Page 78 of Magic Hunted
A hum turned into a whine as the portal spun faster and faster. I clamped my hands over my ears, my mates covering me as the whine grew into a roar. Wind whipped my hair, scoured my skin and obscured my vision.
Brilliant white light erupted around us with the force of a tornado. Light seared behind my eyes, blinding me and as abruptly as it had begun, the screaming wind fell away.
Ashir’s chest filled my vision as I carefully unclasped my hands from my ears and opened my eyes. He held me so tightly his heart hammered against my cheek. “Are you hurt, Haera?”
I peered up into light blue eyes filled with concern. His fingers tensed where they held me. His muscles were like rock surrounding me, as though he wasn’t going to let me free until he was sure I was okay.
“I’m… I’m fine,” I gasped, then, “Dias! Savvas!”
Ashir let me go and I pushed up from the floor with shaking limbs, each movement sending protesting aches through me. I whirled around when fingers threaded through mine. “My heart!”
My breath whooshed out as Savvas pulled himself to his knees next to Ashir. “Thank the gods! Where’s Dias?”
“I’m here. Always,” Dias said, rising from behind me. They’d surrounded me. All three of them protecting me. Dias pressed a kiss to my shoulder. I threaded my fingers through his short hair, relief turning my shaking hand into full-on trembling.
“Holy gods. You killed Titan!” Savvas swept me into his arms, taking me from Dias to kiss me. He drew back, his gaze roaming my face. “Youdestroyedhim.”
“You annihilated him,” Dias said.
“I knew you were strong enough to defeat him, my mate. I hope it feels good to know you ended him. Not only for everyone else on Earth, but for yourself as well,” Ashir said.
“You’re looking at me as though you always thought I’d be able to take him out,” I said. That’s the way he looked at me. With total faith. As though he had no doubts about me.
A slow smile spread over his full lips and my heart flipped in my chest. He tilted my head back with his knuckle under my chin, a soft growl vibrating in his chest. “I never doubted anything about you, my mate. Never.”
“None of us doubted you.” Savvas took my hand and my fingers tingled, needing to brush the curls off his face. Ashir moved behind me, pressing my back against his massive chest. He leaned down to nuzzle my neck, his heavy purr sinking into me.
Dias’ light green eyes darkened to deep jade. I shivered at the heated promise he didn’t bother to hide. “You’re stuck with us, magic.”
Their soul-lights throbbed as my chest filled with their essences. Love. Joy. Hope. My light filled the space, merging with theirs. The scar from Brais was still embedded into the bond-barrier, but it wasn’t a reminder of pain any more. It was a mark of his love and his sacrifice, and when we fully bonded, he would be in our hearts forever. This battle may have just ended, but it was more reason to live. I didn’t want to hide anymore. I wanted more than bare survival.
“I love you. I want to fully bond with you. As soon as we can,” I said.
Ashir’s fingers threaded into my hair. “Are you sure, Haera?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I want you all. I want to be a part of you. I want you—my mates,” I said.
Ashir kissed me deeply. His arms snaked about my waist, lifting me off the ground.
“That’s enough. My turn now.” Ashir relinquished me to Dias’ arms. My arms wound around his neck and he leaned down to capture my lips. His kiss was as deep and passionate as Ashir’s, making my blood heat differently to my magic.
“Mine,” Savvas growled. His chest vibrated with his panther’s purr as Dias spun me into Savvas’ arms.
“Yes. Yours. Always,” I whispered as Savvas claimed my mouth. There was no backing out from this and I didn’t want to.
The grimoire shook in its tether as little golden bubbles fizzed through my blood, as though it too, agreed with my decision. My panther purred loudly, also voicing her agreement. I didn’t have time to wonder about the grimoire’s response because I spied Shanyirra limping toward us.
“Shanyirra. Are you okay?” I said.
She nodded, deep lines edged her eyes and mouth. “Just feeling my age, child. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not used to being knocked to my backside, that’s all. We’re lucky Christian didn’t bring the whole cave down on our heads. Especially with the power the portal threw off,” she said.
“Atrus went through it,” I said.
Shanyirra sighed, her shoulders stooping. “There’s no telling the damage he can do in Faerie.”
“That wasFaerie? But it was so…cold.” From what I’d gleaned about Faerie, it was meant to be a natural world of unspeakable beauty.
“Earth will be ravaged by the wastelands while Faerie freezes,” Shanyirra said, her voice heavy. “That is the cost of unbalanced magic.”
