Chapter Twenty-One
Walker
F or a moment, the cold water stole my breath. It was instinct to thrash to the surface and paddle against the onslaught of waves. As a kid, I had always dreamed of visiting the ocean, but I had never imagined how overwhelming it would be. The waves that had appeared gentle from above now lapped at my body and threatened to pull me under the dock. The sheer immensity of the endless, freezing water stunned me. Magic heated my veins and roared in my ears.
Focus, I reminded myself.
I steadied my breath and dove under. My lungs burned with the need for breath, and I couldn’t fight the urge to swim to the top. As I crested the water, I took heaving breaths. I chided myself and dove back under. Above me, a boat peeled through the port. As I swam deeper, my chest and ears ached. The boat continued to slowly move through the water, and it blotted out the sun.
Adrenaline and magic coursed through my veins—there was no way I could swim to the top before passing out. As my power thrummed, I willed it to latch onto the oxygen around me and drew in a deep breath. I should’ve been able to reach for it without the motivating factor of fearing for my life, but progress was progress.
With magic alive in my veins, I squinted against the dark, salty water, but all I could decipher was seaweed and some silver fish. I swam farther away from the dock and deeper into the water but found no kelpies.
Closing my eyes, I imagined casting my magic like a net to search for the creatures. In my head, lightning webbed across the water. The lightning detected a familiar cluster of magic—my friends, waiting for me. Freya’s magic thrummed louder than the rest, but I forced myself to keep searching.
What if I can’t find anyone else’s magic? I worried. What if I’m only tuned to Freya?
It wouldn’t be the worst circumstance, but it certainly wouldn’t help me find a kelpie.
Seems like a magical, underwater horse should be easier to locate.
I willed more air into my lungs and sent my web the opposite direction, toward the vast expanse of the dark waters. Energy hummed in its depths, but…
There.
Past the boats and fishermen and growing frenzy of the bay, a different cluster of magic lurked. It blended into the wild energy of the ocean, but it was more potent. The magic I sensed was a harshly struck chord in the cacophony of sound, and it buzzed against my skin like static electricity.
I forced my eyes open, blinked against the stinging salt, and swam toward the magic, all while keeping an iron grip on the makeshift bridle in my hand.
I swam deeper into the murky depths of the ocean to avoid the passing boats. By the time I reached the outskirts of the bay, my breath was ragged. Magic and exertion warmed my body.
As I swam farther and farther from the dock, I wondered if I had been mistaken, but a giant streak of light darted in front of me. Luckily, my scream was swallowed by the water. Ryder never would’ve let me live it down.
Another streak of light blasted before me, but this time I was prepared. I caught a glimpse of a majestic white mane, powerful equine legs, and a silver tail, all of which glittered with scales. A whinny pierced the muffled silence of the water.
Everybody wants to do cowboy shit, I thought, until it’s time to do cowboy shit.
Whispers chattered in my ears and broke my focus. Something rammed into my back and sent me tumbling deeper into the ocean. My back ached, and I sputtered at the water I accidentally inhaled. As I blinked my eyes, something shimmered in front of me, and I whirled out of the way just in time to avoid another hit.
This one’s fast, a deep voice hissed.
Too fast for you? another, lighter voice asked. I’ll take him.
I balked. You can talk?
Another glistening horse darted through the water and snorted.
This one is mine, the deeper voice boomed.
The water whooshed, and the kelpie struck. I twisted out of his path and caught a fistful of mane. It was more slippery than the usual coarse texture of a horse’s mane, but I was stubborn. As the kelpie’s whinny echoed through the water, and its shimmering gray tail thrashed, I gripped his mane like a vice.
Waiting until the kelpie twisted toward me to try to break my hold, I latched my legs around his barrel right at he did so. Something—probably the other kelpie—tittered.
You know why my kind hangs around this part of the ocean? it hissed. Because there are so many strong, tasty treats like yourself waiting for us.
The kelpie’s gait was different from a normal horse’s. Its tail made each stride more of a buck, but part of working for Nathan had meant breaking every horse he was too lazy to train himself.
