Shadow Kissed (Magic Side: Wolf Bound Book 4)

Savannah

Once the decision was made, we flew into motion. Aunt Laurel gathered her strongest sorcerers, Casey organized a team of bodyguards, and Jaxson spoke with the pack members manning the barrier, explaining what we were planning to do. I knew it had to be one of the hardest conversations of his life. At least they would be safe from the binding spell behind the wall of shimmering light.

What about me? Wolfie asked. I mean, I’ll take one for the team, but…

You’ll be fine. I’m casting the spell outward, not inward this time. And just like Casey doesn’t usually fireball himself, you’ll be okay.

I gotta say, that’s a relief, my wolf replied.

Ten minutes later, Casey pounded on the side of his RAV4. “Okay, people, suicide mission time, let’s rally. Savy’s got the plan, so listen up!”

Heart pounding, I faced the gathered crowd. My mouth went dry, and my throat was tight, but I forced out the words. “We’re about to attempt something very dangerous. If there was any other way, we’d take it. But to save werewolves on the other side of the wall from the Dark God’s power, we’ll need to bind their wolves.”

Murmurs flowed through the crowd, though most knew what to expect by then—the rumors had gotten around quickly.

I pointed to the vehicles parked by the barricade. “We’re going through the wall, and as soon as we’re out there, they’ll be on us. Be prepared. Circle up the vehicles and make a wall, and expect heavy resistance.” I looked from one person to the next, seeing hard and grim faces. “Let’s go take back our city.”

Casey beat on his car door again. “You heard her! Everybody load up. Glorious deaths for the sorcerers, while the wolves get to watch us die. Win-win!”

Half-stifled smiles erupted around the circle as werewolves and sorcerers sheepishly met eyes. We all knew that at this moment, all we had was each other.

My cousin had a knack for saying the wrong thing, but in just the right way. Also, for saying the wrong thing in the wrong way, but right now, he was winning them over with bravado.

I felt a flicker of pride.

As sorcerers began to load into the vehicles, Casey waved his arm. “Remember, wolfsbane and non-lethal spells only! No blasting anyone with magic. They may look like monsters, but these are our friends. They’re just having a…ruff day.”

He winked at me and whispered, “Get it? Ruff day?”

I glared at him and shook my head. “Jokes like that are going to get you killed.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, probably, but boy, have I lived.”

I felt that puns like those were more like inner death.

Jaxson stalked over, his body rock hard with tension and his expression as dark as I’d seen it. “I should go with you. I can resist the spell.”

I shook my head. “If we’re going to go back into the Dark God’s realm, you’ll need your wolf. We can’t risk it getting bound, and we won’t have time to make a circle of protection.” Seeing his face fall, I took his hand and entwined my fingers with his. “But I expect you to be there at my side the second after it goes off.”

He placed his head against mine. “I will be.”

Heart pounding, I wanted to hold on forever, but I knew it was time to face my fate.

I loaded up in Casey’s SUV. “Let’s do this.”

Grinning, my cousin blared the horn.

A sorceress waved her hands, and the shipping container that was serving as a makeshift roadblock levitated. Casey hit the gas, and his RAV4 roared through the shining wall of light, followed by a convoy of three more vehicles.

I shut my eyes against the light, but I still saw stars when I opened them again on the other side.

We skidded to a halt a hundred feet beyond the barrier. The other vehicles pulled up alongside to make a makeshift wall—not that it would slow the wolves much. One of Casey’s old girlfriends bailed out of the rear of the vehicle behind us and unleashed a massive gust of wind. The sparkling mists billowed back, away from our vehicles. That was our cue.

We all jumped out into a magic windstorm. As soon as our feet hit the ground, the crazy-eyed hybrids charged, jaws wide and claws out.

Riot guns echoed beside us as our bodyguards fired wolfsbane cannisters into the converging pack.

I blocked out the cries of pain as I ran to Laurel’s side, where the other sorcerers and sorceresses had gathered. There were eight of us in all—most beaten, bloody, and exhausted.

A crash of metal and glass thundered behind us, followed by howls of agony, but I didn’t look back. I had to trust that Casey’s people could hold the line.

Laurel extended her hands. “Everyone, link up, with Savy in the middle. We don’t have a circle to work with, so we’ll have to be her circle. Give her your strength and power. Help her control and shape the spell.”

