Rain pulled Percy into her mind to show him where his parents were located. We were all watching them as they sat there, eyes closed and concentrated. "Zerena, how about I teach you how to use the small parts of my shadow that you carry while we wait?" Dad broke my attention. "I can do that?" I knew I had a piece of each of their shadows, but I didn't realize that meant that I could use them myself. "When you called on them, they melded with your shadow, giving it some of our abilities. It's only part of it so it'll be weak. You won't be able to do as much as we can with it." He explained. "Holy sh.it! Yes, I want to learn." I almost jumped with excitement. "Perfect. First let me start by telling you that my shadow's ability is to cast illusions. Your mother's shadow's ability is to freeze things. Her shadow can freeze any inanimate object or any living thing." He started. We spent about 15 minutes practicing. Dad taught me how to access those weak abilities. I could cast very s
I really think you need to fight a shadow hunter in order to really know what you're dealing with." I advised Ash as we all sat and ate. Dex, with the help of my devilishly handsome Kiran, grilled something delicious. We were all eating outside, enjoying the last hour I could stay for. "Then let's fight. Showing me what I'm going against." He challenged me with a smile. "I've never fought a dragon before. I'll say your wolf half will be useless against me. I've fought a room full of alphas before, without too much trouble." I gave him a smug smirk. "That was you? Charles told me about what happened during the alpha king meeting. I don't know how I didn't piece that together sooner." Rain shook her head in surprise. The name Charles rang a bell, but I couldn't remember who he was. "Who's Charles?" "Oh, he's my first mate. He's an alpha of one of the original 10 packs." She responded plainly. Rain's got a lot of surprises for me it seems. I kind of remember Charles now. "Big guy,
I looked at the elders for answers as my blood boiled beneath me. How dare they attack us like this. What are they planning to do with Kiran? I'll kill them all if they hurt him. "Answer me! What's going on?" I repeated myself. "Don't worry we won't hurt him. We have to make sure he doesn't tell others about us. We've been a well kept secret for many years. We don't want that to be ruined by some outsider." One Elder explained. His bald head was so shiny it reflected the light too well, almost blinding me. He looked at Kiran in contempt. "How exactly do you plan on doing that?" I pulled at the shackled shadow on my wrist. "Just a little shadow magic. We'll be binding his tongue in a way. He won't be allowed to speak of shadow weavers or the shadow colony. We'll bring him back when we're done. Shouldn't take too long." An older woman answered. Her dark raven hair was tied in a tight gelled back bun. She made me think of thos
Kiran's P.O.V.The elders whisked me away before Zerena or I could say anything. My heart was racing and I was tempted to shift…to burn them all away. They said they wouldn't hurt me, but I can't trust anything they say. It was the elders that forced Zerena to come live here, to join a party, and to be bonded to someone by force. Fu.ck these guys. I noticed we were in some dark caves, lit by a few flamed torches on the wall. There were black symbols, almost like ruins, covering the entrance to the cavern. The elders still held me tightly, pushing and pulling me towards the center of the poorly lit cavern. I observed a circular pattern laid out on the floor. There were ruins between each circle. The center was nothing black, only the black seemed to be moving. I pushed my heels into the ground not wanting to be placed there. I don't know what that is, but it looks way too ominous to plop my as.s on. 'Shift with me. It'll weaken the shadows,
Zerena's P.O.V. Kiran was mad. I could see it in the way his shoulders tensed and his skin burned. I kept his hand in mine even when it started to hurt me. I know I'll heal, but letting go of his hand right now feels like a bad move. He needs to know how serious I am about him, and only him. Kiran sighed, letting it go as he started to tell me everything that happened. He told me about the cave, the shadows, the ruin under his tongue. Everything. "Fane told me the binding won't stay in place. My Phoenix fire will burn away those kinds of things too. So this mark will disappear by tomorrow. Thankfully it's not anywhere obvious, or they'd notice." He told me, causing me to smile so big. "You're so amazing." I told him, resting my head on my hands as I watched him. "No, I'm not." He shook his head at me, but he gave me a small smile. "You are. Who would have thought you'd turn out to be so powerful?" I mused because it's so crazy to think that when we first met we both thought he wa
