Page 112 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Fuck! Kaius, go now!” Bastian shouted, his hands gripping Kaius’ shoulder and pulling him away from me.

“There’s no way I’ll get there in time—even with a truck I won’t make it!”

Bastian growled in frustration before he turned his eyes to Marcellus. “Marcellus, take him back to the palace, it’s the only way to make it.”

Marcellus moved quickly to take hold of my arm as Kaius stepped alongside him.

“No,” Bastian barked, eyes narrowed at me. Contempt marred the handsome angles of his face into something deadly. “She stays. If I’m losing both of you, I’ll needsomethingto attempt to replace that power.”

Kaius opened his mouth to speak, but the faint sounds of screaming filled the air and as we locked eyes, I nodded once.

I didn’t like it, being alone here with Bastian, but the people in the palace needed his help right now. I went to move away from both of them, but the scowl on Marcellus’ face deepened, his jaw clenching as he stepped towards me, a strong hand tipping my chin up as his bright eyes pierced into mine.

“I can do this,” I whispered, trying my hardest to convince him.

Convince myself.

Convince us all.

“I know.” His certainty hardened my shaky resolve, and as he let go of my face, the heat that lingered there could have been the start of a wildfire as it spread throughout my body.

I kept my eyes on the two of them, enjoying the sight of them together, as Marcellus began whispering words, and he gripped Kaius’ arm tightly. In a blink, there was nothing but empty space where they both had been.

The sound of another crack opening above roared through the air, and Bastian whipped his head towards me, golden curls bouncing wildly.

“If you’re here to help, then fucking help but do not get in my way.” He stalked away towards the magik beginning to arc towards the cracks—seeking them out, smoothing them over.

While I had experience casting wards, I had no clue what they were doing to fix them right now, and as my eyes leapt from person to person studying them, I still didn’t know.

Could what I did know work here? Where magik was so real, it stared me in the face everywhere I went.

Not the covert manipulations I practised back home with Nanna, but outwardly used. Proudly, without hesitation.

I knew whatever I could do at home, my magik had grown tenfold since I had arrived here, but I still didn’t know how toharness it. Fear and dread still swirled within me, a writhing mass that matched the dark entity that was pumping it through me, but I ignored it, forcing it away.

Taking a deep breath, I followed after him. Focusing on my magik, I dug into that swirling chasm of energy.

Coming to a stop in the loose circle of people, I drew it out—brought it forward, allowing it the freedom I so rarely had. Energy raced, and my body came alive, every part of me aware of the power that flowed through my veins; it was euphoric. A potent high that I had no doubt would become addicting, and I wanted nothing more than to bask in the way it engulfed my body.

But I couldn’t.

I worked hard to keep it under control, needing to focus my magik, not let it run wild. I couldn’t lose control, not now. I doubted there was anyone here who would be able to talk me down now that Kaius and Marcellus had gone.

Letting it play around my fingers, I revelled in its comfort even while the remnants of The Darkness’ energy tugged at me. Forcing my mind to concentrate, I thought back on the times I had renewed the wards at my house.

How Nanna, Briar and I would all work to reinforce them. Feelings of protection and safety flooded my mind, and I pressed it into my magik, letting them mix together before I forced it from my body. Pushing it towards the sky and into the only thing keeping The Darkness from those of us down below.

Its sudden loss almost had me scrambling to claw it back, to keep it within me, and it took all I had to maintain the connection, to keep feeding it more and more. Eyes tightly shut, I could still see the faint glow it cast.

Sweat gathered on my forehead, despite the frigid air, as I strained to keep my energy in line. As another crash soundedabove, the floor shuddered, and I lost my footing in the slippery mud.

My magik cut off with a loud snap, flying back into me to leave me a panting, gasping wreck on the ground. In the same moment, white-hot agony erupted across my back as something lashed across my skin.

The force of my scream tore at my throat as pain barrelled through me, skin splitting as warm blood trickled down my side. My vision blurred, but not so much I missed the tendril of The Darkness that had slipped through the crack we had been fighting so hard to seal. Its shadows reared from my shaking body as white light shot towards it. I could hear its hiss of annoyance every time it clashed with the magik being pushed into the ward, but it kept coming.

A second time it snapped against me, lighter than before, but enough that I gritted my teeth on the scream that bulged in my throat as the dark we were surrounded by grew even denser. Magik stuttering as it recoiled from the pain, I reached for it, the panic that threatened to overwhelm me making it harder to grasp than ever before.

Ears ringing, I pushed unsteadily to my feet, staggering slightly. The faint sound of maniacal laughter had me shaking my head to clear my mind. Warm blood dripped down my shoulder as I shrugged out of my now torn cardigan, red fabric pooling at my feet.

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