Electric Heat (26 page)

And her fingertips met open air on the other side. The pain
faded, leaving her skin tingling and slightly numb.

She would have cheered if she’d had enough breath. The
static was up to her shoulder now.

Not willing to give up, Raven continued to push forward and
swallowed the scream building at the back of her throat. Once her hand broke
through the other side, it was as if the clay grabbed her and sucked her
through. The previously slow torture of the static flashed through her for a
vomit-inducing second. Then she found herself on the other side of the door, on
her hands and knees, trying to remember how to breathe again.

She was shaking so hard it took two tries before she managed
to stand. It felt like she’d been through a scrubbing system, only it had used
steel wool to peel away her skin and read her soul.

The room was pitch black, so even wither creature’s help,
her vision barely penetrated the gloom. Something in her chest loosened when
she saw the door had a knob. She wouldn’t have to exit the same way. Her skin
felt sensitive to the air, even her hair hurt. She closed her eyes and searched
for her creature, panic threatening to drown her when it didn’t respond.

Where are you?

A thin barrier snapped, and the creature rose from her bones,
stole through her system, wrapping around her in a comforting hug. The residual
pain faded. Breathing became easier. The pressure in her head vanished.

Thank you.

She felt its rumble of pleasure.

There was no more hiding from her creature, and she
suspected there never had been. It had granted her time to become accustomed to
its presence instead of taking over. She could only be grateful.

Raven grabbed the knob on the door and yanked.

It opened easily.

Light spilled into the room, quickly followed by Durant. He stumbled,
nearly fell before catching his balance. He whirled, his eyes golden, his fangs
prominent as he roared.

When he saw her, he charged.

Before she could brace for impact, Raven found herself
smothered against his chest as he wrapped her in his arms. His heartbeat thundered
under her cheek, and she brushed her fingers against his back to soothe him.
“I’m fine.”

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled. Only
after a full minute did his shoulders relax and he eased back. Before she could
guess his intent, his mouth covered hers. There was nothing soft or caring in
his touch. This was pure dominance. Heat flooded her system at his loss of
control. Hunger roared through her, and she kissed him back, raking her fingers
through his hair, wanting him closer.

Someone cleared their throat, and it took Raven a second to
gather her wits and remember they weren’t alone. She ducked her head, pleased
at the little growl of displeasure that vibrated in Durant’s chest.

She peeled herself away, the separation almost painful. Her
creature hissed in annoyance, her fingertips aching as claws threatened to
erupt, wanting to tear into whoever had interrupted.

Durant pressed up against her back, cuddling her close, his
blatant arousal like a brand against her lower back. Surprisingly, the creature
eased back, pleased at the attention. Durant placed his hand over her stomach, his
fingertips playing with the small gap between her shirt and pants. A single claw
scraped against the delicate skin, and she shivered as desire burned hotter.

All lust was doused when Randolph entered the room. She
pulled away from Durant and tugged down her shirt as far as possible. Durant
tucked her behind him, again the protective alpha male, and she couldn’t help placing
her hand between his shoulder blades. Muscles flexed under her touch, and she
shivered, imagining again what it would be like to be naked and wrapped around
him.

When she realized that he was projecting his thoughts to
her, she smacked him and pulled away. “Stop it.”

He glanced over his shoulder, his unrepentant lust gleaming
back at her. That’s when she realized he’d been holding himself back for fear
of scaring her off. He wasn’t manipulating her, not really, he just wanted to
show her what she was missing.

Putting more distance between them helped her regain some
control. Conceding defeat, her beast sighed and settled back under her skin.

When she turned away, she saw the witches had lit the room.
They were scattered throughout, a hushed quality around them as they examined
the weapons stacked haphazardly throughout the armory. Some were hung on the
wall, others were on pedestals, a few even tossed into crates or stacked
against the wall. Curiously, there was even a cupboard full of books and
clothes that reminded her of druids.

Beyond a drawer filled to the brim with jewels, she saw
nothing to cause such reverence in the witches. “I don’t understand. Why go to so
much trouble to lock away a few weapons?”

She didn’t hold out much hope that what she saw would be a
match against the Prime.

“They’re not just weapons.” Heloise didn’t bother looking at
her as she reverently traced the air over the knife before her. “They’re
spelled. Only a chosen few are selected to wield them.”

