Chapter 19
Power hummed throughout my body, in tune with the heated blood pounding through my veins. My attention turned to the two women on top of Raffe, ready to eliminate them in the most efficient way possible.
“If you want him safe, make the apple explode.” Priestess Caroline stepped from the house. “Otherwise, you can’t help him.”
Fuck all that.
When I realized the real dilemma, I froze. They were on top of Raffe, so if I didn’t control my power, he could be injured. A lump formed in my throat as my power pulsed outward.
My wolf surged forward, wanting to join the battle to protect our mate, but I didn’t have time to shift.
Raffe tried to fight, fur sprouting on his arms, but Avalon stood over him and lifted her hands. The wind she created was holding him in place. This was a group attack.
These weren’t our friends. They had to be secretly working with the Veiled Circle.
The ground shook all over, my power funneling out. Something needed to happen, but we weren’t sure what. My focus turned to Priestess Caroline. If I killed her, the others might listen.
“If you make this apple explode, we’ll release Raffe. We don’t want to hurt him.” Priestess Caroline lowered the hand that had shot flames to her side while placing the apple in front of her face. “Just blow it up, and we’ll release him.”
Raffe’s panic flowed into me, constricting my chest painfully and increasing the strength of my power.
I … I can’t shift. The wind is preventing me from doing anything, he linked. Sky, go back to the house. Get away from here.
There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you. If he thought I would, he didn’t know me at all. I took a step toward Avalon and Faith, but Faith dug the blade into Raffe’s neck a little more.
“The closer you come, the harder I’ll press the edge into his neck,” Faith said in a strangled voice. “Don’t make me do it. We’re just trying to help you.”
Blood trickled down Raffe’s neck, the copper scent carrying on the breeze. My blood sang, and the ground quaked harder until the trees along the property swayed.
“Help me?” If they believed this was help, I’d hate to see what being malicious was like. “That’s my fated mate, the other half of my soul you’re threatening.” Branches fell from the trees, and my power felt like a riptide within me—all-consuming and with nowhere to go because everywhere it wanted to go would only harm my mate more.
Adam, get your ass down here and protect Skylar, Raffe commanded into the pack link. The coven has betrayed us. Keith, Josie, and Lucy, how far away are you? We need you here now.
“Listen, just concentrate on the apple before you kill us all.” Priestess Caroline lifted the apple higher like she thought it hadn’t been visible before. “Blow it up, and your mate is safe. That’s all you have to do.”
My power became unstable. A crack shot up through the siding of the priestess’s house, the foundation no longer able to absorb the shock.
It reminded me of when Slade and I had escaped from the underground bunker and I’d made the rock crumble down almost on top of us. My power hadn’t been as strong then as it was now. For some reason, I believed her. I just needed to blow up that damn apple. If that’s what it took to save my mate, I’d fucking do it.
Pushing away my frustration, I locked my gaze on the apple, refusing to even blink. I needed that apple to explode—now.
We’re leaving the store, about twenty minutes away, dammit, Keith replied, his frustration strong. I’ll run there if that’s what it takes.
A howl sounded from the woods, but it was far away. If something went wrong, they could slit Raffe’s throat in a second.
“If anyone interferes, he dies.” Priestess Caroline lifted a brow. “Which means you’d better hurry since they’ve already been summoned.”
My stomach gurgled, and the food I’d eaten inched its way up my throat. This was worse than I’d ever imagined, and I wished I’d never asked these coven members for help. When Raffe was free, I would make each of them pay, and if he died, I’d make sure their deaths were slow and painful. Don’t come after all. She’s threatening to kill him if you do.
What? Lucy asked, her surprise filtering through despite the lack of mate connection. This doesn’t make any sense.
Don’t listen to her, Raffe interjected. Come here and save her. I don’t care what happens to me as long as Sky is safe.
Shit. Out of the two of us, they’d listen to him as the alpha, which meant I had minutes to figure out how to control my power when I hadn’t been able to in the past twenty-two years of my life. Easy-peasy, I mocked myself internally.
No matter how hard I focused on the apple, nothing happened except for my power fritzing even more. Well, that and seeing two apples. My eyes burned, my jaw ached, and I could hear Adam panting as he raced toward us and the sound of a tree crashing not too far away.
He linked, I’m almost there. Sky, be ready to leave.
