Page 30 of Shackled to the World
His eyes darkened, the fathomless blue seeming to almost churn. He covered his heart, then bowed at the waist. “You have my word. Upon my honor, I will keep you safe.”
It sounded like a vow, and she pursed her lips at the phrasing, feeling like she was missing something important.
But the guys seemed satisfied and continued the conversation, Camden getting straight to business. “Can she jump safely now?”
Edgar studied her for a heartbeat longer, then turned toward the guys. “The jump fatigues her, since she is passing over the afterworld without refreshing her well of power, but otherwise leaves her unharmed. The effect she’s feeling is what most phantoms feel when they ghost. It’s like a muscle. The more she practices, the better and stronger she will become.”
Annora pressed her nails into the pads of her fingers, the sharp, quick jab of pain helping her focus as she processed the information.
She was so distracted, in fact, that she didn’t realize the guys had stopped talking until Edgar came to stand next to her. “We’re going to practice jumping with a passenger. Since I’m the least likely to get lost and could possibly find my own way back or hold off from being killed until you find me, I’m your first volunteer.”
She blanched at the blunt way he phrased the way things could go horribly wrong, but she also appreciated his honesty. He held out his hand to her without hesitation, completely trusting, while he waited for her decision. Knowing that she needed to master this skill, she blew out a breath and squared her shoulders.
Without pausing, she gathered the particles that seemed so much a part of her, doubled the amount from last time, and cast the cloudy mixture in front of her. She wasn’t sure what others saw, but the dark particles paused midair, a cosmic doorway opening up in front of her, the tiny specks sparkling like stars in the inky blackness.
Concentrating on a location just a few feet away, she reached out, grabbed Edgar’s hand, and pulled him through the barrier. She met a slight resistance as the particles clung to her like dust. Pulling Edgar after her took more effort, like she physically had to haul his body though a tub of syrup.
Time stretched and pulled, twisting and bending around her. It was harder to find her footing, and harder to leave, when it felt like traveling through wet cement. When the darkness finally released her, she was thrown into the human world, smacking against the ground hard, landing on her hands and knees and dragging Edgar down with her.
He didn’t seem to be in much better shape, struggling to keep himself from face-planting on the prickly lawn. Familiar arms curled around her waist from behind, hauling her to her feet. Her legs were too unsteady to stand on their own, so she leaned against Mason, not the least bit surprised that he reached her first. The warmth from his massive body made her shiver, and she realized the passageway felt like a freaking walk-through freezer set on freeze-your-nuts-off.
Only when she was sure she could stand on her own without falling over did she stumble back over toward Edgar, glad to see that he’d pushed himself up and was now sitting on his ass. He still looked ready to keel over, but he was upright instead of passed out.
“What the hell happened?” She staggered to a stop in front of him, setting her feet wider to keep from collapsing next to him. “Why did it feel like it was fighting me?”
Laughter burst out of him, and she narrowed her eyes when it felt like he was laughing at her. If she thought she could kick him without falling over, she would’ve tried. Instead she settled for crossing her arms and glaring. “Explain.”
Edgar leaned back until he was sprawled on the ground, shaking his head at her as if completely baffled. “I don’t think you understand how much of a struggle it is for a normal phantom to even ghost. Most can’t access the afterworld the way you do, much less take to it like a fish to water. Most phantoms are drained after visiting your afterworld once, much like you’re feeling now. It’s unnatural for them.”
He grimaced up at her, his humor vanishing. “No onecan jump like you, especially not the way you just did. It should be impossible.” He very slowly pushed himself to his feet like an old man trying to rise, as if his muscles refused to cooperate. “You have an affinity for the afterworld like I’ve never encountered in the past. My fear is that your father will no longer try to kill you, but instead do everything in his power to crush your spirit and mold you into is very own flunky to do his bidding. His ruthlessness is much like your uncle’s, but with one exception...”
The worry on his face made panic tighten her insides until they felt liquid.
“…where your uncle failed, he will succeed.”
Annora lifted her chin, refusing to be cowed. “I won’t allow that to happen.”
Pity darkened his eyes, the afterworld eating away all color and light. “You already gave him the key to owning your soul. All he has to do is kill your mates or threaten them, and you will be his willing servant.”
Annora shook her head, denying the truth of his words, but Edgar followed her relentlessly, and grabbed her arms so she couldn’t leave. “I know of only one person who might be strong enough to save your mates.”
Everything inside her calmed, relief making her insides wobble. “Tell me.”
“You—you just have to want it bad enough.”
Chapter Nine
All Annora could do was open and close her mouth as Edgar strode away, completely at a loss how to respond. The guys were silent, watching her with concern.
But she hoped Edgar was right.
No one was more motivated to save the guys than her. If there was a way, she would find it.
She turned toward the guys and saw the same conviction on their faces.
Without hesitation, they believed she was strong enough to stand up to her father.
Swallowing hard, she focused on Xander. “If I’m going to have any hope of winning, you need to train me harder. You can’t go easy on me—you can’t let me lose.”
