Destiny Forgiven (Shadows of Destiny) (19 page)

_{“What kind of magic can she do? It’d have to be pretty extraordinary to take that place down.” She snorted. “I mean, like, epic shit.”}

_{“I’m not exactly sure what she can do now, but a few years ago, she was the most talented sorceress I’d ever seen. Whether she’s learned to control it is a different matter. But she’s the best chance we have.”}

_{She chewed her lip for a quiet moment then sighed. “You know this plan is pretty far-fetched, right?”}

_{“It’s all we’ve got. I’d understand if you wanted no part in it. I don’t even know if Sage will help us. If you want out, just say the word. I’ll take you somewhere safe and come for you when I’m done.”}

_{She shook her head. “No. I’m in. When do we start?”}

_{Part of him wanted to smile. It was like old times – Maddi and Cee out to face the world, have adventures, chase invisible dragons. But this wasn’t pretend. They didn’t get to go home to a warm meal and cozy bed at the end of the night. Her determination, while admirable, made him tense with worry. If anything happened to her… He didn’t think she had any idea how important it was that she just existed right now. All she had to do was keep breathing and he could go on, he could keep running from the evil nipping at his heels. She was his reason for living. He should be locking her in a room, wrapped in bubble wrap right now, not sending her on some nearly-impossible expedition.}

_{She made a sound of impatience. “Earth to Maddox. I said when do we start?”}

_{Never was probably not the answer she was looking for. He sighed. “When you can walk again.”}

_{“I think I can now.” With a grimace, she shifted against the wall.}

_{“No. It’s too soon.”}

_{She stuck her hand out. “I’m okay. We need to move.”}

_{He was loath to let her up, but she was right. They had to get out of there or risk being caught. Taking her elbow, he pulled her to stand, holding most of her weight.}

_{Once she was on her feet, she tugged away. “Let me do it on my own.” When he let her go, she sagged against the wall for a minute. He rushed in to help but she batted him away. “Just give me a sec.” A deep breath
, then she straightened and came away from the wall. She looked up at him and smiled. “I can walk. I’m not sure I can fly though.”}

_{He shook his head. “You’ll take my bike and the boy and go straight to the protection of the colony. When you can shift without pain, and only then, you can begin your search for James.” His instruction had come out sterner than he’d intended. Would she balk or obey?}

_{Still smiling, she indulged him. “Yes, dear.”}

_{He couldn’t keep from chuckling.
“Smart-ass.” Gently, he pulled her into his arms. She let her head
thunk
onto his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck.}

_{They held each other silently. He buried his face in her hair, letting the scent overtake him. He’d been so close to
losing this.}

_{She squeezed him tighter. “I missed you so much, Maddox,” she mumbled into his shirt.}

_{“I know,” he whispered. “But you have me now.”}

_{She peeked up at him with big, hopeful eyes. “Forever?”}

_{“Forever.”}

_{Just then, Keyon stumbled in, interrupting the moment with a shout. “Bad men!”}

_{Felicity jumped out of Maddox’s arms and Maddox moved just as quickly. He tossed her a pair of pants he’d grabbed from the prison. Then he shoved the first aid supplies, food, and weapons into the pack. “I put a cell phone in your bag. Call me every twelve hours.” If anything happened to her, he could track the phone. It gave him some relief about separating. “So tomorrow at eight in the morning. Understand, Felicity?”}

_{“Yes.” When he turned around, Felicity was dressed and motioning to Keyon.}

_{“Come with me where it’s safe,” she told him.}

_{He shook his head. “There’s nowhere safe. Bad men everywhere.”}

_{“They’re coming here and they’ll take you. You’re a smart boy and very brave. Come with me. If you don’t like it in the village, I’ll help you get back here.”}

_{Keyon eyed her suspiciously.}

_{She leaned down to look him in the eye. “I promise I’ll bring you back when it’s safe, if that’s what you want.”}

_{Maddox stepped in when the boy didn’t answer. Using his best alpha voice, he commanded, “Shift.”}

_{Immediately, the boy obeyed. She picked up the bunny and cradled him in her arms.}

_{“Take the bike,” he told her. “Go straight to the colony. If it’s not safe, keep going west. I’ll find you.”}

_{She gave him a sardonic smile. “I’ve heard that before.”}

_{He took her chin in his fingers and tipped her head back to study her one last time. If he died today, or tomorrow, he’d die knowing he did what was right. After a quick kiss on her lips, he buckled the backpack on her then shoved her toward the cavern exit.}

_{“Go,” he said. “I’ll lead them away.”}

_{Night had fallen in the forest when they left the cave. It would help their escape. He held her elbow as they stumbled over the boulders in the dark.
When they reached the bike leaning up against a tree, Felicity turned to face him.}

_{“Be careful.” Her voice wobbled, sounding as if she was nearly in tears.}

_{Leaving her felt wrong. Instinct nagged at him to keep her by his side, but he had to ignore it, even though it felt like ignoring the need to breathe. He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck. “If something happens to me…”}

