Chapter 22
My stomach lunged into my throat, and my paws hit muddy ground. I’d dropped eight feet deep. When I looked up, earth crumbled on top of me, hitting my face.
More and more crashed down on me, my eyes burning from the grit.
Holy shit, I was getting buried alive.
Skylar, Raffe linked, his terror slicing through our fated-mate bond. He appeared at the top, his light-blue eyes glowing. Then more earth fell over me, and I couldn’t see a damn thing.
My power roared to life as bigger chunks fell on top of me and the sides crashed in on me, filling the air pockets all around me.
I pawed at the dirt, trying to break through as I gasped a breath of mostly dirt. I hacked, making it hard to continue to attempt to get out from the dirt.
Head spinning, I couldn’t decipher which way was up or down as the weight pressed against me from all directions.
My power radiated from me, wild and feral, but I couldn’t let it loose with the people I loved standing above me. I had to be careful, so I didn’t harm any of them.
I’m digging you out. Hold on, Raffe linked, but then a sudden, intense pain filtered through our bond.
My world tilted. Raffe was hurt, and I’d come too damn close to losing him once already. I couldn’t go through that again.
Lungs screaming, earth filling in the holes around me, I fought against pressure so intense that I couldn’t move an inch. The little bit of oxygen I’d taken escaped me, and my head felt as if it might implode at any second.
If I didn’t get out of here in the next few seconds, I’d die. Hysteria gripped me, and my head grew fuzzy.
Skylar, stay with me, Raffe linked, and though he was in my mind, it sounded as if he were miles away. You can fight this. I’m coming.
Raffe, I tried to reply, but it felt empty even in my own head.
Another shock of pain crashed through our bond, stirring me a little, but I wanted to go back to where the pain hadn’t been so intense moments before.
Move, Raffe, Keith linked. Or you’re going to die.
I’m not moving from this spot until I reach her, Raffe replied as more agony surged through our fated-mate bond, and it felt like he was being burned.
No. He was going to die because he was determined to save me. That wasn’t something I could accept.
Raffe, run, I replied, trying to break through the dirt again, but I couldn’t move a claw, the crushing weight debilitating.
His determination flared. Not without you.
Every inch of me hurt, and I couldn’t take in a breath with the surrounding weight. My power sang and pulsed near the top of my skin, waiting to be released, but I kept holding it back to protect everyone above me.
Then, realization slammed into me.
Who said I had to escape directly upward? I was letting panic dictate my thoughts.
My consciousness ebbed, and in a last-ditch effort, I imagined the earth breaking apart and bursting out around the wolves and the witch in the small clearing in front of the coven neighborhood where we’d fought the first few wolves. Then I imagined the earth underneath me pushing me out, so I landed on all four paws, ready to fight the coven members attacking my mate.
My power pulsed from me. The intensity grew, and just when I thought I couldn’t survive this any longer, my body moved.
At first, it was mere inches, but I edged upward, the dirt filtering away from my body. I sucked in a shaky breath. Dirt particles still lodged in my throat, making me hack again.
But I’d take it. At least I’d gotten a little air.
The pressure receded, and then I moved so fast that dirt bustled against my fur. I shook my head to get the dirt out of my eyes as the earth shook hard around me.
As my head cleared, I could feel Raffe’s agony and pure terror.
I’m coming up, I linked, needing him to back away. He had to save himself, or I’d wind up killing him myself. Get to safety.
Holy shit, is that you? Adam asked, sounding more like Keith than himself.
I didn’t know what he meant until my body broke through the ground and I soared several feet high, the earth rising underneath me.
Shaking my head, I ignored my aching eyes and took in the scene below me.
At least a hundred wolf shifters were scattered around the neighborhood, fighting Priestess Caroline’s coven. About forty wolves already lay dead at their feet, with twenty turning to run toward the house. To the left, ten enemy coven members were gathered, using the firs for protection. They were all women, except for a man whose fire magic poured from his palms toward my mate.
An older witch from Caroline’s coven stood next to my mate, water flowing from her hands, protecting Raffe as he frantically dug where I’d been. I could see blisters on his side where the warlock had burned away his fur.
White-hot rage soared into me as I leaped from the elevated earth and dropped ten feet to the ground. My paws stung on impact, with my injured one giving out slightly, but I pushed away the discomfort to focus on one goal.
Killing the bastard who’d hurt my mate.
