Page 31 of Mortal Magic (Shadow Shifter)

“My powers don’t work that way. I can attempt to help once an issue is determined, but at this time, all I can recommend is Riley get some sleep. It would go a long way to averting the madness.”

Colton stood. “Thank you, Anaisa. We will keep you apprised of Riley’s progression.”

Riley stood, holding out her hand to the priestess, when her stomach flipped. She put her hand to her mouth as Anaisa put hers to her chest.

“Another portal has opened,” Anaisa said.

Riley took deep even breaths for a minute, then the nausea passed. “I feel better.”

“The portal closed. This one was open for less than a minute. I doubt many demons made it through,” Anaisa said.

Colton glanced at the door. “We will investigate. Why did the portal collapse so quickly?”

“Breaking the natural barriers of our world is not easy. Only specific bloodlines can be used to accomplish this task.”

“Riley heard Deruthel say the blood is old,” Colton said.

Anaisa turned her head to the side, as if listening to a song no one else could hear. “They tried again, but the location they chose was not strong enough.”

“They are trying new locations?” Colton asked.

“Yes. It appears they’re getting desperate.”

“Where did the portal open?”

Anaisa’s gaze flicked to Riley. “She can guide you. Once in the shadow pathway, let her steer you. She can feel the disturbance.”

Riley fiddled with her pendant. “She’s right.”

Colton nodded to the priestess and took Riley’s hand. They walked from the Haitian village to the tree line of the forest. “You ready?”

“Yes.”

Colton dissolved before his shadow overtook hers. While it had been painful at first, it now felt like an ice cube melting. Her bones liquefied as her body shifted to the shadows and entered the pathway. Once inside Colton held them suspended until she could get her bearings. The pull inside her soul couldn’t be mistaken. Tears in the fabric of her being called to her. Begging her to right the wrongs of the universe.

They raced along the dark, sparkling tunnel. Colton propelled them while she steered them through the network of streams. When the pathway was about to come to an abrupt halt, Colton took over, slowing their descent before they coalesced in a small cave.

Riley moved to the rock wall. It was completely smooth, whereas the rest of the surfaces in the cavern were jagged and uneven. “This is where they opened the portal.”

Colton glanced up. “This cave is beneath Graydon County. I wonder how they found it.”

Riley ran her hand over the smooth stone. “Maybe they have maps from the last time they were here.”

Colton knelt down, scooping some of the dirt into his hand. “You’re probably right. They have far more information on us than we do on them.”

“What do we do with this portal?” Riley asked.

“We put it on the list. Since they had a semblance of success, they may come back. We won’t bother with locations that don’t open for them.”

Riley closed her eyes, letting the power within flare out. She could feel the residue of sickness. “You don’t need to watch the small portals. Only the ones that were prepared properly can be reused.”

“How do you know that?” Colton asked.

“I can feel it. There is a taint here. The way they are opening the portal creates a permanent block. They can’t use the same location twice.”

“Do you know how large this block is?” Colton asked.

Riley ran her hand along the wall, moving away from the smooth surface. She stopped twenty feet away. “The taint ends here.”

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