"You don't remember him doing this to you?' Kiran asked, rage clearly visible in his eyes. "No, he must have done it when I was a baby or something." I stared at the haunting words in my file. *Injected with demon blood. Cried from burning, but her shadow cooled it off.**Removed shadow from baby. Reinjected with demon blood. Burned skin, darkness overtook her before her body soaked it up.**I predict that she may be able to control more than just her shadow. *He'd injected his own blood in me. I felt so disgusted. I had a strong impulse to claw at my skin and rip my own veins out. That son of b*tch."Fed forbidden fruit from hell. Her skin began to darken, changing her into a shadow demon. **It's easy for shadow weavers to be consumed by darkness. Must stop that from happening. Can't have her taking control of the dark and killing me.*Alester's notes made my blood run cold. I'd turned into a demon? Does that make me part demon like him? Am I part evil? I swallowed down the bile
We were all in our uniforms and black combat boots. Axel stood in front of all group 1, plus Cleo. He gave us our commands. Stick together, don't get separated. We'll fight as a unit. Curtis and Ed will lead with Axel and Cleo at the rear, the rest of us will be between them. Al has decided he'll be my buddy today. He's been attached at the hip. "How are you adjusting to the West?" He asked after the meeting. We had about 15 minutes to kill before we had to leave. "It's fine." I shrugged my shoulders, not sure what else to say. "I can't believe that elder won. I'd never seen him before. Scary motherfu.cker." He shook his head. "Gee, thanks." I snarked. I know Topher seems intimidating, I don't need a reminder."What? He tore Sebastian's arm off like he was a rag doll. It was like he saw a string and pulled at it, separating Sebastian's arm from his body. I'd never seen something like that." Al looked at me a bit concerned now. "How is he? Is he treating you right?" "I'm fine. Don
Percy's P.O.V.Zea's parents are so kind. They opened their home to me so willingly. They had put me in their spare room, beside their other daughter Zola. Good to know they trust me that much. I still feel awkward around them though. I am not sure what to say to them. They don't have any quarrels talking to me or asking me questions though. They spent most of the evening asking me things about Zae and I. They like the nickname I gave her, but aside from that there wasn't much good to share. Our childhood is dark and cruel and no one really wants to hear about that, especially when it's your own child. I know they won't let me stay in my room all day. In fact, Zae's dad is going to knock on my door in a few seconds and ask me to go on a walk. Which will be to my benefit, so I'll say yes. And there's the knock. I got up and opened the door, seeing those familiar lilac eyes. Her dad was a very manly man, but those eyes of his will forever make me think of Zae. He smiled at me, his h
I traveled to the spot in the yard, not believing my eyes from that distance. I approached the figure in the moonlight cautiously. He turned when he heard me step on a twig. That long black hair and dark eyes met mine. He smiled widely at me, swooning my heart the way he use to. “Percy?” I cried. “Hey, Zae.” “You as.shole.” I went to punch him but my hand went right through him. He laughed at me. “I figured you’d try to hit me. Sorry I don’t have a body anymore to hit.” He shook his head at me. “I’m sorry, Zae.” “You should be. You have no idea how much this has hurt. Damit Perc, you should have told me. I would have stopped it!” I yelled at him, tears flowing out of me like a waterfall. “You couldn’t have. Trust me, I didn’t want to leave our Ares, but it was the only way.” He sighed. His transparent hand reached for my face. I could feel him the same way I feel the air across my cheek. “Our Ares could really use a visit from you.” I told him. “I only have one more of
8 years later“Happy birthday Ares!” We all yelled, trying to surprise him, but who were we kidding he already knew.“I knew you wouldn’t forget.” He smiled at us all. “Auggie said everyone had forgotten about my birthday and that’s why no one had said it to me yet.”“Augustus Daimen Barlowe! Did you really tell your brother that?” Kiran scolded him.“I thought if he believed it he would actually be surprised.” Augustus explained.“I’ll talk to him, keep the party going.” Kiran told me, kissing my temple, before pointing to the door to let Augusutus know to walk out.I hugged Ares, holding him tightly for a long moment before he complained.“Mom.”“Sorry
Topher had already finished here. He was wrapping the elders up. We don’t plan on killing them or imprisoning them. They just won’t be in power anymore. I know they won’t like it, but with only a few elders they won’t be able to go against a whole army. We’ll be changing a lot around here, starting with the parties and classist shi.t. Obviously the higher class will hate it, but since they are few, I’m not worried about it. “Everything go well in the North?” Topher asked me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my temple. “Easy as pie.” I assured him. “Yeah, especially after she went all devil on us.” Isaiah smirked. “You did?” Topher asked, obviously not liking the fact. He didn’t like me using that side of myself much. “Yes, just for a little while. I’m fine, don’t worry.” I assured him. He looked at me for a while, assessing me, before nodding his head. He kissed my forehead now, letting his lips linger there. He let his arm wrap around me further, until his hand
