Rowan was nodding enthusiastically, the most excited I had ever seen her.
This was a good thing. It was the first positive news we had received in a while. “Okay … how do we test it? Make sure I can do it every time?”
Violet grinned, letting out a little peal of laughter. “We fling a crapload of spells at you and see if you can break them all.”
Chapter Five
Deer me. When darkness calls, don’t answer.
That night I crawled into bed, utterly spent. Violet and Rowan had spent the rest of the day testing my spell-breaking abilities, and despite a few mishaps I managed to shatter every single spell they sent my way. Eventually though, I was starving, exhausted, and my energy was too drained for any more. Rowan had promised we’d pick up again tomorrow morning.
Kade wasn’t back yet, but Finn was. He crawled up on the bed next to me, like we used to, snuggling his warmth into my side. I’m so glad you’re here, I murmured, tiredness catching up with me. I’m turning into one of those shifters who can’t sleep alone anymore.
Finn’s deep chuckle was nice, allowing more of the dark clouds of sleep to pull me under. You’ve never liked to sleep on your own, but you do like to have your own space in the bed.
So true. I used to enjoy sleeping on my stomach, spreading right out so all my limbs were nicely stretched. Now Kade tended to wrap me up, and even though I had thought I would hate that … I didn’t. Being molded to him was much better than free space.
I have not heard of a spell breaker in many years. Finn had been following my progress today, same as I followed his through the streets of New York. A strong magic born, or witch, can use a counter spell to break other spells, but that is not what you are doing. You don’t have to be stronger, more powerful, able to think up a spell to counter another, you are simply breaking the mecca energy, breaking the bonds … almost like you’re controlling the mecca. It’s incredible.
I was silent for a bit, staring up at the dark roof, before I let out a deep breath of weariness. I will take any advantage I can get at this stage, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with all the gifts I am receiving. Feels almost like too much.
Finn nuzzled me again. Don’t question what is. You are unique in this world. Unique beings are often blessed with powers no other has.
I smiled, drifting off to the soothing and familiar rumble of Finn’s chest. The comfort of sleep was exactly what I needed. Darkness took me, and for a while I had no concept of time or space as I drifted, until a tendril of energy caught my attention. It was shadowy, but somehow also sparkling, like moonlight washing across a midnight sky. Its beauty was stunning, the pull it had on me complete, and I didn’t hesitate to reach for it.
The moment I touched it, my fae side responded. Although depleted from all my spell work and training, there was enough left within me to rise up and intertwine with the dark tendril. A jerk around my energy caused a flicker of unease to sprout, and I was just wondering if I’d made a mistake when I was swept through time and space.
This was reminiscent of my dream-walking with Violet, except it was heavier, murkier, and I felt completely out of control. Suddenly my bare feet slammed down hard onto an icy, frozen-over lake. I could feel the cold and I found myself asking the question … was this actually a dream?
I spun in a full circle, trying to take in my surroundings. I had no idea how these dream worlds could feel so real. It was almost like a physical part of myself was standing there, able to interact with this place. It was quite dark, an eerie kind of twilight. I stood in the middle of a frozen lake, unable to see much outside of the small space I occupied; the air held an icy chill that was causing sharp pains and a numbing sensation to all exposed skin. It was the sort of weather that would kill a human in minutes if they didn’t have adequate protection. As a shifter, I would have a little longer.
But not much.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity. Not the lake. I knew I hadn’t been here, but this world’s energy. It felt like … the Otherworld. A strong and bitter version, like the energy had gone a little sour in the time since I was here last.
I focused on the few dying trees I could make out along the lake’s edge, and I was about to start walking toward them when I heard a deep rumble of laughter behind me. I had no weapons, not even a pair of boots as I was dressed in my pajamas. I was definitely at a disadvantage.
Turning slowly, I came face to face with a tall fae. I recoiled as waves of inky power swirled in arcs around him, shrouding his face and body so I could not see him clearly. I knew who he was, though. There was no other being it could be. The Dark Fae Lord. Something inside of me, deep in my soul, could feel the true evil energy this fae wielded. It was strong and elemental like the mecca, but also … not. Like the energy of this land, it felt bitter and sour.
He took another step toward me and some of the fogginess of his features disappeared. As his face came into sight, I was surprised by how handsome he was. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but definitely not the broad shoulders and shoulder-length blond hair he was sporting. His features were sharp and defined, dark eyes shrewdly watching me.
The only thing, outside of the darkness he wore like a cloak — that indicated he was not a regular fae — was a set of deer antlers coming from each side of his head. The tips of them looked like they had been dipped in a black oily substance, which matched the fae’s eyes. No white showed at all, just pure and eerie blackness. In his hand was a long staff; at its tip sat a black, multi-faceted crystal, which I could now see powered that swirling dark energy that surrounded him. Well, it looked like the dark fae definitely had one of the crystals. Shit.
“What do you want?”
I cut right to it. Because I was pretty sure my feet would end up frostbitten if I stood here much longer. I would have to shift to my wolf soon and run if he didn’t let me go.
“Arianna...” He drawled my name in a low, seductive purr. It immediately set every nerve in my body on edge, and I fought against my dual instincts to attack or run. The fae opened his arms wide and walked closer to me, looking my body up and down with a gaze that would have gotten him an ass kicking if Kade had been here. No way would the bear have been able to control his temper.
The Dark Fae Lord showed no signs of stopping. He was getting far too close for comfort, so I reached for my energy. Thankfully it responded, even though we were in a dream world.
I hoped it was a dream world anyway.
Pushing my power toward him, I said, “Stop right there.”