Chapter Fifty #2
My eyes danced around the three. “I am connected to the earth, sky, and sea. Selene and Hecate have said that from the beginning.” I looked down at the map.
“But these packs are too spread out for my power to reach them. So if you three help me.” I looked up hopefully.
“Allow my power to flow through you and your dominion, then possibly I can protect my kind from the humans conducting experiments on us.”
The three looked at each other and then back at me, but it was Gaia who pulled the men back to my side. “How are you going to gather the power to shield these packs?”
Pontus nodded. “I won’t feed your spell, but I will push it farther.”
I looked around the clearing. “This field is covered in death. The blood has soaked into the very ground. The sacrifice of our pack members filled this field. To protect our families, or friends and our kin. I’m going to use my power and their sacrifice to fuel the spell.
” I looked back to the gods. “Please help me save my people.” I bent down, placing my forehead on the ground, worshiping them as of old. “You are the only hope we have.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I pushed back up. Gaia leaned over and studied the map. “I will help you.”
Pontus’s finger trailed over the map and all the rivers that flowed through the land. “I will help you.”
Uranus stared at me for a second longer, searching my face for something, and then he nodded. “I will help you.” He leaned over. “But.” My eyes met his. “One of these days I might need a favor, and no matter what it is, you will have to agree.”
Pontus jumped to his feet. “Hey.” He looked at me. “That’s not fair.” He looked back at his mother. “I didn’t know we could ask for favors.”
I smiled. “If it is within my power, and it’s not downright evil, I would have done it anyway.” I pushed up, grabbing the map and handing it to my father. I turned back to the gods. “If any of you have need of me, I will agree as long as it follows those guidelines. Deal?”
Gaia smiled. “You don’t have to.”
I just smiled. “I know. Our line has worked with you for centuries., but this is extra.” She searched my face.
“Only if you are sure.” She clasped her hand in mine, and I felt the deal seal.
“I am.” I nodded once before she pulled me in and kissed my cheek.
“You have grown to be such a strong woman.” She hugged me to her chest. “I am so proud of you.” Her voice held some emotion I couldn’t place, but her words made me smile.
“Thank you for your guidance.” I pulled away, and she winked before she sank back down into the earth. The ground stopped moving, and it was like she was never there.
But her voice rang out. “Cast your spell and I will send it along the land to protect your kin.”
Pontus stepped in front of me with a grin. “My mother is more sentimental than I am, but you have become the strongest godling I have met in a long time. Stronger than even Hercules. Be proud.” He held out his hand.
I slid my hand against his cool wet palm. I jerked back, wiping the wetness on my pants, earning a laugh. “Ew.” I couldn’t stop the reaction.
But Pontus just laughed harder. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. It’s not every day we get to joke around with a mortal.”
Uranus rolled his eyes. “And every one of us is over his childish stunts.”
Pontus’ grin widened. “What can I say? The deep is lonely, so when I get to come up for air, I make the most of it.” He winked, and I felt my cheeks redden.
He leaned over and pecked my lips, making me jump back.
His laughter filled the air. “Cast your spell, wolf. I will spread it through my waters.” He turned away but before he left, he looked over his shoulder.
“And if your mate fails you in this life as well. I’m not against giving a wolf a shot.
” His fangs reflected the sunlight as Rowan growled, then his body dissolved through the ground in a splash of water.
I turned to Uranus. His storm-cloud eyes seemed to swirl with his power, but he just looked after his brother. “That’s a first.”
“What do you mean?” My question snapped him out of his stare.
“He’s never mated a human.” He looked at me. “Not even a godling.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just surprised he offered.” He coughed. “Are you sure about our agreement?”
I nodded. “As long as I can do it, and it’s not evil, I will agree to it.”
Rowan stepped next to me. “And as long as it doesn’t break our mate bond.” He added.
Uranus grinned. “Can’t add caveats now, wolf.” He held out his hand.
I looked at Rowan for a moment. I begged him with my eyes to understand. “Rowan.”
He looked at me with pain in his eyes. “I just got you…what if the favor is that you become his mate?”
Uranus looked surprised. “Oh…OH NO.” He stepped back. “Look, I am a god, not a monster. And I have a wife.” He looked away. “One I love very much.” He turned back to me. “Do we still have a deal?”
