Chapter 63 #2
A wall of dirt flew into the air, then tightened into rocks that darted toward us.
Shadows dissolved the rock with a wave of Rafe’s hand.
The sky had been darkening slowly, but now…thunder rolled in the distance.
Fuck. If we could just get that storm closer…
Or maybe…I could bring the storm closer?
I focused on the feeling of static rolling down my arms. My fear for Skye. My anger toward River.
The flash happened so quickly, I barely registered it.
A bolt of lightning slammed into the ground, sparking dangerously and sending chunks of earth into the air. Thunder boomed so loudly, Skye screamed, covering her ears and rolling into a fetal position.
My stomach dropped, but then–
The fight was on.
My ears rang. Rain began to fall, drenching all of us except River. He began to catch the rain, sending large streams of water at Rafe and Wyatt.
My arms sizzled as the rain dropped on my heated skin, and I tried focusing on the static again. If I could get a bolt to hit either of them…
Between Wyatt and Rafe’s shadows, River had his hands full. The Crusader watched everything from behind River, occasionally turning to check on Skye, who was still curled up in a ball on the ground.
Fuck, Wyatt! Rafe cried. Catch faster!
Crusader’s attacking me, Wyatt groaned. I’m trying. The kid isn’t even attacking us full power.
I’m trying, Rafe said. Skye, darling, can you hear me? We need you.
Skye didn’t react, but now the Crusader was leaning down to speak to her.
“Don’t let him talk to her!” River screamed, waving his arms at me. “Aiden!”
I sucked in a breath, throwing my hand into the air and pulling down another streak of lightning.
The lightning slammed into the brick facade of the castle behind us, letting out another ear-shattering boom. Skye screamed again, and she began to move, crawling away from the Crusader.
I’m sorry, baby.
Another streak of lightning hit a tree.
Another boom of thunder made Skye scream.
Suddenly, River, Rafe, and Wyatt were tumbling to the ground. They fought with punches and kicks while the Crusader and I stared, and then…
And then the Crusader looked to me.
My arms sparked.
And then an unbearable pain split my skull.
I gasped, my hands flying to my temples as I stumbled.
My vision blurred…I couldn’t see anything at all.
The pain in my head was so…I was in agony.
Complete agony.
I’d never felt pain like this before. Even my mother’s torture hadn’t felt like this.
I smelled dirt, then realized I’d fallen.
I heard more screaming.
Wyatt shouted above me, trying to heal something.
Rain sizzled on my skin.
My vision came back suddenly, and I sucked in a breath.
The Crusader and Skye were staring each other down. Skye on her hands and knees in the mud, the Crusader looming above her.
Fuck. She must’ve stopped him.
Is that what River had just gone through?!
“I thought you’d come with me,” the Crusader said. “I thought I could persuade you.”
“Not if you hurt them,” Skye hissed. “Never if you hurt them.”
The Crusader sighed, looking up into the rain.
“They can’t come with us.”
“Fine. But don’t hurt them.”
“No, not fine!” Rafe shouted.
“I really didn’t want to have to do this,” the Crusader said. “Skye, dear. Hold them.”
Nothing happened for a moment.
And then Skye gasped, her body beginning to convulse before she threw out her hand. She sobbed, squeezing her eyes shut.
And we all froze.
Wyatt bellowed while Rafe’s shadows darted across his body, trying to free him.
I just…stared.
I couldn’t believe what was happening.
She was holding us?
Levi…Levi said the compulsion hadn’t worked on Skye’s mom. But it worked on Skye?!
“Incredible. You can hold all three of them at once?”
Skye dropped her head, hiding her tears as her shoulders shook.
“No, my dear. Don’t cry. I can’t stand it, you look just like your mother.” The Crusader shook his head. “I’ll let you keep one. Pick your favorite.”
“No,” Skye said shakily. “I don’t…I don’t have a favorite.”
“Are you sure? So what if I kill this one?” He stopped in front of Wyatt.
“I don’t want you to kill any of them,” Skye cried. “I want you to be…merciful.”
The Crusader spun around, staring at Skye with raised brows while my Link-mates and I all felt like gagging.
“Merciful,” he repeated.
“Yeah,” Skye whispered. “I’ll go with you. You don’t have to hurt them. I…I always knew I didn’t belong in the Chain. Levi always treated me so poorly–”
“That bastard,” the Crusader spat. “I should’ve known he would’ve blamed you for my mistakes. Where is he?”
Skye shrugged.
The Crusader turned back to us, and River shot Skye a desperate look behind him.
They…they were arguing. Mentally. River shook his head frantically, trying to crawl closer to her, but stopping, as if she were holding him, too.
“You really did do a fine job with this, River,” the Crusader said with a sigh. “She’s enamored with you.”
Nobody moved.
River looked like he wished he was dead.
Skye blinked at the Crusader, then blinked at River.
“What?” she whispered.