They joined hands around me. I looked at their hard and fearful faces. Some I knew, some were neighbors, and some I’d never met before, but we were all risking our lives here together.

My stomach knotted with thankfulness and remorse, fear and hope.

Laurel began to chant a spell I didn’t recognize, and the others followed suit. Soon, their clasped hands started to glow, and magic began to swirl around the circle between us.

Don’t forget to leave me out of the spell, Wolfie half-teased. Twice bound is enough.

I’ve got you, I told her, then steeled my nerve and closed my eyes. Showtime.

The magic whirling around the circle poured through me, and I felt my body burn with power. Not a single power, like the Moon’s had been, but many—the signatures of seven others. Individual tastes, scents, and sounds merged into a maddening cacophony that threatened to overwhelm my senses.

Focus, Wolfie said. You’re a wolf—you can manage sensory overload.

With a deep breath, I pulled in more of their magic until it felt like my body would dissolve into pure light.

I had this.

I knew the spell. I hadn’t merely cast it—I’d lived it for decades. Once my aunt had taught me the words, I realized that they’d been wrapped around me my whole life.

Those words had been my life.

I began to speak them, enchanting them with the precision of my father’s runes and of Laurel’s spellcraft. The magic reverberated through my body and into the ground we stood upon.

Suddenly, a scream broke my concentration—a voice I knew well. Casey.

I whipped my head around, and horror flowed through me. One of the savage hybrids had my cousin pinned down, his arm in its jaws. Blood poured from his mouth.

The words seized in my throat.

A bodyguard threw up her hands. Light flashed, and a bolt of electricity shot forth. The werewolf and Casey flew apart, but hybrids attacked them both before he could recover.

“Complete the spell, Savannah!” my aunt shouted. “They’re getting overrun! It’s their only chance!”

I tore my eyes from my cousin and hardened my heart. I had to stop this. I hurled my head back and threw my voice toward the heavens.

But when I spoke the words, they didn’t come out in human speech, but as a mournful howl.

Thunder cracked, and energy ripped through me. All the air vanished from the center of the circle, and for a second, my voice had no sound.

Then an explosion of power rocketed outward.

I felt my life pour into this moment. The chains that had bound me would now bind others. The spell that had protected me from the Dark God’s control would now protect them.

The bright shockwave rolled through Dockside, ripping through the Dark God’s magic and burning away the mist.

I staggered forward, drained and dizzy, and dropped to my knees.

Or I would have, except strong hands grasped me and pulled me up. Jaxson held me against him as tears filmed my vision. “You did it, Savy.”

My body and magic were drained, and my soul felt ready to collapse into dust. But his touch meant that none of it mattered.

I wanted him to hold me forever, but I pushed back and took his hand. “Casey’s hurt.”

We rushed to my cousin’s side. There was blood everywhere, and he had huge gouges on his chest and arms. His eyes rolled toward me. “I don’t feel so good, cuz…”

“I told you to be careful!” Laurel sobbed.

Uncle Pete dropped down beside his son and pulled out a bright green flask with a shaking hand. “Hold on, Case, this is going to sting.”

Casey’s eyes went wide, and his pupils dilated in terror. “No! Not that, I choose dea—aaaaggghhh!” he screamed as Uncle Pete poured a smoking silver brew over his wounds. The flesh boiled and bubbled and slowly knit back together, and a reeking cloud of vapor billowed into the air, the thick scent of burning skin and hair.

I almost lost my cookies.

“Shit! It’s so bad!” Casey moaned as he rolled over. “Why can I taste it? It’s a fucking topical salve.”

My kneeling aunt buried her face against Casey’s arm, but after a moment, Uncle Pete pulled her back. “Give him a little space. He’ll heal.”

Casey looked up at me with a wild expression. “They fucking bit me! That’s how it spreads. I was in the spell, right? I’m not going get it, right? I don’t wanna be a werewolf!”

Pete looked to Laurel, and her face darkened. “We don’t know how the magic works, but your father’s potion seems to be doing the trick.”

My uncle waved to one of the other bodyguards. “We need to get him inside and under observation.”

We helped Casey to his feet, and then his old girlfriend—the one who had caused the windstorm—got under his shoulder and led him back to the car.

