picked up on and acted out.

Especially since he’s full of Zoe’s magicae, and hers is always desperate to help.

“We’ll hold off until later. I’ll drop into the library and send the boys there to bed, and I can?—”

“Men,” Vexus interrupts, giving Anomus a dirty look. “We’re men.”

“Yes, men , sure. I’ll send the three men to bed, and I’ll escort you to your room, Elzora.”

“I was wondering…” she trails off, looking at Anomus nervously. “I was wondering if we could talk.”

“Are you not tired?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“I’ve been sleeping all day.”

“That’s not sleep , that was you being unconscious. They’re two different things,” I argue, checking her over once more to assess for myself. She’s telling the truth. “As long as you agree to go to sleep if you do get tired or call for me if you feel anything like you did this morning, then I’m happy with it.”

“I don’t think she will,” Vexus says in an attempt to reassure me. “Her soul’s unhappiness was that there was no bond with me—not that her bonds are all incomplete. As far as her soul is concerned, she’s done her part.”

I think it might be nice to be able to completely bond with the men I love, though.

I exchange a look with Vexus at hearing Zoe’s thoughts, and he nods. She and Ciar went on a date, but the rest of us haven’t really made the romance of our relationship a propriety.

That changes today.

I want to bond with my anima nexum fully, and I’m going to make sure that I sweep her off her feet like the princess she is.

She grins at something Vexus says, and he brushes a kiss against her cheek.

I think, in the coming days, things are only going to get harder and darker , and making sure to spend quality time with each other is going to be important.

“I love you,” I say, blowing a kiss to Zoe before letting Vexus drag me out the room.

“Are they going to be okay together?” Vex whispers quietly. “Is she…”

“You know her soul,” I tease, and he shoves into me. I laugh, grinning over at him. “They’ll be fine. I wasn’t sure about this rebel place of yours… but I think it’s what’s right.”

“Yeah?”

I nod, warmth filling me. “Yeah.”