Page 32 of Unbroken

“Home. Yes,” she says. “Soul Tethered to a Nephilim and a fated Mate. A Wolf. But there’s more, Esme. You hold within you a child. Half Wolf, Half Witch. A new tiny light inside of you. So much potential, with access to so much power.” She looks at me and I can’t help but feel excitement, surprise, and yeah, I am a bit shocked by her confirmation that I am pregnant. “Power that no longer belongs to you.”

I startle at her words. “What do you mean?” I ask. I’m a Witch. My power is mine by blood, by right of who and what I am.

“Oh, so much potential. You’ve only begun to feel the power living inside you. It’s a shame.” She paces then stops. “Yes, the choice,” she says as if someone is talking to her and reminding her to stay on track.

“Come back to us, Esmeralda Blue. Become the High Priestess you were always destined to be. I can remove your bonds and the child. You would be bound no more. Serve me and the Coven with all of your powers intact.” She offers up the alternative like I would fall at her feet and thank her. There is no way I would give up my baby, Sam, or Micah. I mean, the baby is a new revelation, but I’ve been abandoned and left alone in this world. I know my mother didn’t have the option to stay or go, but I would never do that to my own child.

She waits expectantly, but when I don’t answer, I watch her face harden slightly before her smooth calm mask falls back in place. “Or return to your bonds, raise your child with your Mate, but you will do it powerless. I will strip you of your greatest gift, your sight. Your healing and Elemental magic are mundane at best. You will still be a Witch but a Blue Mountain Seer no longer,” she says matter-of-factly, but her words feel more like a slap in the face. This is not a choice. This is a punishment. The rage I’ve felt for months bubbles up inside of me, hot and potent.

“Why?” I shout. “That’s hardly a choice at all. You take the one thing that makes me, me. Cleaving a piece of me away because I won’t serve you. I didn’t ask to be thrown out. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“You should be grateful. I’ve given you a chance to make the right decision. You will serve me or lose it all. Return to your war, because make no mistake, it’s coming right to your precious Nephilim’s doorstep as we speak.” My heart rate spikes at the thought of Michael attacking Micah again and I beat against the barriers.

“Please, just let me out,” I beg as tears spill from my eyes unchecked. I know she won’t let me leave until I choose. The decision should be easy, but I am no help to anyone without my Seer abilities. Would I lose Micah because of my weakness? Sam? I don’t know the answers, but I know one thing for sure, Sam or no Sam, I am not losing this baby.

“My time is precious, Esmeralda. Your time—”

“Take it,” I say evenly. She steps back as if I’ve struck her, stunned by my answer. “Take it all and I will never return. I might be mundane, but I am surrounded by extraordinary people that will take me as I am,” I say confidently, as soon as the words leave my mouth, I know it is my truth.

“Then you will die, Esmeralda, and so will they. I see no future for you if you leave here,” she says with finality.

“Then so be it. I will die with the people that mean the most to me in this world.” I hold my head up high as she shrugs and snaps her fingers. A sharp pain takes hold, stabbing, clawing at my brain with such severity, I’m blinded by it. I fall to the ground and scream until my ears ring. I taste blood as I strip my vocal cords. This is Ourea, she is taking my power, taking the very essence of me. The pain feels like death is imminent as the ground gives way, and I am falling through a black abyss, or is it that I am still blind? I cry out, arms flailing as I plunge to my death. She is going to kill me after all. I don’t know how long or how far I’ve fallen until my body crashes down to the ground with a loud thump.

Pain erupts all over my body as I lay there broken, blind, and powerless. I let darkness claim me and hope that wherever I am, that the people I love the most will find me.

ChapterEighteen

MICAH

“Rook!” I shout in panic.

“Mi!” my brother shouts my name impatiently. I cut him a glare, narrowing my eyes. I know I have been nothing but demanding for the past few hours, but they won’t let me go after Esme.

“Meus amor, we’ve gone over this. There’s no way we can get into the Blue Mountains without invitation.” Lyrik sighs in frustration as he snatches his flat cap off his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. My poor Mate has been frantically working with the other professors to finally get the wards in place. He looks exhausted and possibly needs to feed.

We’re all in my living room in my tiny house in the Quads, so in two strides I am in front of him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Lyrik, are you okay?” I ask knowingly, searching his eyes carefully. In the past few weeks I have learned to watch for signs. His irritation is usually the beginning of his hunger taking hold. Lyrik runs his hands up and down my arms, then pulls me closer and leans into me.

“I’m fine for now,” he whispers, keeping our exchange private. “But I can smell him on you, and I am feeling a little possessive.” His voice deepens and I instinctively clench my thighs together. I am not one to blush but damn I can’t help it. Flashes of Rodyn and I earlier, my legs wrapped around his waist, the delicious stretch of my pussy walls as he claimed me, and the feel of the hot spring on my skin invade my mind. But then guilt takes hold of me, and I step away from Lyrik. He lets me go sensing my emotions. I was off fucking and Esme was kidnapped. I didn’t even feel her distress because I was so consumed with Rodyn. Do I regret it? No, the moment between us was destined to happen, it needed to happen.

I turn as Rook appears right in front of me. I don’t even startle, I am so used to him popping in and out. He takes one look at me and opens his arm wide, and I go willingly. I melt into his embrace. Hugging any of my bonded is like coming home, but Rook is peace and safety all wrapped in one.

“You rang, baby girl?” he asks, injecting humor into his voice as he strokes my back. I lean away and gaze up at him. I don’t even need to ask the question burning on the tip of my tongue before he answers.

“I have tried. I’ve gotten as close as the village at the base of the mountains. The Warlocks there keep to themselves according to what Professor Adder told Lyrik. Even they can’t wander up without permission. Any attempts to go any further up the mountain is blocked to me,” he says as he pulls me closer and tucks my head under his chin.

“I’ll keep trying to find any point of weakness—”

“No. Professor Adder is right. We have to wait and see if she returns on her own. But what if she doesn’t? Rodyn, Ty, and Trys are out there trying to find Sam. Michael could make his next move at any moment. I feel pulled in so many directions. What if this High Priestess is hurting her? Professor Adder said she would want Esme’s power. What does that even mean?” I sigh.

“I feel helpless and I hate it. What the point of having all this power inside of me yet I am powerless.” I pull away from Rook and cross over to my couch and sit down next to Marcus, who immediately pulls me in for a hug.

“It’s going to be okay. We are going to get her back,” he says with conviction, and for a moment, I let my thoughts drift to my mother. Was she still alive? Would we be able to save her too?

“I think it would help everyone’s nerves if we kept ourselves busy,” Lyrik says as he pulls his pocket watch from his maroon vest. The intricate gold timepiece looks old but well cared for. He flips it open and sighs. “It’s getting late. Although there’s nothing out there to harm anyone now that Lucretia’s gone, we should pair up and patrol the grounds. I’m going to check on the few students we do have in our care. Then I will talk with Professor Maverick in regards to checking the stability of the new wards,” he says closing his watch and sliding it back into his pocket.

“I will go back to the village and keep trying for you, baby. Maybe they will let her go and she will come down to the village. If so, I can whisk her away and bring her back here. If you need me, you know what to do.” He blows me a kiss and gives me that damn panty melting smile before he blinks out of the room.

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