Magick (The Unwanted Series Book 1) (11 page)

My voice bounds in the air for all to hear. “I do accept the Crown and my birthright. These are my royal guard; I gesture toward Rhydian.”

My choice is proclaimed. That’s when the tide turns, and all there move to one knee, bowing their heads — including the High Coven on the steps of the Hallowed Halls.

Chapter Thirteen

W
hen you have the power, it’s interesting to see how others back off when you show that power — but not beforehand. I feel how it could be abused, and part of me wants to abuse it. Why not? Because that’s not who I am. Or was? This new part of me is addictive. My whims can be realities. My magick is that powerful I feel it. It’s a little scary.

My center, my base is home, and after my display of magick to knock the Wiccan High Coven off their pedestal, I transport myself back there. I’m at the front door, and I feel like a visitor. I hesitate opening the door, knowing the chaos from the other night will still be present. Mrs. Scott needs to be put to rest, and I’m not sure how I do that, but she deserves better than lying in the foyer.

I take a deep breath and open the door and push it forward. I’m caught in surprise, because nothing is messed up or wrecked. The floors are clean, the furniture upright, the lights back on walls and hanging from the ceiling. The large, round table is still in the middle of the foyer, with a large bouquet of flowers. Someone has to be here. I pray it’s my father, knowing full well that isn’t likely.

“Hello? Anyone here?” I raise my voice.

There’s no response, and although it’s expected, my heart sinks. Someone must have cleaned the house… but who? Where is Mrs. Scott?

The back door opens, and I walk toward the kitchen. I know it won’t be Mrs. Scott, but I can’t help it, I want it to be her so badly. When I see Rhydian, Cross and Tullen enter, I try to lift my mood, but it’s tough.

Tullen comes over and hugs me. “Willow, I’m sorry for everything that has happened, and all that will.”

“Ah, thanks… I think. Can you predict the future?” I ask him.

“I’m highly intuitive, and I can sense the struggle and grief. It’s part of your journey. It’s a tough one, but I certainly think you have the guts to face it.” He pulls back and goes to the fridge grabbing a water.

Cross chuckles. “That show at in the Lunar Fields certainly has got folks a talking. All groups are a little intimidated by ya show of power. I mean who ever thought the monarchy was dead didn’t realize it changed zip codes. What’s ya next move?”

I look at him sideways.

“What? Come on, Willow I’m not always in the opposite opinion.” His smirk tells otherwise. Tullen throws Cross a bottled water and they sit at the kitchen table and each grab an apple from the bowl in the center.

Rhydian is studying me. His hazel eyes are searching and it hits me. They are the ones who cleaned everything up and Mrs. Scott’s body must be somewhere safe. His nod in confirmation was all I needed and I hugged him with my cracked voice, to say thank you. I looked over to Tullen and Cross at the table and smiled despite the tears that ran down my cheek. Cross looked away as if he didn’t want to reveal his emotion. For a big brute, he does have a sensitive side and I think I like him more than when I first met him.

Tullen excuses himself and transports back to the Lunar Fields, where Quinn is discussing issues with Eoin, head of the Guardians. Since my display, there is concern regarding the High Coven’s abuse of power since Harkin’s passing.

The quiet moment of sitting ends when Rhydian looks out the bay window from the kitchen. “Willow, you have visitors and one of them is that Valkyrie friend of yours.”

The doorbell rings thirty seconds later. I head to the front door, and Emily grabs me into a hug and whispers in my ear, “I’m so happy you’re okay. I told them everything, because we need to get Lucy and your dad back.”

“How do you know?” I asked her.

“I fought them, they wanted me but took Lucy. They already had your Dad.” Emily wrings her hands walking into the house.

Daniel has his hands in his pockets and is tentative about coming into the house. Marco gives me a quick hug, and then takes a step back when Rhydian and Cross enter the foyer.

“So, let’s all get to know one another. Follow me to the living room.” Emily says with a smile. Emily ushers everyone except Daniel and me.

Shutting the front door behind him, Daniel takes a step towards me and hugs me tight.

“Wills, I’ve been so worried about you.” He leans back to look in my eyes. “I’m so sorry about Mrs. Scott. Emily told us. It all sounds crazy… are you okay?”

