Page 83 of Witch Untold
This was a place for the lost, the creatures that didn’t fit in, and Lauris fit the description, but still, I couldn’t help but feel there was more to this place and to Lauris.
As we stepped into the portal, my mind went back to the reason for this visit.
Jasper.
If what the blood witch said was true, then right now, the malevolent I loved was in a living nightmare.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jasper
Not again. Dammit.
Just relax. Breathe. It’ll be over soon.
But the darkness is endless, an abyss of nothing. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, panic is a hungry worm in my belly.
I focus on Cora. On her face. On getting back to her.
Come on. Time to let me go now. My scalp tightens, pulse quickening. Something is coming. Something is here.
It’s close and ice fills my veins. “Fucking show yourself.”
My voice is swallowed by the abyss and the panic worm swells inside me. Shit. This is bullshit. My nape prickles and my body goes into high alert.
There are other things here with me.
Around me.
Watching me.
Hunger taints the air. Hunger, desperation, and…intent.
“What do you want from me?”
What is that? Something is coming, pushing out of the darkness. My chest erupts with heat. It rises into a burn that tears a scream from my throat, then something slams into my chest.
It’s time…
I know that voice. I recognize it.
That voice belongs to me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mel met me in the foyer of Magiguard HQ and led me to the lifts reserved for Magiguard staff. The building was registered as a regular business, a front to hide its true purpose. There were even human employees, but only Magiguard had access to the upper floors, with the humans being oblivious to the true purpose of this building.
We exited onto the lab floor and Mel led me to a neat hospital-type room decorated in calm cream and rose shades. There was one window hung with slatted blinds, a single bed, a side table, and a TV. Wren was sitting on the bed eating a bowl of cereal and watching cartoons. At the sight of me, he dropped his spoon into the bowl with a slosh, scrambled across the bed, and threw himself into my arms. Yeah, I was totally ready to catch the dude.
Damn, I’d missed his cute face.
“Cora…” He snuggled into me and my prickly heart melted.
“Hey, buddy.” I hugged him before pulling back to peer at his face. “You ready to go home?”
“Wren ready, Cora.” His cheeks bunched in a smile.
I turned to Mel. “Thanks for taking care of him.”
