Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
The illusion wall of the City of Water surrounded me as I stood there, my heart heavy, threatening to shatter me.
The wall separating us from Hayden and his men was our only protection, but it was thinning, the illusion fading like the last dying embers of a fire. Everyone held their breaths, fearing the faeries would discover us at any moment.
I watched them through the translucent barrier, my resolve hardening like iron. Hayden had taken away my mother, and I hadn't even had time to know her deeply.
Scorching energy surged within me, hot, fierce, and uncontrollable. I took a step forward, intent on jumping out and fighting Hayden, but Torin grabbed me from behind, his fingers digging into my waist.
"Not now," he whispered urgently, his breath warm against my ear. "We're outnumbered. We don’t have a plan. We can’t endanger the fairy city."
I turned to him, my eyes blinking. "I'll kill him," I vowed, feeling the words vibrate through every fiber of my being like electricity coursing through my body.
Torin hesitated, his gaze searching mine for a long moment, before he finally nodded. "Then we'll find a way together," he said. "But not now."
His words, though they acknowledged my fury and desire for revenge, also reminded me of our current situation. We couldn't simply charge in without thinking, or we'd all be lost. I knew he was right, but that didn't lessen the pain that clawed at my chest.
I forced myself to step back from the wall. "But when the time comes, I won't hesitate."
Torin's hand slipped into mine, and as our fingers intertwined, sparks ignited our connection. Whatever bond was building between us grew stronger.
"I need to find The Book of Thoradis," I whispered. "And read the words for acquiring extra power. I will defeat Hayden and kill him, freeing everyone here and protecting everyone in the mortal realm from him."
"Then I'll come with you," Torin said, and I twisted my head to look at him.
His gaze never wavered from mine. Not so long ago, Torin stole a witch book from me, but now he promised to help me find a magic book.
In the depths of his eyes, I saw a reflection of my own courage and resolve. But the warmth there was something else entirely—the glow of love, the kind that didn't seek to control or possess but to support and uplift.
He didn't tell me not to go after Hayden or not to kill him. He didn't promise to protect me from the dangers ahead. Instead, he stood beside me, his presence a silent pledge of unwavering support.
Exactly what I needed now.
His grip on my hand was firm yet comforting, and I knew without a doubt that he believed in me. I didn't need a sweeping declaration of his love because I could feel it at that moment.
He loved me the best way he knew how, and that was enough for me.
I lifted onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his, letting the warmth of his kiss chase away my lingering fear and uncertainty.
As we broke apart, our eyes locked once more.
A sudden, searing pain shot through my hand, causing me to gasp and clutch at my wrist. I looked down, my eyes widening as they fell upon the source of the pain—my bracelet.
The fifth symbol had appeared—two eternity symbols, like the infinity math symbols, intertwined in an intricate pattern. It was beautiful. My resolve to kill Hayden must have triggered the completion of my identity.
Just as my mother had told me—it wasn’t about mating or marking a mate. It was a simple choice I’d made.
"Why eternity symbols, though?" I muttered under my breath, rubbing the spot where the pain was already fading away.
Torin was immortal, but even though I'd live with him for a long time because of my witch blood, I wouldn't be with him for eternity. Why exactly that symbol? All the other four symbols were right on point and easy to interpret.
I showed him my bracelet, tracing the new symbol with my finger. He studied it intently, his brow furrowing in thought.
"Perhaps it's an omen," he suggested. "You intend to gain the power from The Book of Thoradis to defeat Hayden and his men, but what about the immortality spell? Is the double eternity symbol telling you what you should do? That you should become immortal, just like me?"
Torin’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a faint curve of his lips, and I didn’t miss the subtle tension in his facial muscles. His eyes radiated his desire for me to stay by his side for eternity, but he was letting me make my choice.
My heart raced at the thought. Was that the path I was meant to take?
The completed pentagram now held all five symbols, the fifth for my fated mate. I was linked to Torin in the best way possible, not through a metaphysical, pre-destined bond but with my own feelings and love. He was my choice, and my choice alone had made the symbol appear.
"Let's focus on finding the book first," I said, taking a deep breath. “Once we have it, we can decide what to do next."