“Listen, you’re overthinking it.” Priestess Caroline took a step closer. “Picture in your mind what you want to happen. Don’t just lock on the object and visualize the end result in your mind. You don’t need to tap or pull or anything, not with the amount of power you yield. Your power always protects the ones you want it to because it feels your intention. You need to learn how to streamline it.”
The last thing I wanted to do was follow her advice, but my own efforts weren’t amounting to anything, and the wolves were nearly upon us. They’d be here in seconds, and I could still feel the turmoil raging through Raffe.
“You can end it.” Priestess Caroline nodded at the apple. “Just make it explode.” Her voice shook as our bodies lurched, the ground shaking and groaning from my wrath.
I blew out a breath and rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans. This was the most important test of my life, and I refused to fail.
I stared at the apple again, and against every instinct, I closed my eyes. I needed to block out the noise and chaos the best I could, which meant holding the image in my mind. I focused on the red color of the apple and the small green stem at the top. I imagined something barreling toward it and into the stem, settling right inside the core.
My power stopped swirling within me like normal and merged. I pictured the core exploding and the apple hitting Priestess Caroline in the face.
The collected energy shot out of my body like it had snapped and surged forward. Every ounce of my power left with it, and I heard the sound of something bursting.
My eyes flew open, and I froze. I blinked, making sure it wasn’t an illusion.
Holy shit. I’d done it.
“Let her mate go.” Priestess Caroline’s voice rang with authority despite the bits of apple falling from her hair.
Adam ran from the woods, and I spun toward Raffe and saw them let him go.
The edges of my vision darkened. My legs gave out as the fatigue that struck me whenever I exerted too much power slammed into me. I crumpled to the ground and heard Raffe growl, “What did you do to her?”
I wanted to tell him I was okay. That everything would be all right. But I couldn’t find the energy to link with him.
That was fine. Let him kill them all. They deserved it after what they’d done to us.
Sleep enveloped me.
“You knewthat was going to happen?” Lucy said from somewhere close by. “And you didn’t think to tell any of us?” Venom laced each word, making her tone lower than normal.
“Hey, I didn’t come up with the plan,” Fane replied frantically. “And I didn’t know you’d be this upset.”
I turned my head, my face pressed against a muscular chest that smelled of sandalwood and amber. Arms tightened around me, and my eyes cracked open to see Raffe’s face looking down into mine. The buzz of our bond eased me back toward calm.
Thank gods you’re okay, he linked and kissed my forehead. I was so worried that I couldn’t see straight and knew we needed to get you back here.
I moved my hand to touch his face, but I felt a slight tug. I glanced down to find another IV in my arm, and I followed the tubing to a bag of fluids. My chest warmed at both of their concern.
I don’t know how, but blowing up that apple zapped me like my power did before we completed our bond. It was like I’d used too much of my power and drained my entire being.
Lucy’s voice edged louder as she said, “Knowing that my cousin was going to be threatened and not informing us is participating in the act too.”
Wow. I’d heard her talk like this only once before, when Raffe had been hurt that I’d questioned him about pictures the Veiled Circle had shown me—pictures of him—right after I’d escaped. She’d put him in his place, telling him to think about it from my perspective and pointing out what a jerk he’d been when we’d met. That I hadn’t been in the wrong for my questions.
“This was my decision. No one else’s,” Priestess Caroline stated.
My body tensed as understanding sank in. She was here, and my brother had known what would happen and hadn’t warned anyone. I pulled out of Raffe’s embrace. We were back in the bedroom we’d slept in at my biological parents’ house. “That bitch needs to pay.” But as I put my feet on the floor to stand, I still felt tired. Dammit, I thought I’d gotten over this, but clearly, that had been wishful thinking.
“Easy.” Raffe moved to the edge of the bed next to me and placed an arm around my shoulders. He linked, I’m all for killing her and hurting him, but my biggest concern is you and your safety. When the rest of our pack got there, twenty coven members we hadn’t noticed because of their insane shenanigans stepped out and held them off. Between that and me trying to get you away from them, we all came back here. She showed up a few minutes ago, but I didn’t want you to wake up alone. When you passed out like that, it scared me.
The last time I’d gotten to that point was when the two of us had broken up, and I’d almost imploded at the tree line outside my campus apartment.