Raven gingerly walked toward the wall to study a row of
daggers on display. Some were encrusted with jewels, while others were marred
with nicks and rust. “Spelled to do what?”

She copied Heloise and ran her hand in the air.

And received a nasty shock strong enough to singe the tips
of her fingers.

She saw Randolph doing the same and getting the same
results. He moved from one to the next, systematically working his way around
the room, as if searching for one particular item.

There was silence, and she glanced up to see Heloise looking
at her if she were an idiot. “Fight magic.”

“Right.”

Impatience shut down Heloise’s good cheer, and she shook her
head. “Unless they’ve chosen someone to wield them, these weapons are virtually
useless to fight off the Prime. We don’t have much time before the final wards
fall.”

Durant’s size made some of the daggers look like toothpicks.
He saw her looking and winked. “Throwing daggers.”

They were obviously made for a smaller hand…a woman’s hand.
Others, like the giant sword high on the wall, stood taller than her small
frame. As she drew near, she noticed a faint glow under the bench.

With great reluctance, Heloise moved toward the door. “We
need to go.”

Curiosity got the best of Raven, and she dropped to her hands
and knees. Pressed against the wall, as if it had fallen behind the bench and been
forgotten, rested a small sword. Her hands curled into fists to keep from
reaching for it.

“What did you find?”

Raven jerked back to see Randolph stooping beside her,
peering under the bench.

She hadn’t even felt him approach.

“Nothing.” She wanted to shove him away from the sword,
already feeling possessive of the damned thing.

When she pushed herself up and made to stand, he latched
onto her wrist. His hold was just short of bruising, not letting her retreat.
“What did you see?”

Durant quickly approached, a scowl darkening his face, and
Raven raised her free hand to ward him off, terrified what would happen if
Randolph got his hands on him. “I’m fine.”

He stopped a foot away; his legs splayed and arms crossed,
an imposing alpha determined to defend what was his.

Stubborn ass.

He was going to get himself killed.

Randolph tightened his grip, not liking the way her
attention wandered away from him, and she held back a wince. “I saw a sword.”

“What does it look like?”

Though she was reluctant to share, he wasn’t going to budge.
The thought of him reaching back and touching the blade sent rage swirling
through her. “Old. Little over three feet long. Two-edged. Pointed.”

 “It’s a bastard sword. It can be used for two-handed fighting
or single-handed for fast combat.” Randolph grinned, his eyes gleaming with
excitement. “Pull it out.”

She wanted the sword so much she nearly did as he asked. Instead
she stepped back, her heart pounding against her ribs so hard, she feared she might
have a heart attack. “No.”

Her creature rose, snarling in denial.

At first Raven thought it woke to protect her, but again and
again she found her eyes drawn to the light under the bench. The beast wrestled
her for control, trying to force her to do its bidding. Her head pounded under
the assault, and it was all she could do to hold her ground.

It didn’t want Randolph anywhere near the sword.

Randolph rose to his feet, hands raised and walked backwards
with no expression on his face.

A dark suspicion took root. Though he didn’t harbor an
animal, his power was very similar to her own. Possibly stronger than hers. If
the blade had selected her, the likelihood it might work for him as well left
her nauseous.

Knowledge flickered in his eyes, and she knew the same
thought had crossed his mind. Then he stopped, still within grabbing distance.
“Either you claim it, or I will.”

It was a threat, and a quite effective one.

She took a step toward the bench, and the creature stopped
throwing herself at the prison of Raven’s body, and sat hunched, ready to
pounce if Randolph came within swatting distance. Raven wasn’t sure she’d be
able to hold it back next time.

She suspected she was falling for one of Randolph’s schemes.
Why risk his life to grab the sword first when she could do it for him? If she
survived, she’d have to be prepared for him to come after it.

And he would eventually.

Raven knelt, and Durant came to her side. “You don’t have to
do this.”

But he was wrong. Without the sword, the fortress would fall
to the Prime. She would lose him. “If we don’t defeat the Prime here, he will
keep coming after me and destroy whatever stands in his way.”

His eyes flashed in protest, but he didn’t say a word. They
both knew it was true.

Surprisingly, the witches didn’t try to stop her.

They were up to something.