2 months later.“It’s gotta be simultaneous.” I told them all, through a mass shadow message. I stared down the elder’s building with group 1 at my side. I decided to take down the north elders, while Topher led the west rebellion group. We had a good amount of people with us in each colony.Our civil war begins. Only it won’t be a war, it’ll be one battle, and we will come out victorious.‘We’re ready in the south.’ Felix, the leader of the south, responded with his own shadow message.‘Say the word and we’ll attack.’ Helena from the East sounded ready to b
It’s been a month now since the battle with Alester. Percy’s funeral hit me hard, breaking me further. I almost couldn’t bring myself to go. Kiran and Topher dragged my as.s there, not giving me a choice in the matter. I saw Allie, her beautiful innocent eyes were puffy from all the crying. She admitted to me that she knew what was going to happen. She told me Percy had asked her not to tell anyone, and that he had set things up for Ares. Apparently Electra had been helping him see into the future. She admitted that she would be joining him soon too. It was almost poetic…almost. It’s so damn heart breaking. I am not sure there is a heart left in me. It feels so hollow in my chest, like it’s run away, unable to take the pain anymore. The only times I felt a remnant of it, were when I was with August or Ares, or when I’d look at Jesse’s ultrasound. She’s not shadow kissed like Augustus. She’s like Ares, in my normal womb. Topher and Kiran did their best at trying to cheer me up, or a
Zerena’s P.O.V.No! God No!Percy’s lifeless body laid at Alester’s feet, his eyes open, staring at Ares. I kept waiting to see him heal. Kept waiting to see him move, to get back up and pummel Alester before him. I watched him for a while, completely dumbfounded. This isn’t real, this isn’t happening. I haven’t lost Kiran and Percy just now. Kiran will come back with his Phoenix, and Percy will heal. They have to. They can’t leave me.A thick sadness was beginning to envelope me. I felt the cold seeping into my bones, as the darkness began to over take me, feeding on my depression. I felt it turning all the heartache in me into an unbridled rage. I looked at Alester now, who had Percy’s heart still in his hand, burning it to Ash befo
Percy's P.O.V. Zae had made her announcement to everyone. I thought it was sweet of her to go along with Topher's plan to have an announcement party. This is how it should have gone. A baby with only the person she chose and not because some crazy bastard gave her a sea witch's potion. I watched as everyone congratulated her. She actually accepted the hugs. God, I hope she continues to open up after I'm gone. I wrote her a letter too. I put it where I knew she'd find it after my funeral. I hope she takes the advice I wrote for her. Everyone was having fun. I watched as Zae's people all intermingled. It was like watching the many parts of Zea's life come together beautifully. Eventually, the party had started to whine down. The first to leave was group 1, followed by Zea's parents, and then Tate and Alara with her twin, Alexis, plus Maple left. Kellan had decided to stay a while longer to talk to Dex about water portalling. Rain and her mate, Nate, left as well. The only ones he
Zerena’s P.O.V.“How does this look?” Kiran asked, when he finished the icing on the cake.“Looks great!” I smiled at him, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Kiran.”I was actually excited for today. I never thought I would be a big announcement kind of gal, but I think that I am. I really like the idea of surprising everyone today. Topher and I have been over the moon about our baby girl. I can’t wait to share the news with everyone. I am so very lucky to have Percy. I don’t think I would have noticed I was pregnant for at least another month. I am also so grateful that he has saved me time with naming all these children. Already knowing their names and their genders has been very convenient.
Percy’s P.O.V.Dearest Ares,I know you’re going through a hard time right now. It’s hard to be in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way as you. I felt this way about your mother for the longest time. I know it is difficult, especially to watch them be happy with someone else. I promise you, it will get better. You will find your mate soon, and the pain you are feeling will be a distant memory.Stay by her side, fight through the pain, my son. She will need you when your brother inevitably breaks her heart. It will hurt, but you’ll have to help fix them in order to find your own happiness. I know you have a great heart. I can already see how morally grounded you are. You will make the right decision. I have faith in you.&nb