My friends and I had ridden every horse on the property.
This is a shitty day for you then, I thought and raised the bridle to the kelpie’s mouth. Because I’m not just strong. I’m a goddamn cowboy.
Despite my heaving chest and my burning muscles, with one last heave of strength, I wrenched the bit into the kelpie’s mouth and pulled the bridle over its thrashing head. When I pulled back on the reins, I sent up a silent thanks to Freya that they held, and the kelpie slowed to a stop.
Where do you wish to go, traveler? the kelpie grumbled.
I steered the kelpie like I would any horse. With a light tug on the reins and a press from my legs, we raced to the surface. When we crested the water, I raised a hand and waved to my friends. I was too far from the shore to be recognized by any humans, but they would see me thanks to their supernatural vision. High on the victory of using my old skills and my magic together, my power instinctively enhanced my eyesight. I homed in on the dock. Freya smiled in relief, and Cady whooped.
Staring at Freya’s proud smile, for the first time, I believed we might actually accomplish our mission.
“Kelpie,” I said, “take me to the chimera.”
???
Freya
As we raced across the ocean, I prayed to the Goddess that we wouldn’t be too late to catch the chimera and tightened my grip around Cadence’s torso and Arion’s mane. Ryder held onto me with the same tightness, though he shifted anxiously on Arion’s back.
I focused my attention on the horizon but couldn’t help stealing glances at the cowboy who splashed across the ocean on the kelpie’s back. His grin stretched broadly across his face and, despite the danger we faced, I hadn’t seen him so happy in months. Pride swelled in my chest.
Ryder growled in my ear. “I smell smoke.”
I squinted at the horizon but couldn’t glean anything past the sunshine that reflected on the water. I cast my magical net out and sensed wild, familiar magic.
“Wolves,” I whispered.
Cadence’s soft voice was almost lost on the wind. “Really?”
“Foreign wolves,” Ryder gritted out.
As we neared the yacht, flames licked its bridge deck, and smoke billowed in the sky. Growls and screams and howls pierced the ocean’s gentle churning. Several figures came into view, all of whom headed toward the flames.
I glanced at Walker and found that he had sobered. Seawater splashed against his pale face.
“This has to be it, right?” Cady said. “Where the chimera is?”
“Only one way to find out,” I answered.
Arion nickered and charged faster toward the yacht.
“You stay next to me,” I told Cady.
She nodded mutely, and I squeezed her tighter.
“You’re a badass, remember?” I said.
“A badass witch,” she agreed, and I grinned.
As we reached the yacht, my smile faded. Arion charged right onto the bow and reared. Gravity shifted the yacht toward us, and partially shifted werewolves rolled our direction. Their mouths were filled with elongated teeth, and their eyes were bright with power. My companions and I slid off Arion’s back and faced the wolves as they crouched and sneered.
“Who the fuck are you?” the nearest wolf demanded.
His olive skin glimmered with malice, and the tattered remains of his white shirt stretched across his bulging muscles. A female wolf—dark-haired and slender—crept to his side and bared her teeth.
“We are here on behalf of the High Witch to apprehend the chimera,” I explained and stared down the male wolf.
He chuckled darkly. “Is that right?”
Wordless yelling caught my attention. As the kelpie whipped his tail in the air, Walker soared off the creature’s back and landed in a heap by my side. He groaned, and I stared at him incredulously.
“In my head,” he rasped and got to his feet. “I stuck the landing.”
“This is who the High Witch hires?” the female wolf mocked. “Good thing the Sovereign sent us.”
The wolves laughed at the shock blanching our faces. Ryder snarled and cursed.
The nearest male wolf’s jaw slackened. “You’re—”
“Alpha Kaidan’s son,” Ryder growled. “And you’re in my way.”
The dark-haired male wolf snarled, and his dark eyes blazed brighter with power. Wild magic pressed on my chest like a weight—Alpha power.
Ryder didn’t avert his gaze from the Alpha’s stare.
“You think this thing is a problem only for the witches?” the female wolf interrupted their dominance battle. “No. All the Leaders want it gone.”
