Page 161 of Wrath of the Fae

‘Power. My power. That way!’

They follow my lead and stop after ten or so minutes.

Cyrus lowers me to the floor.

‘What is it?’ I ask.

‘Take a look.’

They both take my hand.

There’s a large pond ahead, cast in shadow by the trees overhead. The leaves of which are brown and dry. The trunks are black and seeping black tar-like liquid. The grass is brittle underfoot, but the water is clear and blue.

‘I think the stone circle is beneath the water,’ I tell them. They guide me towards the water’s edge. As I reach down, I feel it.

‘What is it?’ Cyrus asks.

I fall to my knees and sink my hand into the water.

I smile.

As I call my power, reaching out to that hum in the air, a glowing shimmer appears.

‘I see it,’ I breathe with blissful relief. ‘Runes on the stones. They shine.’ I laugh, utterly thrilled to see a way home. Even they let out a joyous chuckle.

Home, I think to myself. We’re going home.

The trees tremble. Some of the more brittle ones snap, falling to the floor and shattering around us.

They both surround me. In my darkness, I see their power. It comes out as a slow, dull gold, swirling from Cyrus’s fingertips and a blinding glow from Reid’s palm as they both ready themselves. As they both press themselves to me, protecting me. And I feel that protection through our Bond.

So strong. Their love is so fucking strong it’s almost frightening. Possessive and violent. I’ve never felt it like that before.

I’ve never felt so whole before.

A deep roar echoes all around us.

Something big. Something Dark.

Trees fall in the distance. More and more of them as whatever it is comes closer.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

‘Footsteps,’ Reid says quietly.

‘Big fucking footsteps,’ Cyrus agrees. ‘Another of Ivan’s half breed monstrosities. It has to be! And judging by the way it’s smashing trees as it heads this way, it’s a big fucker.’ We hear the familiar screech of the Dark Fae, all scrambling over one another. One monster, maybe. But a monster and a shit load of Dark Fae?

No way.

‘Let’s go.’ Cyrus grips me, and we leap into the water.

We swim down. I see it. The stone circle is right at the bottom. The golden runes shine in this endless darkness. I swim closer, kicking and reaching for the markings.

Deeper and deeper we go until my ears pop. They never let me go as they kick, dragging me with them.

Finally, I rest my hand upon the stones.

Nothing happens.

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