I shook my head, the room spinning ever so slightly. “It was the same thing. After I made the apple explode and saw them release you, I collapsed.” Even though it hadn’t been long since last time, with all the shit that had happened in such a short amount of time, it felt like months. The worst part was being unable to stay alert during a horrible situation.
“You threatened our alpha and alpha’s mate,” Keith snarled. “And you expect us to sit here and not punish you for what you did?”
Now that I had my bearings, I could tell they were in the living room, so not that far away. I untaped the needle in my arm and pulled it out, wanting to get in there and have my own say to the witch.
“Don’t you think, if there had been a better way, I would’ve done it?” Priestess Caroline bit back. “I do believe in the mantra ‘do no harm,’ unlike most of today’s coven members, so it sickened me to do what we did.”
I had a hard time believing that. She hadn’t flinched or appeared remorseful.
My power jolted, but that was the extent of it. I was still drained, which made my wolf inch forward in my chest. She wanted to be unleashed and get retribution.
Standing, I waited a moment, making sure I got my balance. Raffe mirrored my movements, hovering close. I could feel his worry and noticed the way his hand kept reaching for mine, but he finally relaxed it at his side.
My heart warmed, and I pushed my love and affection toward him. He understood that I needed to go in there looking as strong as possible, and that reconfirmed he was the man I’d always sensed inside of him. He just hadn’t figured out who he was going to become, and I loved watching us grow as a couple.
“That wasn’t your call to make,” Octavia’s voice rang out as I opened the door.
The pain etched in her words caused my stomach to sour. The only thing keeping me together was Raffe standing close behind me so I could feel his warmth on my back. The two of us walked down the hallway, and I lifted my head high as we entered the living room. I might have appeared tired, but I wanted to give the illusion of strength.
“Your actions threatened the very delicate relationship we have with our daughter.” Octavia stood in the middle of the room, right in front of Priestess Caroline, pointing a finger at the priestess’s face.
Priestess Caroline stood ramrod straight with an indifferent expression.
I wished I could get a read on others’ emotions when my power wasn’t at a high level. I’d love to sense exactly how the priestess was feeling.
Dru stepped behind his wife, placing his hands on her shoulders, and rasped, “We trusted you, and we told them they could too. Now we look like liars.”
Adam and Keith stood near the windows. Adam was looking out, likely searching for signs of threats, while Keith homed in on the threat inside.
Dave, still not back to full health, was sitting on the couch, and Josie towered in front of him, blocking him from the priestess’s view.
I brushed past Lucy, who stood a few feet behind my biological parents. She tore her gaze from Fane, who stood next to her and looked at me. Her face softened as she scanned me and linked, I’m glad you’re awake. We were worried.
“And she completed the task and is standing here.” Priestess Caroline gestured at me. “None of which would’ve happened if we hadn’t done what we did.”
I growled but held back my wolf. If I shifted, I wouldn’t be able to speak to her, and I needed her to hear every damn word. “If you’re expecting me to say thank you, then you’ll be waiting a long damn while. I won’t repeat why since everyone here already has pretty damn effectively. But let me be clear—if you so much as point anything at my mate again, I will fucking end you. The only reason I’m not is because you let him go like you promised, but this is where my kindness ends. It’s taking everything inside me not to kill you.”
Why? Let’s kill her sorry ass. Keith pouted. She’s old. This might be her way of asking us to kill her.
Raffe stepped to my side, his alpha magic pulsing off him. “She might have decided to grant you leniency, but I’m not sure myself.” His jaw twitched from how tightly he clenched his teeth. He then linked, As much as I want to kill her, she has a sizable coven, and they’ll retaliate if we do something to her.
“I didn’t do anything to her.” Priestess Caroline lifted her hands, palms facing her. “She got tired from having to control the power that was ravaging her and the earth. She was feral and had to use control. That’s what exhausted her. Not me.”
Unfortunately, that was exactly how I felt. Tired. “But why? I didn’t feel anything until I blew up the apple. My power didn’t change.”
“It didn’t, but you had to focus and rein it in. Your power is unruly—that’s what you’re used to. Now that you’re a supernatural and bound to a strong alpha, you can handle its strength. But making it obey and do your bidding takes a whole different skill set you haven’t mastered, which is why we had to do what we did. To get your power to ignite, we had to put something dear to you at risk and force you to accomplish the task. The stakes had to be the highest we could get. Otherwise, our help would have been on par with Supreme Priestess Olwyn and her minions. Worthless and futile.”