I have a hundred things I want to say, like, No, I’m not okay, and I could be going crazy because it’s not a dream. But instead, I say, “Yes, I’m okay.”

He kisses me on my forehead and hugs me tight, then releases me. As we walk toward the formal living room, he hooks his arm around my shoulders. It feels normal and comfortable. It’s Daniel and Willow, like we’re at school walking down the hall.

“Did you know Marco is a shape shifter? My boy’s a shifter and my girl’s a Wiccan queen.”

The word queen makes me shutter. I don’t know how I feel about that word as a descriptor of who I am. I focus on the information about Marco, I didn’t know he was something different but I don’t doubt anything anymore. I’m surrounded by magick and different beings, from Guardians and Valkyrie and now shape shifters. At this point I may be immune to knowing who is different.

Rhydian tenses when Daniel and I walk into the room. I look over to Emily, who’s in deep discussion with Cross and Marco.

Rhydian walks over and shakes Daniel’s hand, and introduces himself and Cross.

Emily, Marco, and Cross come over.

“So, we may have a plan,” Emily announces. She explains that Lucy and my father have to be held somewhere in the Ember region. She’s aware of a scry we can use if we bring familiar objects of my father’s and Lucy’s, which would be able to point us in the right direction. It sounds like a long shot, but it’s still the best idea we have.

“What about a bait and switch plan instead?” Rhydian asks.

Cross nods in agreement.

Emily eyes Rhydian. “Like what?”

“Me,” I say. “Whoever plans to overtake the Crown really wants me, my magick that is. It might be Evan, I overheard him talking.”

Emily shakes her head quickly. “No, Evan wouldn’t hurt you, Will.” She pauses to look at Rhydian. “Did you tell her what they did to him — him and Meghan?”

“Who is Meghan?”

Rhydian answers, “his wife.” He paces in front of Cross and continues, “Harkin arranged a marriage for Evan to a higher coven Wiccan, but Evan didn’t want to have anything to do with it. He was an outcast, because he was a bastard. His bloodline was in question, including where his power came from. It wasn’t long after your mother passed away that Evan ran away with Meghan, who is of fae and demon decent. They married in secret. When they were found by the Guardians and put in front of the High Coven, Harkin was embarrassed and angry. He felt betrayed by Evan, and took his blooded heritage back from him, which in turn removed any familial physical Wiccan powers that descended from him to Evan, and condemned him to live outside of Edayri. He also executed Meghan. Evan is not full Wiccan, but part demon. The magick blood that was removed only empowered him. He’s been rallying with demons and fae to take down the caste system.”

Why didn’t my father tell me any of this? I can’t imagine the hurt Evan has. Daniel hugs me closer to him in comfort.

“They killed her? Why didn’t they do the same with my father or me? Oh, my…” I feel sick to my stomach.

“Your father’s family is high in the noble caste system, part of the High Coven at one time. You’re pure Wiccan, and your mother was next in line for the throne. It’s certainly not an even playing field for Evan,” Rhydian replies.

“What is Theon? He’s always with Evan,” I ask Emily.

“He was one of Evan’s cousins on his mother’s side. Theon is part Wiccan and demon, too.”

How does she know all of this, and why would she not have said anything before? Oh right the last time I saw Emily, Rhydian was saving me from a blood warrior demon and transporting us away. I pop up away from everyone and look out the window. The silence haunts me for the death of an unborn child and their mother.

When I turn around, Cross is leaning on the entryway post. “I say our best hope is to dangle Willow to capture Evan and Theon. They must have your father and your friend. They’re the only ones who get a payoff for your cooperation.”

Rhydian agrees, but Daniel objects.

“You can’t use her as bait. You don’t know who or what will come to her, so how can you control the scene?” Daniel bites out.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Willow is quite capable,” Rhydian snaps at him.

I get between them and put my hand on Daniel’s chest before he goes any further with Rhydian. “I’m all right,” I say to Daniel. “It’s a good plan, and we have limited options.” Daniel has no idea how I can handle myself now, the magick I possess that is part of me.

“Okay, then I want to be there.”

Rhydian laughs mockingly. “You are a casualty waiting to happen. You don’t belong in Edayri.”

Daniel gets close up on Rhydian. “You don’t belong here. Wherever Willow goes, I’m going. Got it?”

“Your funeral,” Rhydian says, closing what little gap they had.

