Page 70 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Her fractured sentences amped up Vaughn’s tension. She’d been so in control the last time he’d spoken to her, even when faced with the emotional upheaval of the kids.

Solomon closed his eyes and breathed as Teague had before him. “Yes. But this is different, more… potent. What is it?”

“I don’t know. We need Meshaq. This isn’t any magic I’ve dealt with before. Where the hell is he?”

“Here,” Meshaq said from the doorway.

“Did you recognize the magic from the house? The wards? Where the kids were?”

“No. But I have not dealt with as many wards as you might think. It felt like a combination of magic, much like if you and Henry were to combine forces the smell would be altered.”

“Regardless,” Vaughn interrupted, “I think they’re back at the house. It smells familiar.”

Meshaq opened his mouth to agree then snapped it shut again. He turned his head to the side before marching back out front. He paused only to put his hand on Ben’s shoulder.

“Your brother is calling me, little ones. We’re going to go get him.”

Vaughn and Zaire both ran forward with Teague and Solomon behind them.

“We’ll be back,” Vaughn said. “We’re going to bring them home.”

Meshaq opened another portal, and they all stepped through, emerging in the woods outside the old farmhouse. It looked even worse than it had just days before, haunting in its emptiness. Except it wasn’t empty. Henry and Sam were in there. Vaughn knew it to his very core.

A shiver of fear went down Vaughn’s spine and he tamped it down brutally. “How do we get them out?”

His features had begun to shift, his wolf demanding to be part of the action.

“The wards are here, but not as strong as before. She put them up in a hurry.”

Meshaq pressed against the ward, but Zaire put her hand on his arm and stopped him. “There is something else here. Use caution.”

Vaughn breathed, staring at the house. His gaze caught on a streak of red that dripped down against the mottled white paint. A broken window was just above it, and he knew that’s where they were.

“There,” Vaughn pointed.

As if conjured, Henry’s face appeared from the broken pane of glass. “She’s coming,” he whispered. But Vaughn heard him like he’d shouted.

Sam let out a roar and the sounds of crashing could be heard. “Do something,” Vaughn yelled.

Meshaq smashed through the ward and charged toward the house with Vaughn on his heels. He hit the back door with his shoulder and it burst open. Sam screamed in pain, and Vaughn bolted toward the sound. Meshaq roared at the man blocking their path, but the only sounds Vaughn could hear were from Sam and Henry.

Their heartbeats.

Their breaths.

He charged into the back room and found Sam blocking Mrs. Foote’s path to Henry. His boy huddled behind Sam, whimpering with fear, but Sam was fierce. Her hands sparked blue, pouring through him but Sam held her firm even as he yelled with each pulse of magic she shot through him.

Vaughn hit her at full speed, knocking her away from Sam and burying his claws in her throat as they fell. No more. He wasn’t letting her walk away a second time. He didn’t move until the light faded from her eyes, and then he moved quickly to Sam, who’d collapsed once she no longer had her hands on him.

Zaire knelt beside Sam, muttering incantations to ease his suffering. Vaughn went to Henry and pulled him close.

“You okay?”

Henry sobbed but nodded, flinging his arms around Vaughn’s waist and holding tight.

“Sam,” he cried.

“Come on. Let’s check on him.”