Page 30 of Crossing Between
We left the room shortly after once we'd both made sure our clothes were on straight and it didn't look like we'd attempted to take a roll in the bed. I also made sure to wash up in the bathroom just in case these crazy men used their superior senses to smell my attraction.
I became confused as we walked through the hallways, but Elias seemed to know where he was going.
"The first time I came here, Varon wouldn't let me leave the first floor. He didn't trust me or Kenji not to break anything. Which, in retrospect, was probably a good move because the second he allowed us free rein of the house after some time, Kenji broke a priceless vase by sneezing in front of it." Elias chuckled at the memory as we started down a staircase. "After that, Varon decidedly removed all his expensive artwork into a locked room that we're banned from instead of just making sure we couldn't visit."
"Ah." It was as if his ears were burning. Varon appeared in the doorway, looking refreshed, and his hair was slightly disheveled. "You're here. I was just about to send Kenji to hunt you down."
My mouth went dry as I looked at my boss. He seemed different this morning somehow, and it worked for him because I wanted to climb him and just lick him all over. I wasn't sure what had changed, besides his hair not being immaculate like normal, he just seemed more relaxed and oozed sex.
I wasn't the only one who noticed if Elias freezing next to me was any indication. His mouth had dropped open in a little 'o' as his nostrils flared. I couldn't tell if he was thinking Varon was sexy as hell, like I did, but he clenched his jaw after a brief moment of staring.
"Aw." The oni who had just been named popped up next to Varon, his arm coming to rest on our bosses shoulder. "I would have liked that. Maybe some hunting for you two is just what we all need to relax." His eyes flashed as they met mine. "I could use some fun after these past few months, and I feel like I'm the one being left out of the Zoey love-a-thon. I need to fix that."
If Elias hadn't been standing next to me, I probably would have fallen. As it was, he had to grab me as I almost fell backward. What was going on with all of these men so suddenly?
"Okay. Okay." Quilith shouted from the room. "Stop flirting and get your asses in here. We have much to discuss."
Well, that was more effective than a bucket of ice water being thrown over me.
Chapter 21: Zoey
"So," Quilith addressed us as if they were holding a class. All they needed now was a ruler in their hands. "Creator Magic is powerful in its own right. It's a branch of Soulbinder powers." They flicked their fingers, and an image appeared in front of us of a dragon with beautiful pearl-colored scales and bright icy blue eyes. "This is Shanna. She was the last soulbinder on Earth, the last one to fight and win against the Essencefeaster all those years ago." The image shifted to a breathtaking woman with white hair tied back. She knelt next to a dead man, his stomach ripped open across the ground. "She used her powers together to not only revive a soul but also heal the body of all ailments."
My eyes widened as the man's body began to knit itself together before he took a gasping breath. He jolted upward with a gasp. He was alive, not a zombie or a shackled slave. The thing that caught my attention the most was a shining star-like blaze from their heart. He wasn't human any longer. I'm not sure how I could know that, but it was right there infront of me.
My gasp of awe mixed with horror caused everyone but Qulith to jump to their feet in alarm.
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Zoey?"
"She made him into a shifter?" I looked from the image to Quilith. "That's impossible!"
"No, that's creator magic at its core." They were smug. "Now are you getting why you being a soulbinder is such a huge thing? Why you're now going to have a target on your back because the Essencefeaster is aware that you exist and are hunting him?" They crossed their arms with a serious glance around the room. "She can literally change the very fiber and magic of a person into something else if she wishes. It's unheard of for any species besides a dragon to wield it, but here we are."
If I hadn't been sitting, I'd be on my ass in shock. My mouth moved, but I couldn't form any words. There was no way. That was close to god-like magic. Which was unheard of in this day and age. All the Gods had left our world several millennia ago.
Kenji was suddenly in my view as he knelt on one knee in front of me. I hadn't heard him or seen him move, I was that dazed with this new information. He cupped my cheeks in his large hands. His sky-blue eyes were narrowed as he scanned my face.
"Take a breath, hold it for five seconds, let out, and repeat." He glanced to his right as Elias knelt next to him. "Elias is just going to look you over for a bit, yeah? Sounds like you might be in a bit of a shock." His thumbs stroked my skin on my cheeks, and I could feel my skin heat with a blush.
I did as he instructed while Elias ran his palm close to my body with a glow of magic. A soft, warm pulse filled my body. I hadn't realized it, but my heart rate had sped up withthe new information. I felt like I had been on the verge of another panic attack, and these two helped bring me back to the ground.
I pressed Kenji's right hand to my cheek as I breathed slowly. "Thanks, guys. It's just a lot." I met his stare again. "I can see why Elias has a thing for you."
His eyes widened as Elias cursed loudly next to him.
Oh. Oh shit. I said that out loud.
"I mean, uh," jerking backward, I looked at Elias with big eyes. "I mean,Ihave a thing for you?"
Elias looked terrified briefly before he just shook his head with a laugh. "He might as well know since I also have a thing for you." He looked at Kenji as they both stood, Kenji towering over him. "I do like you, you big oaf."
"Elias, I," Kenji reached out to him, but Quilith inserted themselves between the two of them with a frustrated grumble.
"Enough. As much as I love all this juicy love fest, we are having a SERIOUS conversation about Zoey's life here!" Quilith looked flustered as they glared at the two men. "Sit your asses down."