Raven lay flat and reached for the blade. Her fingers
brushed against the pommel, and electricity jolted up her arm and invaded her
body. For a few seconds, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, as the raw energy
swelled over her. Her muscles jumped and curled even after her fingers dropped
away. Just when she got her breath back, the sword scraped across the stone
floor, sparks flew, and it slammed into her palm.

Her fingers automatically curled around the hilt.

The jolt was gentler this time. Her teeth clicked together,
clenched tight until she thought they’d crack. Every hair on her body stood at
attention. Just when she thought her blood would boil, the agony dialed back.

Strong arms grabbed her ankles, and she was dragged
backwards.

Her arm was still partially hidden when Durant rolled her onto
her back. His golden eyes peered down at her, his obvious alarm making them
gleam wildly. He ran his hands down her body, searching for injuries.

She didn’t bother protesting, since he wouldn’t stop until
he was satisfied.

Randolph was impassive, but she could tell he was
disappointed.

Heloise and the others came near, smug smiles on their
faces. “There are precautions against those who think to steal what’s ours. I
would have explained if you bothered to listen, but you wanted to see the
weapons.”

Raven resisted the urge to kick the woman’s feet out from
underneath her. Instead, she brought her hand out from under the bench, the
sword firmly in her grip.

Randolph smiled in delight while the witches fell back, eyes
wide in fear. “That’s not possible. Only the Primes are strong enough to wield
these weapons.”

They looked ready to rip it from her hands and kill her for
daring to take it. Surprisingly, it was Randolph who blocked their way. “The
weapon has chosen.”

Now that Raven was holding the sword, she could see Randolph’s
golden energy swirl around him as he gathered his power to fight in her
defense. The witches’ energies weren’t as clear. Their power rose from the
ground in hues of greens and browns.

It was raw energy, but not pure like the energy she and
Randolph used.

Durant took her arm and helped her stand, and she leaned
into him, grateful for his support when her legs wobbled. The sword was surprisingly
light, fitting her grip as if it had been made for her. The blade was riddled
with nicks, the steel solid rust. One blow would cleave in two.

“This gives us a way to beat the Prime.” Raven thought they
would be pleased.

Heloise’s expression revealed nothing, but her eyes were
pitch black again. The venomous glares of the other two revealed that they had tried
to claim a weapon and failed.

“It’s sacrilege.”

“Then you feel it would be better if we all die?” Her hands flexed
on the hilt. She’d be damned if she’d give up her sword, not if it made it
possible to keep her pack alive.

 Chapter Twenty-two

T
hey
were back in the auditorium. The witches were shocked and outraged, unable to
take their eyes off the sword Raven held.

Durant leaned over and bumped her shoulder. “You look
badass.”

Raven snorted at the outrageous lie.

The mountain shook and groaned under the constant barrage,
the blasts landing almost on top of each other now. A particular nasty blow rattled
the room, and the towers holding the ceiling up swayed dangerously.

“Enough.” Heloise stood in front of the dais for everyone to
see. “The wards are falling. In less than an hour, they will be gone and the
Prime will be through.”

The room fell eerily silent. Raven went to stand next to
Heloise. “I don’t care about your secrets, I have enough of my own. I came
because you asked for my help.”

All eyes locked onto her, and it was all she could do not to
shift uncomfortably under their hostile stare. Her whole life she’d been
programed to hide in the shadows, never reveal herself for fear others would
find out she was different, and start hunting her in earnest.

“You don’t believe in me, but you believe in this.” Raven
lifted the sword in her hand. “I have no intention of dying here, but we need
to stand united if all of us are to survive.”

She pointed to the shifters. “We’ll do a three-pronged
attack, shifters against shifters, witches against witches, while my people try
to take down the Prime.”

“Do you honestly think this will work?” One of the wizards
in the back stood, the question both a demand and a plea for reassurance.

“I know if we do nothing, we’ll die. If we escape and do
nothing, he’ll grow stronger and decimate everything in his path. I don’t know
about you, but I don’t plan to stand around and do nothing while the world
burns.”

Heloise gave her a nod and took over the preparation. “We’ll
attack just before sundown.”

While Heloise put forth the rest of the plan, Raven slipped
out the back of the auditorium.

“Where are we going?” Dominic straightened from where he was
leaning against the wall. His frame was gaunt, he appeared haunted without his
wolf, but he hadn’t broken under the strain, which she would be forever
grateful.