"Agreed," Torin replied, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
The moment Hayden and his men disappeared into the deep forest, the tension suffocating us all eased. Torin's touch offered strength and support as we turned away from the wall and headed toward the cozy cottage that served as our temporary sanctuary.
Seraphina told us to rest indoors while she waited for the remaining fairies to arrive. Niall hadn’t returned yet.
While walking to the cottage, the scent of damp earth and wood smoke filled my nostrils, grounding me in the present moment.
I gazed down at the completed pentagram on my bracelet, its intricate symbols seeming to pulse with the newfound power coursing through my veins.
I focused on that power, letting it surge through me like a stream of pure energy. A tingling sensation started in my fingertips, spreading outward like ripples on the surface of a pond.
The pentagram on my bracelet was complete, and the one carved on the tree in my dream realm must have five symbols, too. The thought of my dream realm made my mind whirl.
I had a feeling that my witch instincts had become stronger once my identity as a light witch fully formed. My mother had told me that once I was connected to my fated mate, all five symbols would appear, and I would be able to find The Book of Thoradis. I intended to fulfill her wish.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my dream world, and I knew I had to visit it.
As I pushed open the creaky door of the cottage, I glanced at Torin. His brother trailed behind, maintaining a distance but still close enough to follow.
"I've been thinking about the pentagram on the trees in my dream realm. I can't shake this feeling that it's where we'll find the answers we need to find the ancient book." I paused. “It’s where my witch power resides. My magic is the strongest there.”
The temperature inside the cottage was much lower, causing a cold chill to travel down my spine. I walked to the fireplace and willed the bracelet to ignite. Crouching, I touched the flaming bracelet to the logs, allowing them to catch fire.
I hesitated, letting my gaze sweep through the small space before settling on the flickering fire.
Torin stepped in front of the fireplace, sat down, and waved me over. Sitting next to him on the hard floor, I watched him with raised eyebrows. He gently pushed on my shoulders until both of us lay on the floor next to each other.
“We’re accessing your dream realm together, little witch wolf,” he said as a matter of fact. “You chose me, and I’m linked to you in a much stronger bond than the mate bond. Whatever our bond is, it goes beyond your mating with Hayden.”
I nodded. The dream realm was a place that existed between sleep and wakefulness, where our spirits could venture.
Torin and I had intertwined destinies. Since I’d fully accepted and connected to my fated mate, then he could now enter my dream realm.
But I wasn’t completely sure how that affected Hayden’s access to my dream realm.
Robert moved close to us and knelt next to me, a half smile tugging on his lips. What kind of inappropriate joke did he have for us now?
“But Hayden can potentially access your dream realm, too, Breanna. Technically, you still have two mates,” he said, and I sighed heavily.
“Your bond to my brother has evolved into something no one could have predicted.” He paused, his gaze darting between me and Torin.
“I’ll wake you when I detect your heart racing, but let’s hope it won’t come to that. ”
Hayden wouldn’t miss a chance to seek me out in my dream realm. My stomach churned.
I forced a smile at Robert. “That’s a good plan. Thank you.”
Robert lowered his hand toward my chest as if he would leave it there to keep track of my heartbeat, when Torin let out a low growl.
“Dare to touch her and prepare to die, brother,” Torin said and smiled at his brother, which was at odds with what he’d just said.
My smile broadened while Robert rolled his eyes, standing. He moved to Torin’s side and knelt, placing his hand over Torin’s chest.
“Happy now, Tor?” Robert said mockingly.
I sighed. I wasn’t blessed with a sibling, but if I lived to see another day, I would have at least two kids with Torin.
I sent one last glance at him. Torin had already closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell calmly.
Taking a deep breath, I shut my eyes and focused on the image of the rabbit hole. Like always, I sensed a pull from the depths of my soul, leading me to the magical woods in my dream world.
As I surrendered to the pull, a sense of weightlessness washed over me, and I let it carry me away, descending into the dark abyss.
The feeling of falling surrounded by darkness felt familiar and natural.
Landing on my feet, the first thing I could feel was Torin’s presence beside me, as if our very souls were bound together by a thread spun by the Fates.
I looked around, not finding Torin anywhere.
“Torin?”