Page 84 of Dawn Unearthed

Rowen shook her head at our friend’s words. “The guys are watching. I guess we should let them join us.”

I could feel Rome through our bond, and I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him. He came through the trees, the darkness sliding away from him. Jaxton was by his side, and then Ash brought up the rear.

Ash nodded at all of us, his gaze lingering on Rowen. “You know that blessing spell works better with all four.”

Rowen’s eyes narrowed. “We’re of the three, and we’re the ones that needed to do this one. Another time, we might need earth, but for now, you know why you cannot be part of that spell.”

Ash nodded. “You’re looking for the darkness, and darkness can’t be part of it.”

I knew now why Ash had left. Rome had told me one night in the dark when it had been the two of us. There would be no hiding the past and no changing it. Not yet. However, there would have to be soon. A lot of changes needed to happen. As Rome slid his arm around my waist and spoke of our search for Oriel, I had to wonder what the next chink in our armor would become; what the next piece on the board would be and how it would move. We had already lost so much. But not all.

We were the Ravenwood coven, and while I was still learning my craft, I could feel the magic pouring through me. I no longer had the veil of secrecy put on me by Oriel or whoever he worked with or for. Nothing pulled me back anymore. Yes, I missed Rupert and the life we had, but that hadn’t been my truth. That hadn’t been the life I was meant to have. And while I would be forever grateful for the moments I’d shared with him, I knew I was where I was supposed to be now. Where I was always meant to be.

In Rome’s arms, with my coven, and my town.

We would fight, protect Ravenwood, and as changes beget more, we would roll with the punches and learn.

We would search for Oriel, and I would find my powers.

I would protect everyone I could.

I was not the same Sage I had been when I first came to Ravenwood. And I had found so much more than I had ever been looking for.

I was alpha of the Ravenwood pack. Member of the Ravenwood coven. Rome’s mate. Rowen and Laurel’s sister.

I was a witch.

I was part of Ravenwood.

And I would protect my home at all costs.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Laurel

Istared into the mirror and winced. My body ached, and it felt as if I were burning from the inside out. Then again, maybe I was.

I was dying.

I knew this. I knew that another spell like the one we had done on the battlefield would probably be my last. Of course, if I wasn’t careful,anycharm or use of my magic could be my last.

This damn curse had taken everything from me and those I loved. Now, it would take my life. I could say I didn’t want that to be the case, and I didn’t, but I knew what was happening next, and there would be no stopping it. I gripped the edge of the sink and forced myself not to let the tears fall.

Trace was gone. He was supposed to be the one for me. Somehow, he should have been mine. We had danced around each other for so long, taking our time to find who we were, but now, he was gone before we even had a chance to be with one another and overcome our mistakes. Soon, I would join him. I would join him on the other side because there was no coming back from this.

I wore only a bra and jeans, riding low on my hips as I stared into the mirror. Once again, I fought back a cry of rage and pain. If I kept doing this, I would die. I let out a breath and slowly picked up the satchel to rub my burns with the ointment and herbs Rowen and Sage had given me.

Rowen had tried her best to help me unbind myself from the curse, but she’d failed. As had I. Maybe it was because of the curse itself, or perhaps it was because Rowen hated that I couldn’t help her. She’d always helped me soothe my burns. Only I didn’t think she realized how bad it was. Nobody was allowed to realize that.

Not even my brother.

Especially not Ash.

I slowly cleaned the burns, and let the tears fall. Every ounce of pressure on the wound felt like I was dying. It wasn’t fair that this was happening, but at least it was me and not Sage. Sage was far too new to this world to deal with pain like this. She had been dealt blow after blow in her life already, and I did not want her to ever face this kind of pain. Everything hurt, and it literally felt as if I were dying.

I looked into the mirror and swallowed hard. Every time I used my magic, every time I pulled on the fire within me, it scarred me from the inside out. Iburnedfrom the inside out. This time, I had been too close to flaming out completely in a gulf of fire and ash.

My eyes were aflame. Pure fire—blue and red and orange and purple. Everything that fire could be, even in its most dangerous and beautiful form.

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