“We’re going to talk to the infected, and see if they want to
get a little payback instead of being killed like lab rats.”

“Want some company?”

“I want more than that. I want you to lead the shifters in
battle, and kill as many of those bastards as you can.”

His smile was all teeth, his eyes vicious. “It will be my
pleasure.”

* * *

It was an hour before the prepared attack. Raven sat in her
room, staring down at the sword, wondering what the hell she thought she was
doing. She wasn’t a fighter; she barely held her own against a shifter in a
one-on-one battle.

How was she supposed to use a rusty sword to save the world?

“You look like you’re ready to run.” Luca peered into the
room as if unsure of his welcome.

“I don’t even know how to use this thing.” She lifted the
sword, waving it in the air as if it was a useless branch she found on the
ground. “How am I supposed to defeat a Prime?”

Luca smiled and stepped into the room. “I can help you with
that.”

Her brows rose in surprise. “Really?”

Luca crossed his arms, almost vibrating with excitement.
“Every child born with any power dreams of becoming a Prime. Students study
everything they can get their hands on in the hope that one day they might pass
their test.”

“Did you?”

His smiled dimmed, not masking his bitterness. “I’m a
wizard. I’m not eligible.”

Raven snorted at the ludicrous comment. “That’s their loss. I
don’t think being chosen has anything to do with power, but the purity of the
soul. You would have been chosen in a heartbeat.”

His smiled dropped away completely, and he straightened.
“Really?”

Raven lifted the sword and raised a brow. “You think you’re
not good enough because you’re not a witch. You’re wrong. I’m living proof you
don’t need to be a witch. When this is over, I want you to take the test. I saw
much more than weapons in the armory, and I think you might find the contents
very interesting.”

He nodded, hope shining in his eyes.

Raven shoved to her feet and inhaled deeply. “Now show me
how to use this thing.”

“You need to inject your power into the blade.”

Raven blinked. “Say again?”

Luca smiled at her confusion. “Sorry, it’s a first-year
lesson. I forgot you wouldn’t know.”

“Pretend I know nothing.” She rolled her eyes and muttered,
“You wouldn’t be far off the mark.”

“I doubt that.” He rubbed his chin. “You’re most likely a
natural. You and the sword bonded when it claimed you. When you call your
magic, the sword should automatically draw it.”

“Then what?”

His smile faded, and he shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s part
of the Prime training, and they don’t share that information.”

Raven lifted the rusted sword, twisting it this way and
that. “What do you say that we give this a try?”

Excitement gleamed in his eyes. “Can I watch?”

“Sure.” Actually, she preferred it. At least one of them would
know what the hell they were doing. “Here goes.”

She reached for the current that had once been so much a
part of her. Much to her surprise, the creature didn’t stop her. The familiar
sizzle rose up from her bones like a swirling storm.

Nothing happened.

She boosted the energy until the room crackled with it. The
kid’s hair stood on end, and he reached out to touch the invisible winds with a
wide-eyed look of wonder she found endearing. Conceding defeat, she allowed the
power to drop. “What did I do wrong?”

Luca’s brows scrunched as he cast about for answers. “I
don’t know.”

“Maybe I wasn’t chosen after all.”

But he was already shaking his head. “You were able to enter
the room, so the weapon was meant for you. You wouldn’t be able to lift it
otherwise. They change to fit the one who wields them, growing heavier or
lighter, the hilt altering to fit your grip.”

She tipped the rusted blade in the light. “Could it be
defective?”

A boyish smile flashed across his face, and he flipped his
hair out of his eyes. “More like user error.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Raven sighed and tossed the
sword on the bed, then stared at it as if would tell her its secrets if she
glared hard enough.

“They say the sword will guide your hand in battle.” Luca
offered the piece of information as if he felt bad for her.

Nothing like taking an untried weapon into battle with no
clue how to use it. “I heard Primes can remove powers. Is that ability connected
to the weapons or the Prime?”

He shrugged his bony shoulders. “Way over my head. They
don’t share the trade secrets with us seconds.”

They both fell silent, and a nasty shockwave hit the
mountain hard enough that she staggered. She turned toward the boy, her heart clenching
at the thought of sending him into battle. “When you go out there, stick as
close to the shifters as you can. Keep your back to the wall. I’ll ask my man
Dominic to keep an eye on you if it’s at all possible.”

