Chapter 12
MAX
“Poor little blood summoner.” The voice slithers into my ear, digging like claws so deep, my body locks from the pain. “Struck down by the barrier. Did you think you were that special?” She scoffs. “You are not of the inspired, the intellectual. You are not the one true ruler.”
Eyelashes fluttering, I groan, rolling onto my back. The sky above is no longer the lush forest of the Woodland territory or the red haze of the Shadowlands. It’s grey, like the kind of sky before a thunderstorm that threatens to drown everyone whole.
The area is open, full of grey rocks, dirt, and barren bushes that are more bundles of twigs than anything else. In the background is a pair of pillars, made of pearly stone, etched with deep grooves and lines. They’re cracked, from time or weather, and there is a hard pad beneath them.
Behind that is an old palace, falling down. Clearly no one is here to care for it. It’s overgrown with weeds, some vegetation taking over the windows.
Sitting up, I look at the shrouded body of the woman from before. Still covered in black, the crown drips red all over her chest and shoulders. Standing with her gloves hands clasped in front of her, the woman stares down at me.
Gone is the energy from our last interaction. She feels menacing now, full of unseen wrath that’s just waiting to take me down.
“I’m so happy to see you again.” My body doesn’t hurt—not how I expected it to. After being thrown through the forest, I assumed I’d have wounds.
But I feel normal. Tired, but whole.
“Who are you?” Her voice cracks. “Who do you hail from?”
I rub my eyes. “I’m not answering you.” Telling her who I am won’t help me.
I can’t see her face, but I know she’s glaring at me. “Who are you?”
“Who are you?” I counter. “A demon from the abyss?”
A shrill laugh cuts the air. “You’ll never save him,” she coos. “Poor little blood summoner. Full of hope and love.”
“I will save him,” I growl, standing. The world tilts and my head spins, but I refuse to stop looking at her. She’s not someone to keep at my back. “Who are you?”
“Love never saved anyone,” she whispers. “Love is weakness. Love is pain. Love is the reason for all of this.”
“No—”
“You’ll see. You’ll see when your love isn’t enough to save your beast. When he’d rather kill you than allow you to change him back. And I’ll still be here. And then, it’ll start again.”
Everything tilts further, and my stomach lurches. I fall into a boulder, clutching to its ridge to steady my feet. The world, full of whites, greys, and silvers spins together into a tight blurring vortex of light. My ears pop and without warning, I fall backwards as if shoved.
Deep into a black hole, I wave my arms, praying to cling to the wall for stability.
But it doesn’t happen. I just fall.
Bolting upright, strong hands hold me as I flail. The stench of sweat and the sweetness of blood assaults my nose before my vision clears.
Baris holds my arms, concern flashing in his dark eyes. Looking over his shoulder, I recognize the cottage. They must have brought me back when the barrier threw me.
At once, my body starts to ache and my ears rings. The world spins and I blink, choosing to stare at my father’s face, instead of the moving walls.
I’m going to vomit.
I open my mouth and Baris shoves a cup of water at me. “Drink. You took a hard charge.”
Charge. Energy. It knocked me clear across the field.
As I sip, there’s a howl at the door and both Fae, Mal and Reid, rush back inside. A makeshift door has been bolted to the stone, covering the only exit. The cottage rocks with a loud clang and I lower my head, the nose too sharp for my sensitive hearing.
Mal barricades the door with his shoulder as Reid comes to my side. “Great. You’re awake. How do you feel?”
“What’s happening?” My voice breaks, rough as if I’ve yelled. “What’s hitting the side?” It’s an incessant barrage, hard thumps that shake the roof. Dirt falls down, the hole growing bigger.
“Kaden.” Reid turns to the door, shoving a blade into the handle like another lock. “Apparently, he saw you go down and now he’s attacking the cottage to get to you. We’re lucky he hasn’t used his magic. The cottage would crumble.”
“He’s awfully fond of those claws,” Mal mutters. There are three large red marks on his back, blood seeping through his tunic. “And fangs.”
Reid shows me his forearm. Two large puncture wounds are seeping from behind his cuff. At my worried expression, he snorts. “This is nothing. You should see the time he stabbed me during lessons.”
“Pretty sure you were screwing around and missed your target,” Mal corrects. “Getting stabbed was completely your fault.”
“No one asked you, Mal.”
Baris shoves the cup to my mouth and makes me drink. “We should be figuring out a way to get out of here without the king killing us. He sees his mate is hurt and is trying to help. But he’ll only hinder us.”
“Or kill us,” Reid quips. “He thinks we’re keeping her away.”
Focusing on the bond in my chest, it still feels far away. It’s there, a tether between our souls, but Kaden isn’t here. It’s his beast.
“He’s not using his magic because he can’t,” I explain, standing. My legs tremble and Baris holds me. “Only Kaden has access to his magic, now that it’s tied to me. The beast is trying to get in not to help—he wants my blood.”
“Probably,” Baris agrees. “Your blood is potent. Full of magic. The beast craves it.” Those steely eyes glare at me. “Under no circumstances are you to do that. He will kill you.”
Understood.
The walls shake as Kaden throws himself to enter. More reeds fall and a few pots clamber to the ground. We hold our breath as the shelter groans and wails under the pressure.