Rowan let out a sigh of relief and nodded. I smiled and slid my hand into his. “We do.”
Uranus pointed to the greyed-out bubble.
“You will have to be out in the open for the spell to work. This bubble doesn’t allow you to connect fully to me.
” He smiled as he stepped back. “Cast your spell, godling. Out in the open for all to see. I will whisk your spell to the other packs.” Then he stepped out of the bubble, and his body drifted away like smoke.
I puffed out my cheeks. “That was…”
“Insane.” Ronnie looked around. “I don’t know how you all are just okay that fucking gods keep showing up randomly now like this has always been normal.
” He paced a little. “I’ve prayed to the Moon Goddess more times than I can count.
But all of a sudden she comes and hangs out in our cells, and my niece is calling her by her first name. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.”
My dad snorted as he patted his best friend on his shoulder. “Times are weird, my friend.” He looked at his watch. “We have less than ten minutes before they hit our borders.”
Alpha. Someone called down the mind-link.
Maybell, what’s wrong? My father called back, staring at me.
I see a bunch of trucks flying down our road.
Where are you?
About a mile off our border. They are about nine miles out, driving at full running speed. They have what looks to me like a mine sweeper running point.
My dad sighed in relief. Monitor it, but stay hidden. He pointed at me. “We have to do this quickly. Once they breach our lands, hiding the pack will be impossible.”
I nodded. “Is there anything to say before we drop this?” I waved at the bubble.
No one said anything, but then my father grabbed me. “You are going to be vulnerable when you are doing this, I assume.” I nodded.
“You are probably right.” I looked around. “This is a huge spell.” I looked at the map. “I don’t know how much power it’s going to take, or how long it will take. The faster we get this started, the better.”
My dad nodded. “I was just thinking of the spy. The person is still on our lands, and you having to do the spell out in the open will pull them to you.” He looked around.
“We have to be on guard.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and I could see the exhaustion eating away at him.
“We have all been running on fumes since before the cave-in. I just need you all to be extra alert. Amy needs to finish the spell. Or else we are all screwed.”
One by one, everyone nodded. Once my father was sure everyone understood how serious he was, he dropped my hand. “Let’s go.”
The bubble dropped, and we all stepped out. My chest gave a tug, and I knew where it wanted me to go. I walked away from everyone in front of the pack house to the middle of the killing field.
The clearing’s grass, once tall, green and lush, now looked trampled. It held a rusty color that everyone knew was old blood. I heard the crackling of the fire behind me, and the sizzle of bodies being burned.
I let all the pain and revulsion I felt have its moment. Because I knew once I started the spell my entire concentration would be on my magic. My stomach rolled when the smell hit me, and that too got its moment.
I heard soft footsteps of people walking closer, but I closed myself off from everything happening around me. I needed to focus. I allowed my family to worry about everything else. I looked at my dad once more, and once he gave me his nod, I closed my eyes.
I shifted my feet into claws, so I could dig into the soft grass. Then, I wiggled my feet side to side until I was sunk down ankle deep into the earth. I knew I didn’t have to do it, but it just felt right.
Before I called out to the gods, I wanted to take a few seconds to connect to the ground under me.
I focused on the battle that was fought here, the lives that were lost, the blood spilled.
I drew in a breath, and as I did, I pulled all of that power to me.
The sacrifice of lives for protection, for family.
For love. I pulled all of it to me. The power that the goddesses gave me in the abyss was already overflowing from me, and with the power in the ground, I felt my entire body buzzing.
I took one cleansing breath, and then I started the spell.
“Isla fo int ye per ta na shado.” The familiar words fell from my lips, and I pictured the first shield I ever created.
The barrier protecting Carl’s grave glowed with a soft blue.
I focused on our pack lands first. “Yi ka dum.” The second part of the spell I used to expand it over the cabin.
The spell I created to protect my family.
Carly’s face sprang to my mind, and I smiled.
I was protecting not only my pup. My mate.
I was also protecting all the packs across North America, but a simple expansion wasn’t going to do what I needed.
“Orsha do ni ki por darla.” I felt my connection to the earth ripple, and I gasped when I felt the ground shift under me. It was waking up with my magic.