Luca listened closely, as if memorizing everything she said.
It was so very little to offer him.

He swallowed hard, jitters at the upcoming battle dancing in
his eyes. “Anything else?”

“You’re quick with casting, but they’re stronger. Pick your
battles. Work with others to take down your opponents. Be sneaky. This is war.
There is no such thing as being fair. And for heaven sakes, stay alive.”

He straightened and gave her a two-fingered salute to his
forehead. “Aye-aye, commander.”

She scowled at him, but he only laughed and walked toward
the door.

“Hey, kid.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her, a brow raised in
question.

“After this is over, you should come visit me sometime.”

All joking dropped away as he stared at her with wide eyes.
“Like a sponsorship?”

Faced with such devastating hope, she found herself nodding.

“Thank you.” When he turned, he nearly smacked into the
wall. “Thank you!”

His footsteps thundered down the hall, and a second later,
she heard a whoop of pure joy, and she couldn’t help smiling. It eased the fear
that she might never see him again.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Raven whirled to see Rylan filling the doorway, staring
after the retreating wizard. “I gave him a reason to fight smart and stay alive.”

He heaved a sigh. “Do you know what a sponsorship means to a
witch?”

Her gut sank, and a deep
oh, shit
feeling took over.
“Sponsorship means giving money, like buying cookies from a little girl.”

Rylan entered the room, stopping short when he spotted the
blade on the bed. “Not exactly.”

“You’d think that I would have learned my lesson by now,
wouldn’t you?” She rubbed her brow and plopped down on the edge of the bed.
“What did I promise him?”

“After he graduates, you promised him an apprenticeship.
Only the top ten percent are ever chosen.”

“And let me guess…never any seconds.”

He shook his head. “Witches are very possessive. Because
he’s a second, they might make an exception.”

“But only if I make it a condition of fighting with them
today.”

“You’re catching on how this paranormal thing works. By
offering him a place, you give them the perfect opportunity to plant a mole in
your pack.” He gave a wry smile, then leaned forward to nudge the blade. It was
everything she could do not to twitch with the urge to lean over and snatch it
away. The instant his fingers touched the hilt, a puff of smoke rose, and he
jerked back. Two of his fingers were seared.

“Tell me that’s not what I think it is.” His voice was
bland, but it did nothing to hide the reprimand shading his eyes black.

Raven shrugged her shoulders and heaved a sigh. “Don’t get
all excited. It’s not like I can make it work.”

“But you can touch it.” It was an accusation.

“Yes.” Feeling another surge of possessiveness about the
darn thing, she pulled it closer, anything to put distance between him and the
sword.

“I bet the witches just love you right about now.”

Raven grimaced. “You could say that. If there wasn’t an
enemy literally at the gate, I don’t think you would have to worry about ever seeing
me again.”

Rylan laughed, his whole face relaxing into the handsome man
who made her breath catch. “I very much doubt that. If you put your mind to it,
you can do anything.”

If only that were true.

Another blow hammered the mountain, and all the good cheer
between them faded. “Tell me what you have planned.”

“We’re going to go out the main exit, along with most of the
witches and the shifters. There will be two small groups leaving through the
side exit to flank them.”

His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Did you volunteer to
take on the Prime, or did they order you to be the first line of defense?”

Anger radiated from him, and Raven carefully rose to her
feet when he looked ready to start his own witch hunt. “The Prime wants me for
something. By going out first, I can buy time to get the others into place.”

He stalked forward until he was right in her face, looming
over her as if to intimidate her into doing what he wanted. “You’re gambling
your life that he won’t try to kill you outright.”

Though she knew she shouldn’t, that he wouldn’t welcome her
touch, Raven laid her hand on his chest. Much to her surprise, his heart
thumped once beneath her palm before he pulled away.

Vampires didn’t have a heartbeat.

“Rylan—”

“Don’t change the subject. Do you think you can beat him in
battle?”

Raven glanced at the sword, then shrugged. “I can hurt him, which
is more than anyone else has been able to accomplish. I’m not a warrior, and
I’m sure as hell not a leader. I have no intention of dying, but if we don’t
strike now, we might not get another chance.”