Chapter 16 #2
Bayu remained beside Major, but his eyes never left Carleigh’s. That is until Major shifted to his skin. Carleigh averted her gaze since Major was naked. She pulled the blanket off the back of the sofa and tossed it in their direction. “Major can use that until we get him some clothes.”
Once he was covered, Major rolled to his back. “Holy Zeus, I feel like my insides are fried.”
“What did the mage do to Major?” Carleigh asked Belinda.
“Exactly what he said it feels like – fried his insides.”
Carleigh shook her head, disgusted. Dammit, Major needed help. She prayed the fighting ceased soon. “Why is the Black Lotus hellbent on gaining more power? What is your end goal?”
Belinda shrugged one shoulder. “What is anyone’s goal when they are the strongest?”
“Usually to step all over the little person with no regard to who gets hurt all for more money that isn’t used to help others.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. We do use the money to help others. Those of our kind who have to hide from society all because we’re different. Instead of fighting us, the shifters should be banding together with us. They have to hide even more than us mages do.”
“True, but the difference is we do good for humans and shifters alike.”
“Which is a shame because the humans don’t care for those of us who are different. Have you forgotten what they did to the witches all those years ago?”
The front door opened, and Julian strode inside. Elle and Tony were right behind him, and when Tony noticed Major on the floor, he rushed across the room. “Major?”
“Hey, Brother.” Major grunted. “I’m not… doing so good.”
Elle joined her mate and spread her hands out, hovering them over Major’s chest. “This is beyond my capabilities. We need to get him to the twins.”
“Rhoan!” Anthony hollered. “A little help here.”
Rhoan rushed inside. “What is it?”
“Jon is bringing the witches, but I don’t think Major has that much time,” Carleigh seethed. “Where’s Nekoma? He can open a portal.”
“So can I.” Rhoan crossed the room and stood behind Elle. “Nekoma has gone to retrieve the real Gemi. If someone would dispatch of the female mage, we will all go together.”
“Shouldn’t we keep her alive in case we need information?” Carleigh asked.
“I did not mean for someone to kill her. Erik, if you would?” Rhoan gestured to where Belinda sat, her eyes wide.
Erik voiced the female, instructing her to forget all about the Black Lotus and what happened at the safehouse, then to go forward with her life helping others. He directed her to the front door and called for a rideshare to take her west a couple of hundred miles.
“I need a location,” Rhoan stated.
Anthony rattled off his address, then looked at one of the cameras. “See if Connor is available, then call Jon and have him reverse course for my house. It’s a little farther than Carleigh’s, but I do not want Juni involved. If you haven’t already, call Tabby.”
Carleigh returned her weapon to her bracelet. When she reached for the sword her dad held, he shook his head. “Not yet. I will give it back once I know we are all safe.”
Turning to Bayu, Carleigh held out a hand.
When he took it, she pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest. As soon as possible, she would ask one of the fae to remove the glamour.
It was odd seeing someone else’s face on her mate.
When Rhoan raised his hands to open the portal, Carleigh noticed the same mark on his inner arm that Bayu had. “Bayu—”
“There are things we need to discuss.” Bayu kissed her hair, then stepped back so they could follow the others through the vortex.
As soon as they were all through, it snapped closed behind them.
Anthony carried Major into the house with Elle and Erik on his heels.
Julian handed the sword to Carleigh, and she returned it to her arm, then he followed the others inside.
Silas walked around the side of the house, his head on a swivel.
“Should we go with them?” Bayu asked.
“No. There’s nothing we can do for Major other than get in the way.” Carleigh turned to Thran. “Can you please undo the glamour?”
Thran waved a hand in front of Bayu, and he was once again her stunning mate. “That’s better, thank you. Why did Nekoma go alone to get Gemi? Shouldn’t someone have gone as backup?”
Rhoan ran a hand through his hair. “I offered to send Thran, but Nekoma wouldn’t hear of it since Thran is my guardian.”
Thran chuckled. “The prince not so subtly reminded Nekoma that he is a dragon. Fangs may have been involved to prove his point. I thought he was going to crap his pants. Instead of hanging around to argue, Nekoma disappeared through a portal. Besides, he’s the one who can call on the shadows, so he shouldn’t have any trouble. ”
“Does he know we’re all gathering here instead of my house? If not, I need to call Harlow or Juniper and tell them to expect company.”
“He does not since it was decided on after we saw the Gryphon in such bad shape.”
“Tabby is going to lose her mind,” Carleigh muttered. She knew if that had been Bayu, she would be distressed. She sent off a text to Harlow regarding Nekoma and Gemi, then asked, “While we wait on the twins to arrive, would you like to tell me how it is that you and the prince were here to help?”
“About that—” Bayu started, but Rhoan interrupted.
“Apologies, Bayu, but if you would allow me to explain?” Bayu gestured for him to proceed.
“It has recently come to my attention that I am also a Nuhuala. I have the same blessed mark that Bayu has, only it was barely visible until about four years ago. I noticed it getting more pronounced right after the battle with the dark fae. I didn’t think more on it until Brynna recognized the same mark on Bayu when he went to Sebastian Stone’s office.
She mentioned the likeness to Cassiopa who then came to Evyndral to inquire as to its meaning.
I always assumed it was just another mark of being a royal.
When I asked my parents, my father became irate, and my mother cried.
They wouldn’t tell me the meaning, so I called on the only being I could trust – my great-grandfather.
“King Mórdrake admitted that he has been the dragon Nuhuala for millennia, but instead of passing the mark to his son, he held onto it until an heir was born who he felt was worthy of the task. Since he gave the mark to me, he also bypassed my father. When I asked him why me, he was vague in his answer other than saying that things are changing.”
“What things?” Carleigh asked.
“Queen Zarina opening the portal to Earth caused a rift between the realms. When she sent Cassiopa and Yaricelan through to keep them safe, it sent out a beacon of sorts, and the Black Lotus felt it. They have been searching everywhere these last few years for whatever was strong enough to cause such a magical disturbance.”
“But that happened in Norway. How were they able to locate Bayu’s father on Anjailang Island?”
Rhoan gazed off into the distance. “Because there is a traitor among the Nuhualas.”