Chapter 32
JOSIE
Ididn’t know where I was going when I jumped in a cab, but I knew it was close to my family home, so I had him drive me there.
I’m coming, Phi. As fast as I can. Is Summer there?
She and Rune are redecorating the living room of her family home.
And Finn?
Your friends are freeing him from his cage.
The thought of Finn in a cage makes my blood rage inside my veins. At least he’s alive. That’s all that matters.
Even before the cabbie stops the car, I’m shoving money through the slot and opening my door. “Thank you.”
I jump out of the cab and race for the house four doors down with the frantic raven bouncing on the front lawn, cawing.
Please let them be okay. Please be okay.
My heart thunders in my chest, a mix of adrenaline and fear pushing me forward.
A sharp, searing pain slices through me—a psychic scream that tears at my insides. I gasp and fall to the grass, overwhelmed by a sensation of something precious shattering.
My hand clutches at my chest. The unity bond with Sebastian has fractured. I squeeze my eyes shut against the pain, the broken bond sending shards of sharp distress through my spirit.
I force my eyes open, staring up at the canopy of live oaks that line the familiar street. Their moss-covered branches sway gently in the breeze, and it’s a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.
Gritting my teeth, I push myself up. The ground seems to sway beneath me, but the urgency in Phi’s caws pulls me back to the moment.
I run again, driven by the dual forces of fear and determination. Taking the stairs to the porch two at a time, I burst through the front door.
The scene unfolds in chaotic flashes.
Lilian barrels past me, her face a mask of pain and urgency. Her shoulder slams into mine, knocking me sideways. I stumble into the wall and am about to give chase when I spot Sebastian.
He’s on his knees at the foot of the stairs, his head bowed and clutched in his hands. I forget Lilian and race to my surly mate. His pain pulls at me, despite the fractured bond.
“Sebastian. I’m here. What can I do?”
His head comes up, his scarlet gaze hollow and wild. Surging to his feet with startling speed, his hands grip my shoulders and slam me back against the wall. His eyes meet mine, and the Sebastian I know is gone.
“Sebastian, it’s me, Josie.” I fight to calm my voice despite the fear clawing at my insides. My hands come up to his face, trying to ground him. “Whatever Lilian did, you can overcome it. Come back to us.”
But he doesn’t recognize me, doesn’t even seem to hear me. His grip shifts from my arm to my neck, his fingers digging painfully into my throat. “I’ve waited twenty-five years to kill you, Celine. It’s going to be slow and painful.”
I struggle to break free from his hold, but his vampire strength is overpowering. “Sebastian,” I wheeze, my eyes watering. “I’m Josie. Your little witch.”
His face contorts in anguish and rage, caught in a war with himself that he seems to be losing. He straightens his arm, sliding me up the wall by my throat, while I kick and grab at his arms.
“Sebastian, please!” My voice is barely a whisper. The pressure in my head is incredible. It feels like my eyes are going to explode.
I’m going to die.
Phi. I need Rune. Help!
My raven squawks as she flies into the other room. The room swims as the lack of oxygen takes hold and spots darken my field of vision.
And then it’s all gone.
I drop to the floor as furniture smashes beside me, and I gasp for breath. Shards of wood and splinters fly through the air and I crawl in the opposite direction.
“Josie, oh, sweet goddess!” Elara’s voice comes to me through the haze of dizziness and I raise a hand to warn her of the danger.
One vampire out of control is dangerous.
Two is beyond lethal.
Elara grips my shoulders and makes me sit back on my heels. My throat must be a mess because when her assessing gaze drops to my neck she curses. “Merciful Mother. Here, close your eyes and breathe.”
The warmth of her magical healing takes hold and I do just that. It’s incredible how much we take breathing for granted.
Until we can’t.
The thundering chaos in the front room is incredible, the snarling between Rune and Sebastian deafening. Every instinct within me screams for me to intervene, to do something to stop them.
But they move like hurricanes and I don’t think I can even stand yet.
Nadine appears at the top of the stairs, supporting Finn as he reaches for the banister. He looks terrible. His skin is ashen and marred by welts and dried blood that make my stomach churn.
The sight of him so weak and hurt fuels a fresh wave of panic and anger in me.