“I’m a war hero now, you know…” he muttered hopefully.

Clearly, he was going to be okay.

People rushed in all directions around us, helping the wounded as well as the hybrids, who’d all returned to human form and were wandering about in horror and confusion.

Jaxson gripped my hand as distressed cries rose around us. I could feel his heart break, and he wanted to go to his people. But we had work to do.

Tearing her face away from her wounded son, Laurel looked to me. “You did well. I think you saved a lot of people.”

She looked as exhausted as I felt, and I shook my head. “I bought us time is all. His magic is going to keep pouring out of the Dreamlands unless we can restore the Moon’s spells and seal the rift.”

She nodded, tired lines showing on her face, and turned to her husband. “Pete, do you have the talisman?”

He pulled two potions out of his satchel. “Yes, but you’re in no shape to keep fighting. Drink these.”

We each took one, and a subtle dread of what it might be weighed on my shoulders. I was about to go face down the Dark God himself, and yet, that potion—drinking it was a truly terrifying prospect.

I popped the top, clinked potions with Laurel, and kicked it back.

I regretted everything I’d ever put in my mouth the moment I tasted it. The sticky black substance made my stomach churn, and I was certain it would have been better to have been born without a tongue.

“This is particularly bad, Pete,” my aunt choked.

“What was that?” I whimpered.

He grinned wide. “Homemade restorative—think Red Bull for magic. I make them extra bad so that I’m not tempted to drink them myself and stay up late.”

Even as he spoke, I felt new energy begin to flow through my veins.

He handed the talisman to Laurel. “Be careful, my love.”

She kissed him. “Take care of our son. Make sure he doesn’t turn into a wolf.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

Laurel sent the sorcerers and sorceresses who had helped us back to the barricade. “Get some restoratives from Pete and prepare to move the wall. We need to seal off the area immediately around the rift. Lock him down.”

They rushed away, and she turned to Jaxson and me. “Should we get this over with?”

“We’ll take my truck,” Jaxson said.

We headed back across the flickering barrier, and Sam bolted over. “You guys aren’t going without me.”

I grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

As Regina and Pete took control of the chaos, we loaded into Jaxson’s truck, and then, with a set of bodyguards in the SUV behind us, we roared into Dockside.

The place was in shambles. Buildings had been looted and were burning. Lost and confused people wandered aimlessly.

Jaxson’s anguish was so strong that I was sure even Laurel could read its signature.

He pointed toward the skyline in the northeast. “There’s a glow on the horizon, over in the direction of Eclipse. That bastard better not have opened a fucking rift in the middle of my restaurant.”

Luckily, it wasn’t there.

As we rumbled across the Diagonal, Jaxson hit the brakes, then began to back up.

In the middle of the street, two blocks up, a black hole burned in the sky, from which the sparkling fog poured out. Light shone from its edges, but there was nothing in the center.

“Found it.” He flipped us around, and we drove forward cautiously. The closer we got, the greater the destruction: overturned and burning cars, broken windows, and everywhere, scared and confused people.

Laurel called the Order to report what we’d done and the location of the rift.

We pulled to a stop half a block away and got out.

The rift floated about a foot off the ground. As if riding the mist, the energy of the Dark God infused everything around us. My spell had cleared the air…but not for long.

“Are you sure you have to go through?” Laurel asked me as the team of bodyguards formed a perimeter around us and the rift.

I nodded. “We need to recharge the last of the orbs, or he’ll break through again.”

She took my hand. “Please be careful. I can’t lose you. Not again.”

Sorrow sank into my gut, and I gave her a hug to hide my grief. “I can’t lose you, either. Or Casey, or Uncle Pete. I swear I’ll be back.”

If she were a wolf, she’d have known that I didn’t believe my own words. But Laurel just squeezed me tighter. “I’m not closing the rift until you come out, you hear?”

“Do it at the first sign of trouble. I have a talisman from the Moon. We can use it to escape, if need be, but I’m not sure where it’ll send us. If the Dark God shows his face, shut it instantly.”

I turned away quickly so she couldn’t see my tears and stepped up in front of the rift. It radiated with his signature, vibrating through us into the ground—a slow hum, a song of death and destruction.

I took Jaxson’s and Sam’s hands and gave each a smile. “Here we go. Let’s end this.”