Chapter 30 #2
I rubbed my temples, reminding myself not to shout and draw attention. Torin would find me.
As I scanned the woods around me, my lips parted as a soft gasp escaped me.
My dream realm had changed. The forest looked more magical.
The sky was crystal-clear and a vibrant shade of blue, unseen in the human realm.
The enchanted trees still stood tall and proud, but their leaves shimmered with iridescent hues that shifted with each breath of wind.
Behind the ancient-looking trees, I spotted a meadow of daisies, large and snowy. At their centers, tiny golden sparks flickered—the same light magic that engulfed my bracelet. The air felt cool yet filled with an electric energy beneath my skin.
The danger of entering my dream realm while Hayden could locate us here was real, but the chance to find the location of The Book of Thoradis made it all worthwhile.
I will complete my mother’s last wish. Her life goal has become my own.
Torin appeared behind an enchanted tree and stepped toward me but halted, staring at the bark. His fingers touched it and traced the carvings.
“You were right,” he said. “The fifth symbol has appeared.” Grinning, he strode up to me. “I’m one lucky man.”
When I walked up to him, he reached for my cheek and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear.
“It’s always been you, Torin,” I said, leaning into his touch.
A deep rumble came from his throat.
“I’m sorry you lost your mother when you just found her. If you can’t kill Hayden, I’ll do it,” Torin said. “I’ll do anything for you, Anna.”
I know.
His voice held so much conviction, and his fingers, still lingering on my face, trembled.
“He’ll pay for what he’s done,” I said and sighed. I let the ache in my heart fuel my resolve. “I won’t let him have the book.”
Torin’s hand slid down to my waist, and he pulled me hard toward his solid body, engulfing me in his warmth and earthy scent. He understood that it was all I needed right now.
The hollow feeling in my heart was similar to what I’d felt when I lost Lisa back in London.
I clenched my fists and pressed them against Torin’s muscular back.
I only had a few memories with Willa to hold on to.
I buried my head into Torin’s hard chest. I chose to be grateful, even for the limited time I had with her.
I drew in a deep breath and pulled away from him. He released me hesitantly but nodded.
“Thank you,” I said. “Let’s go. We have work to do.”
Facing the tree, I studied the complete pentagram etched into the bark, which had all five symbols matching those on my bracelet.
With trembling fingers, I pressed my hand against the intricately intertwined infinity symbols.
This has to work, or I’m out of options.
As soon as my skin made contact with the pentagram, a surge of warmth spread through my veins, filling me with a sense of connection to the tree, forest, and realm.
“By the Gods, now would be a great time for my witch magic to point me to the location of The Book of Thoradis,” I whispered, feeling silly talking to a tree.
My mother mentioned she had sensed the call of the book close to the werewolf kingdom.
I stared at the bark of the tree, but nothing happened.
I took a deep breath and willed my life force to create light magic. I placed both palms over the pentagram and focused.
Suddenly, the air around me shimmered, and the pentagram on the tree began to glow with a soft light. Slightly lifting my hands, I watched as the lines of the star symbol seemed to come to life, shifting and rearranging themselves.
The light moved between the bark of the tree and my palms. The light within my palms looked like a glowing orb with tiny specks inside, reminiscent of a snow globe with its delicate snowflakes dancing inside. As if sensing my intent, the orb opened, and the sparks merged into a small cloud.
Smiling, I opened my palms and released the miniature lights. Most of them scattered and clustered together in a distinct image of a structure. I leaned in closer.
"The library in LA near the werewolf kingdom," I murmured.
Torin tensed next to me. “Honestly, I only see a white cloud of nothing and air.”
My smile stretched broadly. "I’ve been to the library many times as a child, and I can’t be mistaken,” I said, still staring at the mesmerizing magic before me. “The image clearly shows the front of the old building, but the book can't just be sitting on one of the shelves."
I thought about my mother’s words about the book.
"According to the legend, the God, Thoradis, built a temple underground.”
"We'll need to follow your witch intuition once we're at the library to find the book's true location,” Torin said but seemed distracted, looking around the forest.
Torin suddenly growled, shoving me aside just as Hayden appeared from behind a tree, swinging his King’s sword with deadly precision. Torin barely managed to block the hit with the fairy Queen’s sword.
My breath caught in my throat. One moment I was frozen, paralyzed by seeing him, the next a wave of rage surged through me, making my hands tremble. With widening eyes, I watched as the magic orb dissolved and dispersed, tiny light dots flying into the sky. My muscles coiled, ready to spring.
Torin stepped forward to intercept Hayden, putting distance between me and the wicked fairy King. Hayden sneered as he swung his enchanted sword in the air with deadly precision.
Torin stumbled back, dodging the strike, and Hayden’s blade bit deep into the trunk of a nearby tree, sending splinters flying.
My breathing became ragged as Hayden pulled his sword out of the bark with ease. My heart pounded against my chest as the men fought. Adrenaline rushing through my body, I grasped the golden bracelet, which extended into my witch weapon immediately.
“You monster,” I shouted, cracking the whip above my head. “You’ll get what you deserve.”
I swung the whip, wrapping it around Hayden’s calves and yanking it hard. He fell on his back, his eyes widening.
“Torin, now.”
Torin pounced on Hayden with the fairy Queen’s sword, aiming at Hayden’s chest. He blocked it with his sword, but Hayden’s body quivered under Torin's pressure.
Suddenly, light tension formed around my shoulders, and then my body shook violently. The edges of my consciousness frayed, Robert’s urgent call pulling me back toward reality.
“No, not now,” I whispered.
Robert must have shaken me to wake me up. The dream realm shattered around me as I was violently yanked back into the human realm.
I opened my eyes, but the sensation disoriented and jarred me, leaving me gasping for breath as I fought to regain my bearings.
“Torin,” I said, turning my head to look at him.
Robert moved fast to his brother’s side, grabbing his shoulders and jolting Torin’s body hard.
His eyes were still closed, and a cold chill ran down my spine. I reached for his arm and pinched it hard. His eyes fluttered open, and after blinking repeatedly, his gaze focused on me.
“We missed our chance,” Torin said, propping himself on his elbows. His brows furrowed. “We’ll have another one since Hayden won’t give up easily.”