Page 85 of Tangled Power
Luc didn’t know if that was true—part of him hoped it was—he didn’t want to imagine his mother’s choices being taken from her. Anger flowed through Luc’s attacks, his magic becoming more reckless with each onslaught of earth and stone. Aterra, however, wasn’t going on the offensive against him. He was only defending.
Luc was happy that Rose didn’t immediately join in. He knew his attacks weren’t productive, but they felt good. He shook hishead slightly as he sent another rock hurling at Aterra. His gaze marked the boulder’s path but caught on the black bird flying into the cavern. He must have transformed into something small enough to get through the debris. Arie dropping onto Luc’s shoulder was the reminder he needed.
They had to defeat Aterra together—all four of them.
“I’m assuming you had a better plan than simply wailing on dear old dad here?”Arie asked as Luc put some space between himself and Aterra.
“Yes,” he whispered. “Tell the others to send their magic to Rose again, but we need to let hertake, not just use what we’re offering. She’ll understand—tell her to do what she did with me in Sandrin.”
Arie nodded and uncurled his talons, dropping the onyx ring into Luc’s hand as he mentally passed the message to the others. Luc slipped the ring on his finger. He would take every advantage he could get against Aterra. His well of magic never felt empty, but somehow, the ring made it instantly overflow. Power shook through him as the natural amplification took hold.
Arie said nothing about the ring or the power pulsing around them as he replied, “They’re ready.”
Luc sensed it before he saw it. Before Rose had a chance to reach for his power, he felt a wave of magic crashing. A literal wave, as the rocks that Aterra had dropped to block the tunnel rolled and washed away. A surge of water crashed them forward, and steam hissed as it slipped into the cracks where the magma lurked below the cave floor.
Aurora stepped through the rubble, looking regal, though she’d certainly been through hell. “You and I have unfinished business,” she said to Aterra.
The list of those who had a bone to pick with Aterra was growing long.
Luc looked back and forth between Aurora and Aterra. He wanted to let Aurora take her shots—there was no question she deserved them—but Arie had been pretty clear before they left Compass Lake. It wasn’t a god or goddess who could subdue Aterra. It was only going to be the Compass Points.
They had to do what they were made to do.
“You were in the way. You needed to be taken off the board.”
“It’s never your fault, is it?” Aiden said as he erupted from where he had been hiding, near the water entrance behind Rose and Luc.
“You are just doing what you must—what needs to be done. You’re a god! Take some responsibility for your own plan!” Aiden yelled. “No one made you do anything. You chose this.”
The room stood in silence at Aiden’s outburst. He had been cooped up with Aterra for too long. Given the impact of his actions, Luc couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry for Aiden, but he could recognize that this was him picking a different path now.
Aiden stalked up beside Luc as he raged at Aterra. Luc didn’t think twice as he handed off his blade to Aiden stomping forward, water erupting from the cracks in the floor as he passed. Aiden had made poor choices, but he, too, was entitled to a reckoning with Aterra.
Aiden, whose Norden mother and father only saw him as a means to an end. Aiden, who had been alone and vulnerable as a child and whom Aterra had preyed on for his own means. Luc knew this wouldn’t solve their problems, but as with Aurora, Luc had difficulty saying he didn’t deserve his revenge. If nothing else, it would give the Compass Points needed moments to send Rose their power. To let hertakemore of it.
A wave erupted beneath Aiden as he took the offered sword, propelling him across the cavern as he lobbed himself at Aterra.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Aterra didn’t repel Aiden’s attack.
An unfamiliar power rose with Aiden’s wave. A strength Rose could only assume was godly. She suspected the Norden goddess assisted Aiden’s approach. The Suden god also appeared too shocked by Aiden’s actions. And as Aiden’s wave rolled him forward, his arms outstretched, both gripping the hilt of Luc’s sword, he met no resistance. With all of his momentum and magic with him for this attack, he drove the blade down through Aterra’s shoulder.
Aiden’s face shifted as the weapon in his hand sank into godly flesh. It went from pure vengeance—a rage Rose knew she had felt on her own face before—to terror. He clearly hadn’t expected the blow to land. Caught off guard by his actions, Rose realized too late that this was a distraction, giving them time to ready the Compass Points’ magic.
Juliette and Carter also lost their focus, their eyes locked on the fae they knew to be cruel and selfish, the one who had blackmailed them over the years to get his way. She recognized then that they were as conflicted as she had been about Aiden. They hadn’t known how much of what happened was his responsibility versus Aterra’s control. Rose hoped thisaction would bring them the same peace she had found earlier. Unfortunately, they were too invested in what this action would bring to realize Rose needed their power—now.
She turned to Luc. Though he had as much cause as the others to be distracted, his eyes were locked on hers. She had seen Arie land on his shoulder and watched him slip the Suden ring on his finger. The smell of pine and cinnamon grew in the cavern, though it had already been incredibly potent. Luc sent his magic spiraling at Aterra to support Aiden’s attack, but as he did, he opened up his great chasm of magic to Rose. As Arie had instructed, she reached for it through the tunnel at the bottom of her lake, pulling from the darkness that was his power—letting it fill her. Luc was a part of her, flooding her from her toes, out to each fingertip. She couldn’t help the full-body roll as the magic connected. It felt right—more than right. Their magic more than unified—bound in a way she’d never experienced. Luc’s power was an onslaught, but one she was more than capable of handling. He didn’t moderate the channel between them—she had full access to all of him.
Wind and fire quickly joined Luc’s magic inside her. Juliette’s door burst off its hinges, and the opening in Carter’s tree was unguarded by a veil beast. They no longer only pushed their magic into her. They offered their power so she could take what was needed.
If Rose and Luc’s power was bound as a single force inside of her, Juliette and Carter’s elements circled tightly. All four elements united in a coil of strength, ready to burst. Luc pushed more magic to her, urging her to take. The depth of his power called to her, even as it seamlessly fed her own.
Caught up with the Compass Point power building, she had only a moment to realize Aterra had struck back against Aiden. In what amounted to a godly-sized backhand, Aterra swatted Aiden away. He had no prepared defense, and his body flailed ashe was thrown across the cavern. Aterra plucked the sword from his shoulder and cast it away.
Rose saw too late that Aterra hadn’t only hit him, he’d pulled a sharp piece of rock from the cavern to stab him as he tossed him aside. Aterra’s aim was true, as an earth wielder’s would be. Rose’s whole body pinched as she heard Aiden’s scream. Arie burst into action, landing at Aiden’s side in human form. She knew his healing powers firsthand—but she was unsure it would be enough.
Aurora was the only one who seemed undistracted by Aiden’s actions. She layered her own attack, sending wave after wave crashing into Aterra. Rose swore the goddess nodded at her, indicating it was her turn to strike.