_{“It won’t.”}

_{“If it does… Will you remember me as I was? And not…not…”}

_{“Don’t worry.” She leaned her face against his arm. “I’ll see you again soon.”}

_{Emotion lodged in his throat. He swallowed it down.}

_{“I always remember the good.” She kissed one
of the scars on his arm.}

_{Shouts in the distance reminded him of their situation. He let the warrior in him take over and he stared down at her. “Find James. Be safe.” He squeezed the back of her neck once
and let go. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”}

_{Without another word, he turned and walked away, morphing his appearance as he went. He’d pretend to be one of the soldiers in the search party
and return home. Home to
Marwolaeth Du
. One last time.}

_{B
ran
ches whipped past her face as Felicity drove through the forest, trying to stay on the widest trail she could find. Keyon stayed huddled against her stomach. She hoped he was faring okay. The ride was bumpy and her ass was getting sore already. Twice she’d almost wiped out making a sharp turn.}

_{She slowed down when she’d left the soldiers a few miles behind. The trail opened up into a dirt road and the moonlight shined on the path ahead. She knew the area well enough to find her way home.}

_{Home. How long had she been away from the colony? Before
Marwolaeth Du
, she’d been traveling across Wales, staying in small rebel camps, meeting with other leaders to make future plans. She’d been called home when River had been taken. Had their whole team been captured that night? Fear raced down her spine. For all she knew, there was no home. The sorcerers could have destroyed it by now, or taken every last one of them. How strong was the colony’s defense? She’d seen the fortress now. The small colony wouldn’t have stood a chance if the Council wanted to destroy them.}

_{Felicity’s body ached terribly as the road went on. How long had she been riding? An hour? Her legs felt numb. The scratches on her face burned. She’d barely gotten a chance to catch her breath after falling from the sky only a few hours ago. Then there was Maddox’s impromptu surgery on her arm that still
throbbed.}

_{Finally the
turnoff toward the colony appeared on the right. She slowed down to a crawl and switched off the headlight. If the colony had been taken over by the Sorcery Council, she wasn’t about to announce her arrival.}

_{She parked the bike far enough away that the loud engine couldn’t be heard. Hugging Keyon against her chest, she crept toward the front gate. The first good sign was seeing the tall steel door standing strong as it always had. The second sign the colony was safe was spotting the friendly
, orange-haired Jax up in the tower at the gate.}

_{With a sigh of relief and a wide smile, she stepped up to the gate. Protected by magic, only the
gatekeeper knew the password, which changed day to day. Jax was one of several gatekeepers and a close friend.}

_{Upon seeing what probably looked like a crazed haggard girl walk out of the forest, Jax shot up in his seat. “Name and business with the shifters?” he spoke into a loudspeaker.}

_{Weeks of pent-up emotion – agony about not knowing if she’d ever see home again, her friends or family – it all spilled over. Breathing heavily, she slumped over and half laughed, half cried. “It’s me. Felicity.”}

_{Jax jumped from his seat and gazed at her a moment. Then he flew down the stairs. “Oh gods!” he said as he approached her. “We never thought we’d see you again.”}

_{He wrapped his arms around her and she collapsed into them, shifting the bunny to the side to avoid squishing him. Sobs wracked her body and she wanted to die of embarrassment. She didn’t usually cry in public.}

_{He set her away then looked her over. “Are you all right? Let’s get you inside.” After he murmured the password, the gate creaked open, and there sat her little home.}

_{A tiny town made up of quaint cabins. The streets lit up with lanterns. It was just how she remembered it. Had it really been three years she’d been away?}

_{The gate clanged as it shut behind her. She held a hand over her mouth and tried to clear the tears from her eyes so she could actually see.}

_{“Dalton will want to see you,” Jax said, placing a hand on her lower back.}

_{He guided her toward the town center, where the colony leader, Salvatore, worked. Would he be in his office? It must’ve been at least ten o’clock at night.}

_{Jax mumbled into a walkie-talkie as they moved through the town. The streets were empty, but it still felt warm and cozy. Keyon had lifted his head and his little nose twitched as he took everything in. What was she going to do with him?}

_{“Could you find me some clothes, Jax?” she said.
“Something that would fit a seven or eight-year-old boy?”}

_{Jax’s gaze flicked to the bunny then he nodded and barked instructions into the walkie-talkie again. “Salvatore’s been sleeping in his office,” he told her as they approached the town hall. “He’s been worried sick.”}

_{“What happened to the rest of us? Is River okay? And Ezra?”}

_{“Yes. During the chaos, Ezra managed to free him. You were the only one they caught.”}

_{She exhaled in relief. “Oh, thank the gods!”  No one else had been subjected to that awful prison. Of course there were others there – shifters from other teams, some she knew only by name. Now that she’d been there, experienced fully the nightmare of imprisonment, the reality of the situation sunk in. They all might be dead. Maybe this rescue mission would end up as a body recovery.}

_{Jax stopped at the door and she turned to face him. “Glad you’re back, Felicity.”}

_{She nodded but didn’t trust herself to speak. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes again.}