“Help me up.”
Elara helps me to my feet, and I shuffle to meet him at the bottom of the stairs. I hug him for a brief but incredible moment and take strength that he’s alive and we have him back.
Behind us, the sounds of Rune and Sebastian’s battle grow even more intense. The thuds and crashes are punctuated by growls and the sharp, slicing noise of powers clashing.
I want to scream at them to stop, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Finn’s pale, pained face.
“I knew ye’d come, lass.” His hand reaches out, and I grasp it.
“Always,” I whisper back.
Elara and Nadine are at my side now, their faces drawn with worry. “We need to end this,” Elara says, her voice firm despite the chaos. “Before the entire house comes down on us.”
I take in the battle and yeah, if we leave it to them, one of them will meet their final death. “We need to put Sebastian into a deep sleep until we know what Lilian did to him. I’ll help Rune corner him. You two knock him out.”
Elara widens her eyes at me. “Are you sure?”
“It’s our best chance.” I move to step away, but before I do, I lean back and give Finn a quick kiss. “Sit down before you fall down.”
With that, I close the distance to Rune and Sebastian and call on the strength of my magic. After today’s conversation, I’m very clear with my intention. I need to immobilize Sebastian to keep him from hurting himself or others while Nadine and Elara knock him out.
“Rune. I’m all right,” I say, in a whispered hiss. “Don’t kill him, Viking. You love him, remember?”
With my call to Gaia taking hold, my strength is restored and I finally manage to corner Sebastian. When my immobilization spell takes hold, Rune soon realizes the fight is over.
“Just keep him in place, Viking. We’ve got this.”
Sebastian’s wild gaze darts between us, the remnants of his rage simmering beneath the surface. Elara and Nadine chant fervently, their hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as they focus their energies on a sleeping spell.
The room vibrates with the power of their magic, and then Sebastian’s legs buckle. His body hits the floor with a heavy thud, stirring a cloud of dust around him.
For a moment, everything is still.
And then Rune’s arms are around me and he’s crushing me in a hug. “I thought he was going to kill you. When Phi told me?—”
I cup the back of his head and nuzzle a kiss into his neck. “You saved me. I’m okay. Now we need to make sure Sebastian is okay.”
Rune eases off on the hug, his face etched with concern. “I hope I didn’t hurt him too much. My beast got the better of me.”
“That’s understandable. Come on. Let’s check on him.”
I’m used to seeing Sebastian as a pompous, arrogant force. He’s unstoppable and everyone around him knows it. Sure, it took Lilian and then the four of us to take him down, but down he is.
I kneel beside him and see the truth of what so few others see. He fights because it’s the only way he can hold the demons at bay. Pulling up my sleeve, I extend my wrist towards Rune.
The sharp tip of his fingernail pierces my skin easily, and a line of crimson beads to the surface. I wince slightly at the sting but hold my wrist over Sebastian’s pale lips.
For a terrifying second, nothing happens. Sebastian lies motionless, and I fear we might be too late, that the darkness consumed him entirely.
But then, almost imperceptibly, his lips part, and the faintest movement indicates he’s beginning to drink. The relief that washes over me is palpable, mixed with a deep-seated worry about what comes next.
As my blood flows into Sebastian, his swallows become more pronounced, his body responding to the life-giving essence. I watch, moved and concerned about what creating this connection will mean.
I am his Sun Witch—I understand that—but we have no idea what a ‘more powerful’ Sebastian will be capable of.
“Where’s Summer? Did she slither away?” Rune snaps.
“Lilian did. She practically bowled me over when I first got here.”
“Fucking cowards,” Rune says, jogging over to check on Finn. “They’ll pay for what they did to you, brother.”
“But that’s a problem for another day,” I say. “For now, I just want to gather my guys and go home.”
“Sounds good to me, lass,” Finn says.
“So, Josie,” Elara says. “How’d you do on the third trial? Are we looking at the new High Priestess of the New Orleans Sun Witches?”
Wow. I forgot about that already.
“Yes, you are. The elders are making the official announcement next week.”
“As if there was any doubt,” Nadine says.
“They better be expecting you to bring a few dates,” Rune says. “Because you know your mates love a good party.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. I’m aware.”