Louis steadied himself. He’d been halfway out of the room, preparing for us to leave and unlock Mischa’s dragon mark. His purple eyes focused on her. “They will need a healer. I don’t see the future, but I sense paths that should be taken. I have an idea of what is to come.” He glided closer to her. “Your destiny is here, Grace, you just need to be patient.”
Grace’s eyes flicked to Tyson. It was one of the first times I’d seen her even glance in his direction since we’d boarded the plane from Stratford. The wizard lurched forward from his place against the wall. It was like the moment they locked gazes they were connected. He strode the five steps to reach her and she looked helpless, unable to tear herself away.
“What are you talking about, Louis?” asked Maximus.
His question wasn’t necessary. All of us could see and scent that something had shifted in the room. Tyson paused, his arm extended as if he was going to pull her toward him.
Grace’s face fell, and her eyes crinkled like she was about to cry. “Please don’t. I can’t take this from you anymore.”
She turned away, finally strong enough to tear her eyes from the handsome wizard. The energy between them shattered as she dashed from our apartment, disappearing out of the door. Tyson hesitated for a second, caught by surprise.
“Shit,” he finally cursed, before taking off along the same path.
I fought the urge to follow, I hated to see any members of my pack hurting, but I knew this was something they had to work out between themselves. Tyson and Grace’s fight had been a long time coming. Plus, we had bigger things to deal with. It was time to unlock Mischa’s mark.
I was consumed by many hectic thoughts as we crossed the town center heading toward the forest, so I wasn’t the first to notice the large gathering of mystics on the edge of the green tree line. Twelve of them. Which if I remembered correctly, was the entire bunch. They were cloaked, hoods up, and the feeling of something eerie, ominous even, was strong. I recognized Gerard and Quale, plus a few others whose names I didn’t know.
Earlier in the day Louis’ brother had informed us that he wouldn’t be around much. The mystics were balls deep in rituals and cleansings for the rise of the king. Brainless dickbags, couldn’t care less about the damage they might be causing.
“What do you want?”
Louis’ power laden voice was directed at the line of cloaked ones.
Quale, still near the middle, Gerard to his left. The majority were nameless, faceless members.
One of them spoke: “You need to train with us, the twins must learn of their mark powers.” There was the slightest hesitation before he continued. “And we have decided that if the quads want to continue residing in the sanctuary, they must join their powers together. Our people demand to know if they’re a threat.”
I bared my teeth. “We don’t have time for this. Plus, you have no jurisdiction over us.”
Quale stepped forward. “If you don’t have the basic instruction, the same as all the others who enter the sanctuary, then you will no longer be welcome here.”
Okay, great, maybe they did have some authority. We stared them down, but they didn’t seem worried.
“In one hour, we’ll meet you in the largest of buildings toward the sea side. It is the only one in yellow, you can’t miss it.” Gerard pointed. All of us could see the building. It towered high and shiny into the air, the color a very pale version of sunflower. “Do not be late. You will still be free to accompany the twins to the prison tomorrow, but today you must train.”
As one they turned and marched away. Only Quale looked back with an expression of unease. I could tell that Louis’ brother wasn’t always cool with what the mystics stood for, but it was his fate to serve the dragon king. It was hard to fight against one’s fate.
I pushed back a few strands of free hair, hooking it behind my ears. “So, not to state the obvious, but clearly the twins and the mystics are all in this together.”
Louis nodded. “Yes, they all have the same end goal: achieve the prophesy and raise the king. And while they understand that what they’re doing could bring about the next world-war of the supernaturals, they don’t care. It seems to be programmed into their DNA, as if they’re no longer capable of individual thought.” His wise eyes rested on Mischa. “Even you have fallen prey to the schematics of this entire endeavor. The only one who doesn’t seem affected is … Jessa. I wonder why that is…”
Awesome. Now I was the sole focus of everyone, like a freak-show creature.
“No one controls, Jess,” Jacob said, giving me a reprieve from the inspection. The fey was standing off to the side with his hands pressed to the tree, communing with nature. “Except maybe Braxton, but he uses good old fashioned charm and animal magnetism.”
I flipped Jacob off, which pretty much said everything I was thinking. Besides, if I denied it, many here would scent the lie. Braxton was close to my back now. I could feel him both there and in my chest, those ghostly ties between us, a sense of connection, more than we’d ever previously shared. And yet still not enough. I wanted the bond complete.
“Stalker much?” I teased in a low voice as his body pressed against the length of mine. I could feel every powerful muscle as they flexed behind me.
His voice was close to my ear. “Until we figure out what is happening to you in regards to the jinn, dragon king, and your mark, well, get used to it. My one and only priority is to keep you safe.”