Babe, I’m out. I’m fine, I linked to Raffe, needing to give him some peace as my power sang from me into the ground. I focused the vibrations into the hand of the warlock who was causing my fated mate such agony. A section of my power circled inside me and peeled off from the rest, which still funneled into the ground.
Then the power left me in a surge, and the warlock’s hands exploded, skin, bones, and blood hitting him and the two witches beside him.
His magic cut off, and his piercing scream filled the air.
“My hands!” he shouted. “My hands. They’re gone.”
Blood poured from his nubs, and he stumbled back, his face ashen.
The witches beside him paused their fight, and when Raffe spun to look at me, the young witch who’d buried me followed his gaze.
Thank gods. I thought I’d lost you, he replied, our connection lightening from his panic and worry.
The young witch’s eyes widened. “It’s her.”
The older silver-haired witch covered in the warlock’s blood gasped. “How is that possible? Neither Aldric nor Supreme Priestess Olwyn told us she could control an element.”
My stomach soured. The way she’d put the two names together made it clear they were working together.
Bile burned my throat as everything clicked into place. Aldric was part of the Veiled Circle. No wonder they were gaining strength and weren”t worried about overtaking the king.
The man kept screaming. He turned around and ran back to wherever he’d come from. I doubted he’d get far with the amount of blood he was losing, but that was what he got for attacking us unprovoked.
A familiar vibration tugged on my power, pulling me back to the moment just as a dark-gray wolf lunged at me.
I stumbled back, my body weak from the pressure I’d endured underground. I was weak physically, which meant I had to use my power. It was the only way I’d survive.
Skylar, watch out! Raffe linked, his fear once again tangible. Everyone, Sky is weak. Get to her and protect her.
They couldn’t do much for me now, but I wouldn’t dissuade them.
The wolf swiped my uninjured front paw out from under me and I tumbled over. My chest hit the ground just as the wolf lunged overhead. I visualized the vibration hitting the wolf in the chest as it went over me, and my body tensed for impact.
A yelp had me lifting my head. The wolf flew into a tree trunk eight feet away. His head hit the trunk with a sickening crack and he crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
My throat tightened. I hadn’t meant to do that.
The witch closest to me screamed and raised her hands. Water surged toward me, wetting my face and fur, but the pressure didn’t affect me. The water washed the grit from my face and eyes, making me more comfortable.
“Dear goddess,” the woman muttered, lowering her hands. “How is that possible?”
Great question, and one I’d like to understand myself, but it seemed no one understood what I was capable of since apparently, no other arcane-born had completed their bond with their fated mate.
“Then we’ll do the next best thing.” The other woman, with blood splattered on her face, lifted her hands.
A tornado appeared among Raffe, Lucy, and Keith, lifting them several feet off the ground.
I had to end her before they got too high.
“Maggy, have you lost your damn mind?” the middle-aged witch next to her gasped. “Did you see what she did to Tucker?”
“We attacked them—they won’t let us walk away,” the older woman rasped, her brown eyes turning as black as the sky.
I focused on her hands, but my power sputtered, hitting a high fizz at most. I’d drained myself at this unideal time.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself back onto my feet as growls, cries, and snarls rang in my ears and the stench of copper damn near made me gag. This was worse than any fight I’d ever been part of, and I suspected if we survived, a worse one would come next.
As I took a step, all four of my legs gave out, and I landed heavily on my stomach.
No. I had to fight her and save Raffe and the others.
Then I heard the sounds of animals, our saviors, rushing toward us. I had to do something to get Raffe and the others down.
I leaned my head back and howled, allowing my agony, fear, and anger to echo in my cry. I wanted the animals to know where to come. Then I snarled as I forced myself back onto my feet.
Refusing to fall, I charged forward, each step sending pain slicing through my entire body. With no time to waste, I hurried toward her.
The witch with water magic sprayed me, but I pushed through it.
“Maggy,” the older woman croaked, but it was too late.
My teeth sank into Maggy’s throat, and I jerked my head, ripping it out. I crashed onto the ground, my strength giving out.
When I heard Raffe, Lucy, and Keith hit the ground behind me, I linked, I need help.
I hated to pull them in my direction, but I couldn’t stand anymore.
On our way, Raffe replied, and I heard paws padding toward me.
The older witch removed a dagger from underneath her dress and stood over me, her eyes wild.
Raffe couldn’t get here in time. This had to be it. My luck had run out.
