I could feel Atlas’s power wash against my back just as we slipped through the portal. I was jolted both by the cold, and the raw, wild power he had unleashed. It was gone within half a second, replaced by the feel of the realm’s fabric grazing against our skin.
I knew something had gone wrong when we emerged, the sun peering through the treetops that hung hundreds and hundreds of feet above our heads. The sharpened colors of moss and emerald, pale skies that seemed saturated and bright. Liam looked around, his eyes wide as he took in the Fae realm and the war camp, we currently stood in.
Soldiers sharpening swords, and polishing armor halted, hands tightening on pummels and reaching for blades. Large tents were erected around the forest. Some held upright from spikes driven into the nearby trees. There were two different fires cracking, cooking charred meat skewered on a stick. Those eating sat down their bowls of stew, still spewing steam into what smelle
“Right now, my only plan includes stopping Tamara. She’s High Lord Ambrose’s sister, but she’s more monster than fae now thanks to some ancient artifact.” I explained as best I could without giving him a complete rundown of when I was kidnapped from his Court. “She’s trying to bring the source into the human realm, and she’s killing a lot of werewolves in the process.”“Her plan, it might just make things worse.” Micah murmured; earthen eyes wide. He seemed genuinely shocked that she would have considered the plan, let alone followed through with it. When he noticed the look of confusion on my face, he elaborated. “Earth is the element of balance. My court was the first to detect the failing of this realm, though no one listened to my concerns until it was too late. Thrusting all that magic into a realm where virtually no magic exists, could very well destroy it.”Even with the rush of fear a
I never thought I would feel so elated to hear the distant sound of snarling wolves and the tearing of thick flesh as the battle continued surging nearby. My bare feet sunk into the soft soil, and the volatile energy inside of me hummed hard enough to make my teeth rattle. This kind of power wasn’t meant to be contained within a living form; it would surely tear it apart. ‘Atlas?’ I felt his awareness seep into my own instantly, relief mixed with the churning hunger that came with battle. His exhaustion, which was seeping into his bones and turning them to lead, had me heading towards the edge of the forest, where the sounds of battle grew louder. ‘Fuck, Raelynn.’ He sounded calm, but I could feel the underlying terror in his words and thoughts. ‘When Aralia came through the portal saying she killed you, I wasn’t sure—I couldn’t feel you.’ ‘Even in another realm, we would know if something happened to the other.’ I was sure of it. The loss of
Memories flashed in my head, all playing out at once as I was assaulted by color and unending emotion.The sting of betrayal was followed by a wave of cold relief, the lingering chill chased away by a strange warmth.The pain and beauty of life, mixed with the chaos of magic.A weight settled over me, and I could feel my limbs. Like a foot that had fallen asleep, I could feel my nerves tingle as they finally woke up. When the sensation faded, I could feel the heavy extensions of this physical form that weighed me down, a gilded cage that I thrashed within.There was something pushing on my chest, adding to the ache that occurred when I inhaled deeply. My skin felt uncomfortably warm, slick with sweat. Like a raging fire burned beneath my skin, angry as it lashed out of control.I flexed my fingers, feeling the scratchy fabric of a blanket beneath them. Pushing it from my body, I rubbed at my eyes until I could finally
I woke Atlas as the sun began streaming through the curtains, turning his platinum hair silver. His eyelids were pale blue, the dark circles beneath an even deeper shade.He shifted in his sleep, eyebrows furrowing as he felt my guilt. He really was exhausted.I tried to pry at the thick arms that were wound around my torso, pinning me to his chest. His plush lips moved as he mumbled, letting out a satisfied hum as he tightened his hold.The voices coming from the first floor of the house were growing louder. Tyra and Dustin were talking, heading through the kitchen and towards the stairs that would lead to Atlas and me.I smirked and pinched his bicep, “Tyra and Dustin are seconds away from knocking on this bedroom door. Either I can get you up, or they can.”A surprised yelp escaped my mouth when he rolled in bed, never once loosening his grip on me. My legs dangled uselessly as he stood from the bed, holding me against his chest.
Something rippled behind Liam, towards the center of the charred circle of earth.The scent of rain filled my nose, marred only by the slightest hint of blood. The fae and werewolves must have been busy, identifying and burning the dead. My heart threatened to sink for the families who had lost loved ones in the battle, but I couldn’t let myself drown in the emotion, forever stuck in the past. I needed to press forward.The ground crunched beneath my feet, and I stopped when Liam placed a hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head, watching closely as the sun crested the trees, hitting the spot where we all stood.It looked like a thin film that spanned west and east, far into the sky where it vanished within the fiery light of the sun. I marveled at how it shimmered, the colors rippling like shaky water. When its color rippled like that, it was near impossible to see through. There seemed to be nothing on the other side, just the rest of the park.&ldqu
Surprise and indecision rippled across countless werewolves faces as the word spread, and they finally began to understand the decision that lie ahead. I never enjoyed public speaking. Having the attention of so many eyes burning into my skin was unsettling, but I wasn’t alone. Along with the steadying presence of Atlas beside me, I had friends who had stood by me through all of this. Each of us had taken turns speaking, sharing our story and what we had come to learn. I told the crowd what I had done, merging the two realms together, separating them with a wall of pure magic. It was the only choice I had, the only thing that would have saved them both. The very connection that brought our realms together would have destroyed us both. It was Atlas who revealed the truth of the past, that werewolves were not from the human realm. A very small few of us had come here a long time ago, forgoing immortality for this new world. The only thin
We formed a line, with each of us walking in pairs of four.Most who chose not to pass through lingered, watching with eyes that bordered on curiosity and fear. It was that flicker of curiosity that gave me hope, because sooner or later they might feel the call of this place.There was a part of me that trembled with excitement, almost desperate to return to the vibrant colors and scents, and the rush of magic within every gust of wind and drop of water. I wanted to learn the secrets of this realm and explore the hidden corners of the court under Atlas’s rule, mastering the wild magic that fluttered in my chest.Another part of me, the small part that would always remain mortal, mourned the memories, and ghosts I was leaving behind.At the very back of the line were the warriors. A sea of metal headpieces and colorful armor stood out as fae from every court gathered. Those who fought to the death days ago, now walked side-by-side.There had b
Nicki and Dustin had taken charge, helping the newly turned Fae that came through the wall. Every five minutes another blinding flash of light would appear, leaving spots that danced in our vision and more fae in our wake.My attention momentarily flickered over to Atlas, who was speaking with a group of warriors, some of which had passed through days ago. Duke stood at his side, silent but always watching. A flash of midnight hair and clothing darker than the night sky appeared from the western corridor. Ambrose, High Lord of the Night Court’s slender form appeared from around the corner.Ambrose was the only one to have improved in looks after the battle we had all endured. He had been thin before, a testament to the damage his sister had done on his body and court. His face had filled out since the battle ended; his slim frame now etched in lean muscle. He approached Atlas and Duke, nodding at the various warriors who bowed in his midst.“Oh, don&