“How do we get out?”
“We don’t,” Baris grunts. “I designed this for one entrance and exit. For security.”
“Well, now it’s a death trap, Baris.” Reid runs a hand through his hair. “I’m open to ideas.”
Licking my lips, I look down at my fingers.
When I encountered Kaden in the forest, I could control him.
It’s as if two beings are inside one body.
When Kaden is in control, my magic doesn’t work on my Heartbond.
When the beast rules, I can hear the call of his blood, the thumping of his heart in my ears.
Right now, it’s ravenous, seeking me out.
“I can handle him.”
The idea of hurting the only male I love twists my insides until I can’t breathe. But it’s not really him. And as I see the setting sun, I realize we’re out of time.
I have to use my magic against him and get back to the barrier. It’s the only way to save him.
Mal shakes his head. “You’re insane. He’ll kill you.”
“And last time I checked, you can’t hear his blood.” Reid shoves another blade into the door handle and they clash with every hit. “It wouldn’t work.”
“I can hear him, right now.” I allow the magic to rise, my fingers staining with the hissing of the power. It rolls like an angry wave, ready to consume. “I can hold him back. We have to get back to the barrier.”
“Maximillia,” my father warns, “you cannot go back there. It doesn’t work.”
It didn’t work. Brute force wasn’t the answer.
But something niggles at me, from my dream. The woman in black said I wasn’t special. Not enough to breach the shield, to access the flowers.
But she said something that stuck out. I wasn’t of the inspired. Inspired… like a muse.
“I have a plan,” I tell them all. “Just trust me.”
Reid sighs, looking to the swaying roof. “Why not? If you die, maybe Fee will let me take over the throne.”
Mal slaps the back of his neck in a way that makes me smile. It’s familiar and warm, and that’s why I’m doing this. For my family.
“Don’t get your measurements for your crown just yet.” Going to the door, I throw back my cloak, and let my hair run wild. “As soon as I tell you, open the door and step back. He’ll charge.”
Baris stands behind me, a physical wall to protect me should I fall. With Reid on one side, and Mal on the other, I steady my heartbeat and exhale. My magic surges forward, the dam broken and I blink, a red tear falling down my cheek.
With one nod, they open the door, and the rocking stops. From the entrance, with orange rays blinding me, Kaden stands still. His black eyes, full of wrath and hunger, scan me and he growls.
He leans forward, hulking mass so large he blocks the sun, and lurches toward me. I raise one hand then the other and focus on his heart.
It responds so easily, made for me. To be used by me, to be given to me. With sure fingers, I weave them high, and pull on his strings like he’s my puppet and I am his master.
His body jerks, his feet still. Those vicious claws dig into the dirt and I hold him still.
Baris whistles behind me. “Incredible.” I don’t think he’s seen me use my magic—at least not consciously. Instead, I focus, powering Kaden back, so he’s safely away.
I lead the males out onto the hill. Here, the birds don’t chirp and the insects rest. They wait to see what I’ll do.
Another red drop falls off my chin and I mouth, “I’m sorry,” before throwing Kaden through the forest. I don’t stop until he’s too far to reach and I pray to Enyo he’s alright.
Baris places a comforting hand on my shoulder and I sob, a broken sound that drowns out the call of my magic. My heart lays at my feet for using my mate in such a way. It’s wrong—dirty. I hate it.
“We need to go,” Mal calls, throwing his sword back to his belt. “If you want to try again before dark, we need to move now. There’s no telling how close Kaden is.”
Reid straps a bag to his back. At my red-rimmed eyes, his face falls and he swallows.
Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he tugs me close for a brief hug. “He’s tougher than he looks.”
I only nod. I know he is. But it still hurts.
I still miss him.
Together, we rush through the forest, tripping over roots as the sun sets. Within moments, the fiery blaze of Sola’s sun falls, and the world goes dark. Without torches, we can barely see in front of us—or rather, I can. The rest of the males have no trouble picking their way through.
Back at the barrier, I see the blackened path has grown. It seems every time someone tries, the dirt is singed and the forest is pushed further away. Effective.
Tossing my dagger down into the ground, Baris comes to my side. “How will you get through?”
“I won’t,” I reply, rubbing my nose. My hands come away smeared with blood. “Only someone inspired can.”
Baris meets my eyes, and the first smile I’ve seen from him, crinkles the corners of his eyes and he laughs. “Clever,” he murmurs under his breath. “Very clever. How did you figure it out?”
“A dream.” I shrug when his eyebrow raises. “I can’t describe it. But I was speaking to someone in my dream, and she said I wasn’t inspired enough to enter. And it just sounded weird. Then I remembered what you called Reid.”
“Muse,” he mutters.
“And what is another word for inspired?” Braiding my hair back, we both turn toward Reid. “Why do you call him, muse?”
Baris sighs. “It’s what Seti calls him. In my ear. I often wondered why. It seems he was helping us all along.”
Reid stops short as we stare. There’s a pause and he exhales loudly. “No.”
“Yes. You’re up, muse.” Pointing to the barrier, I smirk. “Show us what skills you’ve got up that sleeve.”