Page 106 of Witch Undecided
“Last one to the cabin’s an arsehole.” Jasper gripped my arm and the world shattered.
The cabin’s lounge materialized around me, and I shrugged off Jasper’s grip, fixing him with an irritated glare. “Why did you do that?”
“Why not?” He moved over to the hearth and held out his hands as if he needed the warmth. “Or were you planning on another interlude with one of your mates? Tor maybe. In the restroom.” His lip curled. “You seem to prefer the cramped, dirty places to silk sheets and luxury rooms.”
He was referring to the imposed retreat he’d taken me on a year ago. Champagne, sex on silk sheets, and fancy meals, but I’d been a prisoner. Or had I? Everything looked different now. Everything had changed.
My neck heated with embarrassment and then anger, because I had nothing to be embarrassed about. Leif, Tor, and Rune were my mates, and Jasper was… Jasper was so many things I needed to untangle and learn about.
I took a step toward him. I needed to fix us. To let him know how I felt.
The door slammed open. “Anyone here?” Sloane called.
Fuck. Our chat would have to wait.
The Elites filled the room, bringing a gust of cold air with them.
Jasper’s smile was thin and cold. “I guess it’s time to get to work.”
Jessie stoodwith her back to us, hands held up to the night air. The chill bit at my cheeks and fingers. Thank God I’d wrapped up warm in jeggings, a sweater and fleece-lined jacket, and my favorite frost-crunching boots. This pair was a soft slate-gray lace-up mid-calf boot with a fleece lining and snow-safe soles. The inside molded to the shape of my feet. Perfect comfort while keeping my feet protected and toasty. Not the sexiest of boots, but practicality and comfort occasionally took precedence.
I didn’t feel the cold as much as a human, but I did feel it, unlike my shifter mates who stood to my left, sans coat, arms crossed, watching Jessie work her magic. Literally.
Jessie had a gift when it came to warding and opening rifts. A natural instinct for what needed to be done. But for this particular task she’d needed a few items to ground her and amplify her ability.
She worked in silence, hands moving in the air in intricate runic patterns. Long seconds passed, and silver streaks began to follow the path her hands tracked in the air. The silver streaks got thicker and longer until the runes were visible in the air for seconds at a time before fading.
“It’s working,” Poppy whispered.
“Never had a doubt,” Sloane said.
I sensed Leif and Tor tense in anticipation to my left. Rune stood behind us, his golden body bathed in the silvery light of the moon. Jasper was beside me, his arm brushing mine, sending a gentle thrum through me. Sloane and Poppy stood to the other side of him. In a moment the rift would open, and we’d be through. Just one moment.
A sharp pop followed by a hissing sound cut through the silence. The air a meter in front of Jessie split, revealing silvery light laced with crimson threads.
“That’s it,” Leif said. “You did it.”
“Course I did.” Jessie brushed her palms together. “Shall we?”
We were doing this. We were about to step into unknown territory. Okay, so I’d been through rifts before. A place called the Eye in Necro City, and into the fae realm just recently, but this…This felt different. My stomach was in knots, anxiety swelling in my chest.
I looked over at the guys to find their attention on me. Their eyes were filled with fear and apprehension.
For me.
These were their emotions tangling with mine, confusing mine.
Jasper took my hand and confidence bloomed in place of the anxiety.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
Sloane and Poppy approached the rift.
“See you on the other side.” Sloane stepped through and Poppy and Jessie followed.
“The rift won’t stay open for long,” Leif said. “Don’t linger.”
“Yes, because we plan on taking a full tour of the place.” Jasper rolled his eyes.