“Where is it?” I asked. “Perhaps we can help each other.”
“And let you commandeer it?” the Alpha said and snarled. “Not a chance.”
Walker pulled the Sol Sword from his back, and lightning sprang to life across the blade. With a frenzied smile, Ryder extended his claws. Arion shifted into his saber-toothed tiger form, and Cadence summoned sand from deep within the ocean’s depths. It swelled on either side of the ship. The Alpha blinked.
I smiled. “May the best pack win, then.”
I launched a gust of wind at the flames, and they flared toward the wolves. Some of the wolves dove off the yacht to escape, but the others rolled toward us, right into my friends’ awaiting blades and claws.
As Ryder locked into battle with the Alpha, I blasted wolves off the yacht with gusts of wind. Some, however, were quicker than others and dodged my blows. I narrowly avoided a swipe of razor-sharp claws. I grabbed a dagger tucked into my boot and lost myself in combat with a hulking wolf. I barely glimpsed his angry face and short-shaved hair through the chaos.
In my periphery, Walker and Cadence fought behind me. Neither was making headway, and Ryder still battled the Alpha wolf. I finally got the upper hand on the wolf I faced and swiped my dagger through his hamstrings. With a scream, he fell to my feet. I spotted a smaller boat tied next to the yacht.
If we can get the chimera, there’s our escape.
Right as another wolf leaped for my throat, a high-pitched scream pierced the chaos. It was so helpless, instinct drove me to look for its source. My moment of distraction was almost fatal. The wolf I faced—a female with a wicked, toothy smile—swiped her claws through my midsection. I dodged the brunt of the blow and avoided losing any entrails, but pain stole my breath, and blood sprayed from the wound.
I hadn’t been trying to kill these wolves, considering we shared common goals.
They clearly did not share my reservations.
Infuriated, I let the female think I was distracted by pain. I bent over and clutched my tattered stomach. When she lunged for my throat, I sent a spear of fire at her chest. Cursing, she landed hard on her back. The burn wouldn’t kill her, but it lead to a painful recovery.
Anxious that another wolf hadn’t attacked me yet, I looked up and realized why. Clutched by two huge wolves was her— the woman who had led me into Madame LaLaurie’s mansion.
The chimera.
Standing in the sunshine, she was even more beautiful. Her dark skin glowed with inner light. Tears stained her face, but they did nothing to damper the loveliness of her full lips and dark eyes. Wearing a blood-stained blue dress and sandals, she thrashed against her attackers to no avail.
The slightest trace of magic—gentle as a lullaby—resonated from her, yet she didn’t whisper even the most basic spell. Compulsion pushed me to help her, and I found myself gliding forward to do just that.
The harsh squeak of her sandals sliding across the ship’s deck brought me back to reality.
Could she really be the chimera?
She tricked you into that mansion and almost got you and your friends killed, I reminded myself.
Though impossibly beautiful, the woman was not what she appeared.
As the wolves dragged her to their escape boat, a man wielding two blades leaped from the mast and blocked their path. Wrath blazed in his angular eyes and muscles bulged under his dark, tattered clothes. Magic coiled like a snake around him, yet his magic didn’t crackle like Walker’s.
“Dad,” the woman—the chimera—whispered.
The wolves descended upon the man, but he fought like it was an art and wielded his blades like paintbrushes. Though he parried, swiped, and struck, he was greatly outnumbered. I didn’t know him, yet I braced myself to watch such a brilliant warrior go down.
A sinister growl grabbed my attention. It wasn’t the warning yip of fighting wolves, but a command.
An Alpha command.
The wolves skittered to a stop, and even the chimera’s attention was stolen.
Her dark stare fixed on Ryder, who gazed at her with such wonder, I didn’t recognize the vulnerable expression on his face. He looked at the chimera as if she had hung the sun in the sky, and no one else mattered. It was a sacred sort of stare.
Primal magic stretched between them.
As Ryder spoke the one word that was going to be the end of us, dread like nothing I had ever faced reared its ugly head.
“Mate.”