She swung her dagger downward.
No! Raffe yelled.
Something streaked across my vision and knocked into the woman’s hand.
“Argh,” she groaned as the dagger dropped to the ground.
Then, the same fluffy gray blob swooped down beside me, grabbed the dagger in its talons, flapped its wings, and darted into the sky.
An owl.
My chest heaved with relief as animals flooded the area. Bobcats, deer, raccoons, coyotes, and others that I could hear but couldn’t see.
“Priestess Diana, look,” the younger witch gasped. “Animals.”
More owls swooped down, attacking the witches.
“Get out of here while we can!” Priestess Diana shouted. “Only harm the animals to get free.”
“What about the girl and the prince?” a dark-haired witch rasped just as a bobcat came at her from one side and a coyote from the other. “Never mind. Let’s leave.”
The eight remaining witches spun and ran, the bobcat and the coyote racing after them. More animals headed their way as yelps and whimpers filled the air behind us where the wolves had been.
I gritted my teeth. I needed to get back to Priestess Caroline’s coven to ensure the animals didn’t attack them. As I stood, Raffe, Lucy, and Keith reached me.
Raffe limped from his burns, but he seemed unfazed as he nuzzled my neck. He linked, You weren’t supposed to leave my side.
Despite the chaos and agony, I laughed, sounding like I was choking. I didn’t mean to. You can’t get mad at me for that. The ground disappeared from underneath me.
I’ll be back, Keith linked, rushing after the witches.
Wait, I replied, but he vanished deeper into the woods. I turned to Raffe. He’s going to get hurt.
He must want to make sure they don’t loop around. He’ll let us know if he needs help. Raffe nodded toward the neighborhood. Let’s get you somewhere safe.
My power still fizzed from me, filtering into the ground. I wasn’t sure if I could still communicate with the animals, but I needed to make sure the ones I cared about were protected. The dark wolf that’s chasing after the witches, don’t hurt him, please. And don’t hurt the witches who live in this neighborhood. They’ve been protecting my pack and me.
The wolves that smell of you won’t be harmed, a weird voice responded, and I couldn’t quite put a face to it. And we know which witches protected you.
That would work.
Girl, you had us all freaked. Lucy’s eyes shone as the three of us headed back toward the neighborhood.
Raffe huffed. We aren’t out of danger yet.
He and Lucy flanked me as we moved back toward the neighborhood. The coven members were spread out again, and the wolves that had attacked us were either dead or running back the way they’d come from.
I sighed. It seemed inevitable that we would continue to be attacked until I was dead. Olwyn and Aldric were determined, and I wasn’t sure how we could defend ourselves with King Jovian’s right-hand man involved.
As we moved, I noted all the dead bodies on the ground. A few were from Priestess Caroline’s coven, making my body somehow feel heavier. All these deaths were because we’d hidden here.
My chest ached.
Each of them was dead because of me.
I hadn’t expected to be found, but I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Everywhere I went, people would die. I had to figure out how to survive without risking more people. Raffe, Keith, Adam, Lucy, Josie, and Dave would remain by my side, and I doubted that Octavia and Dru would want me to go, but they were human and had no powers, so putting them at risk was unacceptable.
As we walked to the coven, I expected to find scornful looks or something close to that, but each coven member stared toward the woods in awe.
I didn’t need to turn around to understand why. Wild animals protecting us was something I still struggled to understand myself.
Sky, Keith’s voice popped into my head. I need you. Fast.
My heart dropped. Had the animals mistaken Keith for the enemy?
Without hesitation, I turned and pushed myself in the direction he’d run.
Raffe stayed next to me and asked, What’s going on?
A bobcat won’t let me pass, Keith replied. I need Sky here and quickly.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, taking the edge off my pain.
I’m coming with you two, Adam linked and caught up to us on my other side.
The three of us pushed through the woods, Raffe taking the lead and using his alpha connection to lead us to Keith.
Then I heard the bobcat hiss just as I passed a thick tree.
The bobcat was crouched, ready to pounce, and Keith stood in front of it.
He’s with me, I connected with the light fizz of my power. I wasn’t sure how long I could hold on to the connection with the animals now that it was fading. I could only pray it wasn’t too late.
I’m not trying to hurt him, the bobcat replied. It’s what he’s protecting, but I will attack if he doesn’t get out of the way.
What? I stopped in my tracks … and then noticed what the bobcat meant.