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My mother.
“There you are, darling,” Avalon cooed. “You know how much I detest waiting, but once your mates showed up, I knew you weren’t far behind.”
“Where’s my father?” I demanded. My fists clenched, my nails biting into my palms. I needed to see him again with my own eyes to make sure he was still alive.
“Really, Lorn? You know how this works. If you want to see him, you’ll need to surrender. Your mates can go free, for all I care, but you’re coming with me.”
“You’re just as delusional as always.” I plastered on a saccharine smile. “It’s good to know that things never change. It will lessen the guilt of killing you.”
“You and I both know you won’t do that. Your father’s life depends on me.”
She was right. Avalon was the master of the shade who possessed my father. She needed to live in order to keep him alive. For the time being, she was untouchable. And I hated it.
“I’ve only come for one reason, and that was to retrieve you.” She glared down her nose at me, and for the first time, the weight of her judgment had zero effect. “If you won’t come willingly, I’m going to have to force you.”
“I’d like to see you try,” I taunted. Avalon was a powerful witch, but I was powerful in my own right. Maybe if I could take her hostage, I’d have a better chance at learning what Elan’s plans were. And how to free my father.
Avalon lifted her wand and fired. I dodged the blast, waving my hand and sending one right back. Over and over again, we exchanged magick, neither of us besting the other until I tried something different. We danced among the carnage of blood and bodies, and I let her aim a bolt of magick without fighting back. It flew toward me with precision, and when it was halfway there, I leveled my magick at its center. Power streamed from Avalon’s wand and my hand to clash together with thunderous intensity.
Elan may not have ordered her to kill me, but I saw the gleam of revenge in her eyes. Her hatred burned as bright as her magick.
The ground rumbled with the arrival of more shades, and I had to catch my balance. That moment of distraction was enough for Avalon to knock me back, and I fell to the ground hard as her zap of magick cut deep into my side. I pressed a hand against my side, my blood bubbling around my fingers.
Laughing gayly, she strode forward, her black dress floating along the ground with some enchantment she’d used. Her red lips curled into an evil grin.
“I think Elan will realize that he never needed you to fulfill his plans. I’m sure he’ll forgive me if you accidentally die today.” She threatened, and lethal red magick sparked from the end of her wand.
I scrambled back as a dry laugh contradicted her. “You think my father is the forgiving type? Think again.” Tye strode toward her casually, which only added to the crazy vibe he had right now. “And there’s one piece of information you miscalculated.”
Avalon growled, and I used her distraction to pour healing into my wound to stop the bleeding.
“You were always worthless to him. A mere puppet on a string.” Tye formed a concentrated blade of magick and stabbed Avalon with the beam, impaling her stomach and making her inhale a sharp, pained gasp.
“No!” I screamed, and scrambled to her as she fell to the ground.
It’s okay, Lorn. She’s not responsible for keeping your dad alive. My father is. He’s the original possessor.Tye faltered for a second.Unless you’re upset she’s dying.
My heart needed a second to calm down.I don’t want anyone to die, but if someone deserves it, it's her. Look around at the lives we’ve lost all because of the reckless, hateful actions of a few. If my father is safe, let her die.
Avalon gurgled on the ground, blood welling from her mouth. Shades surrounded us everywhere, but the guys fought them off, keeping them away from us with the help of the wolves.
Squatting down near Avalon, I grabbed her wand from her weak hands and broke it in half, rendering it useless. “You know what’s sad?” I asked. “You’ll die never knowing what it was like to love and be loved. If you’d just cared about me, we could have been like mother and daughter. Instead, you had to lie, manipulate, and betray, and even then, you never gained what you so desperately wanted. Your own family. That’s the difference between you and me. We always wanted the same thing, but in the end, you can’t get love if you have none to give.”
Life bled from Avalon’s wide eyes, and I turned and left her behind as I faced the battle. The emotions inside of me, coupled with the growing darkness, were overwhelming. Everywhere I looked, people were hurt, dying, or dead. My mates were injured as they fought, and it wasn’t enough. Power pulsed down my arms and legs, and as the first tear fell, my magick exploded. The purple of my signature color was nearly overcome with onyx. I threw my head back on a scream, and my hands flew from my sides to curl as magick whipped from me like a destructive tornado. One by one, it swept up the shades and pulled them through my chest into the veil.
And I dropped.
The ashy sand cushioned my fall, and I straightened, standing in the veil. The blood red sky was vibrant, the crescent moon high. Shades roared as they materialized. Their smoky ether circled me, trying to lash out. They were agitated that I sent them back to their own realm. Again.
Before me stood the Shadow Realm. The gates hung off their hinges, angling toward the ground. Spires on the fence posts were broken or missing. And the shimmering ward flickered like an old neon sign.
My magick was a live wire of strength inside of me, and I reached for it now. I pushed it out from me in a tsunami like wave that sent the shadowed beings careening through the ward to their rightful realm.
No matter how many times we did this, I vowed to always win. I’d protect the mortal realm with my life. And I had something of my own to fight for. A life with the men I loved. Together, we created the family I’d always wanted. They gave me a place to belong, and I wouldn't let anyone take that from me.
Though I still had two more men I needed to claim, my connections to my mates were strong. I latched onto them and held them close as I pulled myself out of the veil and into my unconscious body, returning to them like I promised I always would.
Chapter Sixteen
