That’s really starting to annoy me now. If they don’t teach that language in the first year then I’m finding a book, I cannot gothat long not understanding what is being said. She starts drawing a symbol in the air and on the third pass it starts to glow a pale blue, as soon as it glows she says one final word and it rushes forward dissipating against the plinth directly in front of us. When it touches the plinth it seems to ripple against a dome like structure that was previously invisible in the dying light of the day and reminds me of the protections around the school when we first entered.
We follow her again as she steps through a spilt that forms in the shield, the edges glowing the same blue as the symbol the Director drew. Once again the massive empty space that could be seen from outside of the towering stone plinths is actually not as empty as it first appeared. Which I’m starting to understand is due to magic and if someone who wasn’t supposed to be here did get through one circle they can’t see into the next one, protecting it.
Inside of it there is a large circle of footstool sized shiny black boulders with the same symbols that were carved into the plinths on them but this time the symbols are in gold. The ground inside the plinths is just a blanket of moss and bounces back as we are led to the edge of the boulders.
“Now, Erin and the team need to stand outside of the stone boulders and halfway between them and the plinths. All of you spaced evenly apart. It is very important that no matter what happens you do not step foot inside of the black boulders.” The Director instructs ominously and we share a look filled with trepidation.
“It will be fine Sage. Don’t worry.” Erin reassures me smiling softly.
“Nicole and her Bonded should be here any minute.” The Director states clearly ignoring our conversation.
In a flash of pale green light four figures appear inside the black stone circle. A woman with pin straight auburn hair dressed in black cargo pants and a black fitted t-shirt. Perfect for combat. The men fan out behind her protectively two of them clearly brothers with their mocha coloured skin and similar facial features. The last man is the polar opposite with his long white blonde hair and fine features that remind me of the fae that I saw on the battle field in my vision with the swords. It’s obvious to me that they are part of a Soulmate Bonded group, there’s a sense of happiness and peace about them even though they each wear tense expressions.
Nicole glances around worriedly until her eyes land on me and fill with warmth. She walks towards me a smile gracing her beautiful features.
“Sage, it’s so good to see you!” She says warmly as soon as she’s in hearing distance of me. “I don’t know if you remember me. We used to spend a lot of time at your parents’ house.” She grins and I get a vague ping of familiarity but that’s it. No flash of memory that I was I getting when I saw my dad’s for the first time.
“Alright Nicole we don’t have enough time for this.” The Director starts to gripe, her nose in the air as a look of disdain crosses her features.
“Oh pipe down Annie there’s plenty of time for us to have a short catch up conversation before we start the ritual.” Nicole says firmly, placing a slender but strong arm around my shoulders and turning us both towards the circle.
“Stay outside the circle Annie,” Nicole warns without looking behind us and I hear the Director start to protest before clearly thinking better of it and standing back. Although as if she’s deliberately trying to be defiant and keep some sort of control over the situation she makes sure to stand closer to the circle than Erin and her team are but still outside of the black stone boulders.
Nicole obviously holds some weight here and I’m guessing that it’s because of the fact that she’s a Centre and more powerful than the Director. Either way, the way she deals with Director and her pendulum like mood swings instantly makes me like her.
She leads me inside the circle and as I cross in between two of the black boulders a strong buzz of magic caress my skin and settle’s deep in my soul. My magic pushes against the barrier and I almost buckle from the force of it but Nicole keeps a steadying arm around me.
“It’s ok Sage. You’re magic has just had enough of being contained and it wants out. That’s ok though, we’ll set it free soon.” She reassures me.
She turns to face the guys who are stood tensely right at the very edge of the circle, Levi’s so tense that his eyes aren’t even flickering between red and green they’re pure red, his fangs descended and claws elongated clenching at his side and causing his palms to bleed as they pierce them. Not that he seems to notice.
Whilst the others look just as tense, Kai stands out as his eyes glow with literal flames flickering a mixture of orange and red with a bright blue ring around the iris. They are absolutely stunningly beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Like Levi he seems to grow in height as his supernatural side clearly tries to break free.
I can’t help but stare, truly transfixed and ridiculously excited to see what kind of supernatural Kai is.
“You boys can step inside, we need you all within the protections of thedicit lapidibus.”We look at her confused and she translates it for us with a smile, “We need you within the safety of the stones.”
As soon as she finishes her sentence Levi and Kai move so freaking fast they blur as they box me in. Kai at my back and Levi at my front. Kai’s hands land on my hips as Levi’s hands gently grip my face. Hunter, Jax and Maverick all surround us their gaze fixed on me intently.
“Are you ok, Beautiful?” Kai growls.
“I’m fine, my magic wants out.” I explain and it pushes against the barrier holding it back in response.
“Oh my. It is strong. Come now, let’s get this done. Everyone will be more comfortable that way!” Nicole interrupts us quietly.
My men reluctantly take a step back from me and turn towards her,awaiting her next instruction as she turns to study them.
“I didn’t realise that you would have so many Bonded so we won’t need mine to take up positions at the boulders which is a definite plus.” She explains and her men all move further away from the edge of the circle each of them giving me encouraging smiles. “Now I need you boys to spread out, one by each boulder but not too close to the edge of the circle, about a metre away should be perfect, well done.” She turns to me, “I need you right in the middle on the slightly raised black stone circle,” She says pointing to slab of rock that I hadn’t even noticed.
I step over to it and nervously step on. She brushes past me so closely that her shoulder touches mine.
“As soon as your gifts are unbound Sage, you and your men need to leave. It is not safe for you here!” She warns barely above a whisper and giving me no chance to reply as she quickly walks past me.
Her warning leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth and my heart beating with anxiety. I knew something wasn’t right here but I refuse to leave without getting more information from her about why it is so unsafe.
I take a deep breath, one thing at a time.
I turn my focus back to Nicole watching as she goes over to a tall lectern similar to what you would normally find in a church but made out of the same material as the surrounding boulders and decorated in even more gold symbols. Atop the lectern is a large leather bound book, already open. The edges of the pages yellowed with age. As the wind turns into a drizzle and the night darkens further I watch as the pages don’t so much as rustle and no drops of rain appear on the pages.