Marco and I separate the two of them, and I walk Rhydian across the hallway to the formal dining room.

“What are you doing? Daniel is my boyfriend,” I say.

“He’s going to get you hurt or killed. He’s got no skills, and he’s all territorial about what you can and can’t do. Why would you put up with that?” Rhydian’s voice keeps rising as he speaks. “Your world here is ending, and you can’t take him with you.”

“You don’t get to make that choice for me!”

“Which choice is that? Abandon your duties or play house with him?” He looks toward Daniel and sneers. Daniel returning the sneer back.

I tug Rhydian’s arm and move us so Daniel and the others can’t readily see us. “What do you care, Rhydian?” I yell at him.

His switch is flipped and his eyes close. “I don’t. I’m sorry; it’s not my place to advise you on such matters.” He turns to walk away, but I stop him.

“You’re not saying something. Tell me.”

I search his face. The one full of compassion that now is turned to stone. He looks down at me, his hazel eyes no longer the depth of colors I can get lost in but now cold and distant. His strong jaw is set, the muscle ticks at the strain. He steps back from me and exhales and messes his hair with one quick stroke of his hand. His full bottom lip almost looks like he’s pouting. I’m not sure what I want to hear, but I know something is off. It’s like I’m hurting him, but how’s that possible when I’ve known him only for a few days?

He turns away from me and over his shoulder as he walks out the entryway he says, “it’s not important. You need to focus on other things.” I stand in the dining room alone.

Chapter Fourteen

B
ang. Bang. “Open up, police.”

I walk into the foyer everyone seems preoccupied, except for Daniel, who goes to the door. It all happens in slow motion. Daniel reaches for the door and is blown back with a giant ball of light, flying past me to the foot of the staircase. His head smacks down, and blood spits out his mouth.

Cross, the closest to me, leaps and pushes me back into the dining room. Marco shifts into a tiger and charges the door. Voices are raised, but all I hear is a roar and growls from Marco. Rhydian is in full warrior mode, sword raised on three large demons who are entering the house.

Emily turns toward Daniel, then turned back around in an armor that looks brass like with filigree gold designs. Her body is covered in key areas and open in others. Her helmet is the most ornate like a war eagle with raised metal feathers back and down her head and a face structure covering her forehead down to her nose. She screams and throws her hands in the air, bringing them down with such force the house shakes and lightning cracks outside. Cross is getting off of me and morphing into full warrior mode himself. His eyes are wide and watching her and his crooked grin shows a dimple in his cheek. Time catches up to my brain and everything speeds up.

Cross helps me up. “Ready? Let’s get these fuckers.”

I don’t hesitate. This is my house! My hands are glowing and swirling with the design of my power. I follow him outside, and everyone is fighting all around the house, with the double doors off their hinges. Cross charges, and I’m about to follow when I hear Daniel gurgle and struggle to breathe.

Oh my Goddess — DANIEL! I was next to him in a split second. His body is lying oddly on the stairs, and I’m afraid to move him. I kneel down and brush his hair from his eyes.

“Daniel, can you hear me?”

His eyes move and he looks at me with utter pain. In all my power, I’m stunned. I know how to defend myself, transport, but I have no idea what to do to help Daniel. I’m shaking, listening to the fighting outside.

I scream at the open door, “Help me!” Daniel starts choking. “Rhydian Help me!” I scream.

Rhydian and Emily are at my side. Emily is covered in blood, she looks at me and says quickly, “As a Valkyrie I might be able to bring him back to be a warrior. You wouldn’t have to be separated.” I look from Daniel to Emily to Rhydian. Fighting is still happening outside on the front lawn.

“No, no, no. I can’t make that choice.”

He’s dying in front of me. “Rhydian, please heal him. Do everything you can. I don’t know what to do. Please! Oh my god, this can’t be happening.”

My hands glow and I try to touch him but it burns me. I don’t know what I’m doing! Emily grabs me and pulls me away, I’m screaming this can’t be happening! Daniel! Rhydian lays his hands on Daniel. His body lifts off the stairs and hovers as Rhydian guides him to the floor. I don’t hear the fighting stop, but Marco — in tiger form — lies at my feet while Cross stands next to us.

“It’s going to take him if he’s not careful. We need Quinn,” Cross says under his breath.