Page 106 of Gift from the Stone

“Portal,” they all murmur after Draken and Lyker release a growl together, not giving them a chance to ignore the question.

“Where’s the portal?”

“The Forsaken Forest.”

“How the fuck is the Mastery able to get through the Forsaken Forest?” Caspian demands. By the tone and look in his eye, I’m guessing that forest is not somewhere people can typically go.

“Alliance with the creatures.”

“We don’t have long. This wall is building back up fast.” Tillman strains to say. My eyes grow wide as I take him in, and I fly to his side. His nose is bleeding and sweat is pouring off him.

“Jamie! What’s wrong? What’s happening, Tillman?” I ask, my tone laced in panic. My bond pulses against my chest, trying to reach out and caress him. I follow its push and untuck his shirt, laying my hands against his bare skin. His tremors immediately stop, and he takes a deep breath.

“Last question, Caspian,” he says much more clearly.

“What is the Mastery doing with the people they’re kidnapping?”

“Using their gifts to reward those who are more deserving. Like we will do with all of you when this is over.” Elder Rio snarls with more force. His eyes return to normal, letting us know their blocks are back in place.

“What all did you get, Tillman?” Corentin questions.

“A good bit. More than we’ve ever gotten before. They aren’t near as close to the top as we need, but it’s a very promising start.” He pants as he releases his gift from their minds.

“Drink these,” Jamie instructs, handing over two healing vials.

“Thanks. Palace team, start moving them out. Lyker, which one do you want to keep behind to show the rest of the pack?” Tillman asks, then drinks down both vials.

“Rylan, who do you think is going to make the biggest impression being named a traitor?” Lyker asks, turning to face Rylan, Cara, and the rest of their Nexus.

“Rio or Herva have been in this pack the longest and both are well respected. Herva is more friendly, though, so his betrayal will cut deeper.” Rylan sneers. I can see the hurt marring their faces. It speaks volumes about how well this secret was kept and how much their betrayal is cutting them.

“Herva it is then. The rest can go,” Lyker declares.

“Fuck, it’s going to take forever to line everyone up one by one and have little wanderer check for a mark. And it’s no doubt about to start another fight. And the pack is almost four hundred strong. Who knows how many Mastery scum is here,” Draken says, gaining everyone’s attention.

“There’s no other choice. As soon as Lyker shows up to the community center, still alive, and all nine Elders missing, the Mastery members are going to know. We won’t be able to delay the inevitable much longer. We need to get some backup here. Hopefully those in the pack who aren’t Mastery will be quick to join our side,” Tillman says firmly.

I gasp as my Memoria stone heats so fast against my skin, it startles me. I don’t even have a chance to call my magic up or say my lullaby as it sucks me right into a memory.

No one’s speaking. Me and my stranger sit silently, reading under my willow tree. I’m at least seventeen, the oldest I’ve seen of myself in any of my memories.

“Willow, look at this page but don’t read it, just look,” my stranger instructs.

“That’s a cruel request. How are you going to give me a new book and tell me I can’t read it?”

“You’re right, my girl. I’ll just keep it for myself.”

“Wait no, let me see,” I say, laying the book I was reading down on my lap.

As my stranger hands me the book and teenage me looks down, the memory stops like I clicked pause on a remote and the worn parchment comes to life, its words visible for me to read…

For most shifters, their dominance is the most potent of their abilities.

The use of their dominance typically will overshadow the strength behind both their magic and element. Though there is a limit to their reach. The most powerful shifter to be recorded was a Phoenix, now extinct, a millennium ago, who was recorded to hold eighty-three shifters in their command at once.

But for a shifter who is powerfully balanced, there is a way to stretch their reach beyond their own limits. A spell that combines both magic and dominance. Though never seen before, the possibility is always there.

The Commanding Spell.

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