Her words were like a punch to the gut, but my anger from what they’d done to my mate still held on tightly. Unfortunately, I understood her point, but that didn’t mean I liked it. “My mate, family, and friends are off-limits. Even one threatening glance, and I don’t care how many coven members you have, I will fucking end you even if it takes me out with you.”
Raffe shook his head. “There is an easy way to solve this problem. You go back to your homes and don’t come near us. If you get too close, she won’t have to kill you. I will.” His eyes glowed, his wolf emerging and emphasizing his words. “You’re blessed that I’m not ending your life right now, but that’s only because I’m sure we’d be attacked if I did.”
“Whether you two like it or not, you need me.” She patted her chest, fire lighting her eyes, making them greener. “Because of my tactics, an arcane-born managed to control her power for the first time in history. She will need my help to streamline it and see what she’s capable of. Do you want to risk her life and Olwyn and the others finding you because you didn’t like my tactics? I thought wolf shifters prided themselves on their strength and resilience. Times must have changed since I’ve been around any.”
Raffe snarled, but I placed a hand on his arm. Not to control him but because he needed my comfort to remain calm. He and I were strongest when working together.
At my touch, his anger ebbed, and he breathed through gritted teeth.
Lucy, Keith, and Josie inched forward, circling the priestess, ready to attack.
“You may have a coven, but don’t underestimate us,” Lucy said and edged beside me. “Even if Fane was okay with your awful plan to hurt my cousin, the rest of us weren’t, and we’ll make sure nothing like that ever happens again.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Fane flinch.
Good. He deserved to feel shame. In fact, when this conversation was over, I’d have some choice words for him myself.
But right now, we needed to focus on the priestess. I linked with the rest of the pack, I hate to say this, but she’s right. She did get me under control, and I could use her help. Though it was less than ideal and I didn’t trust her, she’d kept her word and released him. Raffe wouldn’t be going with me the next time I trained with her.
You can’t be serious? Raffe’s head jerked in my direction. You want to train with her again?
Olwyn won’t stop hunting us, and what sort of life can we have together if we’re hiding all the time?
A long one, which is exactly what I want with you, he linked, allowing his frustration and anger to course into me.
Between the intensity of his anger and my own, I felt like I might implode but in a different way than before.
She has a point. If she keeps causing earthquakes, they will find us. Josie frowned. And if they do, it would be helpful if Skylar knew how to use her power effectively.
Raffe’s attention snapped to her.
We don’t have to decide now. Adam glanced at us. We can talk about it when Sky has rested and we’ve all calmed down. Then he spoke out loud. “If you aren’t threatening us, then why is your coven heading this way?”
“They’re making sure I’m okay. I took a risk by coming here, but I needed you all to see that I was sincere.” Priestess Caroline huffed.
“You need to leave.” Octavia pointed at the door. “We need time to calm down, and Skylar needs rest after this afternoon. If and when we’re ready to talk, I know how to get hold of you.”
The priestess’s pale eyes focused on me once more, and her mouth pressed into a firm line. “My coven has spent centuries studying ways to control arcane magic and learning why each arcane-born has a connection with a wolf shifter. We understand that your power is tied to the earth and its vibrations. The only thing missing is why you’re fated to a supernatural.
“Now it’s clear—it’s the only way you can survive. Your connection is the bridge between human and supernatural. We believe that, after the original arcane-born passed and created the supernatural, one of her descendants gets their power activated when the balance of the supernatural world is under threat—which means you still need us and our guidance. I vow to you that we will never harm someone you love again.”
Some of my hesitation vanished because I didn’t smell a lie, but even more, her promise felt magical … more than just words someone said to another.
Still, I wouldn’t agree without talking to Raffe, even if we had opposing views. He’d been the one with a dagger to his neck.
“You heard my wife,” Dru rasped. “Now get out, or a wolf shifter and arcane-born won’t be your biggest problem.”
Priestess Caroline kept her gaze on me until she nodded, finding whatever she had been searching for within me. She then walked confidently out the front door, leaving us in silence.
Now that the threat was gone, there was one person who needed to understand how things worked around here. He might be my blood, but that didn’t make him my family.
I pivoted, glaring at my brother, and snarled, “You.”